My country—my home

My country—my home

by Dr Amin Gadit

About three months ago, when I returned from England, I spent my time meeting with old friends and relatives. In my social circle most were doctors while other belonged to various fields and professions. During the time I was abroad my memoir stayed with me, and my love for my country grew even more.

People come and go in our lives, but some of them leave their footprints behind. A person who true impressed me was Shehzad bhai. It has been a long time since I last met him. It all happened during the early days of my MBBS. I met him in a seminar. He had an authoritative personality. He was working as an assistant professor in the University of Karachi. He was a PhD and had a command over his subject. Soon we became very good friends. Although, he was 8 years older than me, even then we used to get along so well. Shehzad Bhai lived in the university’s staff town. He had a cheerful nature and seemed as if no sorrow has ever touched him. But that was just my supposition. One day he told me the truth behind is fake smiles, which distressed me to quite an extent.

His parents and grandparents were very active during the Pakistan Movement. They sacrificed all their properties for this purpose. When independence was declared people started to migrate towards their new homes. Hindu-Muslim riots were burning the whole of the subcontinent. His grandparents were martyred on their way to Pakistan, but somehow his parents managed to reach despite of all the hardships they had to bear.

Their early days were miserable. Shehzad Bhai was the eldest among all his siblings. He had a younger brother and a younger sister. They all studied in a school. His father who was a well-off person before Partition, started teaching in a school at a small salary. But still his family was happy to be in their homeland, which was a blessing of the Almighty for them. But just when Shehzad Bhai had completed his matriculation his father died of heart failure. Before he died his father took a promise for him that he would take care of the whole family and would remain faithful to his beloved country.

Shehzad Bhai gathered all his courage after such a great loss. He did part-time jobs and earned his livelihood. One day brother Shahid got badly injured in an accident and was rushed to a hospital. Shehzad Bhai experienced obstacles once again. No one helped him in such time. His brother did not recover and died. In these wretched conditions, Shehzad Bhai remained patient and consoled his sister.

Now he wanted his sister to get married as soon as possible. His sister was a noble and well-natured girl., but they were so worn down by distress and poverty that they could not find anyone to marry her. She suffered from a terrible state of depression. One evening, she jumped out from third floor of their building and died on the spot. After her suicide, Shehzad Bhai became more isolated, however, he did not lose hope. He kept all his attention towards his studies and completed his MSc with flying colours and went to United States for higher studies. He returned holding a PhD degree, and got appointed as an Assistant Professor in University of Karachi. He became a shining example for his students and forgot all his miseries among them.

When I heard his dreadful story, I could not do anything but to praise him. He became my inspiration and his respect grew in my heart.

I started working in Civil Hospital, after doing my MBBS. Shehzad Bhai used to visit me frequently. He always emphasized me to work for the welfare of humanity. He used to say, “Amin, the complications and pains cannot do us any harm. If you just think that people need you and you should work for their betterment, then you will perform your duties non-stop and through this way you will get tranquility and happiness.

The days flew by. At last, I was leaving for Europe, to acquire my degree in Psychiatry. On the airport, Shehzad Bhai told me that my utmost priority should be to help the needy ones. I left with the echo of his words. Then six years passed, I lost contact with him and stopped receiving his letters. I had written him a couple of times, but there was no reply. Still, I kept on following his words and strived hard to fulfill my goal. I came back to Pakistan and searched for him, went to his university and inquired about him, but nobody knew where he was. I was very much worried. God knows where he was lost?

Afterwards I got busy with my professional life. One day, my wife and I, went to the rural areas of Sindh for some research study. My wife assists me in my professional work. We stopped our car at Thatta to get some tea and breakfast. There was a shrine, so we walked towards it. There were a few beggars sitting outside. People gave them food and money. I saw a familiar face among them. It was not an illusion. My heart shuddered on this mere thought. Oh my! That was Shehzad Bhai. I shouted at him “Shehzad Bhai! Shehzad Bhai!” but there was no answer. He stared at me meaninglessly. We brought him to Karachi and admitted him to a hospital for a complete proper treatment. He was not a normal person mentally and had become quite weak. I could not believe my eyes, a person so strong-willed and courageous like him, what made him loose all his wisdom and patience? What had torn him apart like that?

A friend of mine was in the police at a higher rank. I asked him to investigate about Shehzad Bhai’s case. The conclusion came as:

Shehzad Bhai’s heart was full of love for his country. He always participated in voluntary works, which meant for the country’s interest. This reason made him famous among the masses. However, some people were envy of him. A political party offered him to join them. Shehzad Bhai knew they were insincere to the country. So, he refused straightly and told them on their face, that they were disloyal and traitors. Soon after this, his life turned melancholic. His opponents gave him mental torture and lodged a fake case against him accusing that he was engaged in anti-state activities and called him dishonest and selfish. This accusation was intolerable for him. An adamant person like him who had suffered the times of pain with a smiling face lost all his courage….

He appealed to the higher authorities. He was arrested and went through ruthless mental torture. Even his opponents were amazed to see his spirit and patriotism. The last thing that their antagonistic minds planned to keep fake documents in his house and showed them in the court with the connivance of police as a testimony of being committed into activities against the state. The day this news got published, Shehzad Bhai could no longer hold this dreadful dilemma. That day, he lost his mind… In the second tribunal the witnesses testified that those documents were bogus. Therefore he was released from police custody and all the cases were withdrawn. Despite this Shehzad Bhai was no more the same. He had lost his senses completely.

Somehow, he reached Thatta and became a beggar. He became too senseless to eat, drink, or to speak. Nobody the sage was a PhD professor and all he did wrong was to love his country.

After knowing Shehzad Bhai’s heartfelt story, I went to the hospital where he was being treated. He was lying on his bed silently staring at the roof. His eyes were pale and empty, the glean and glitter which was once there had faded.

Yet there was a ray of hope in my heart that he would get back to life soon. With that I treated him and prayed to God for his help. One day, I whispered in his ears “the Independence Day is close, the entire nation is preparing for its celebrations, what are you planning to do anyways?” He remained silent. I turned on the radio, a national song was on air.

Shehzad Bhai’s whole body started shaking and tears rolled down his cheeks without stopping for a moment. At last he uttered, “Is it a sin to love ones own country?” I had no answer to his question. It was raining and thundering outside. I thought while walking in the hospital’s verandah with heavy footsteps that “Do we really deserve to celebrate this Independence Day?” Our country whose foundations were laid on hard work, true spirit and passion, where patriots like Shehzad Bhai are accused of being disloyal to the country and the nation, was that all fair with him and many others like him?

Suddenly I came back from my wandering thoughts the phone bell ringing. I picked up the receiver and heard the nurse’s voice, “Mr. Shehzad wants to talk to you”. Then came a soft rather meek voice, but brimming with mirth, “We will go to see the parade tomorrow”. I was happy that my friend spent his whole life serving his country and fulfilling the promise he had made with his father.