Abdul Sattar Edhi NI LPP( Urdu عَبْد اُلستّار اِیدھی; 28 February 1928( 6) – 8 July 2016)( 1)( 7)( 2)( 8) was a Pakistani philanthropic , philanthropist and ascetic who innovated the Edhi Foundation, which runs the world’s largest ambulance network,( 9) along with homeless harbors, beast harbors,( 10) recuperation centres, and orphanages across Pakistan.( 11)
Edhi’s charitable conditioning expanded greatly in 1957 when an Asian flu epidemic forming in China swept through Pakistan and the rest of the world. Donations allowed him to buy his first ambulance the same time. He latterly expanded his charity network with the help of his woman Bilquis Edhi.( 11)( 12) Following his death, his son Faisal Edhi took over as head of the Edhi Foundation.
Over his continuance, the Edhi Foundation expanded, backed entirely by private donations from Pakistani citizens across class, which included establishing a network of 1,800 ambulances. By the time of his death, Edhi was registered as a parent or guardian of nearly 20,000 espoused children.( 7) He’s known amongst Pakistanis as the” Angel of Mercy” and is considered to be Pakistan’s most reputed and fabulous figure.( 3)( 13) In 2013, The Huffington Post claimed that he might be” the world’s topmost living philanthropic “.( 14)
Edhi maintained a hands- off operation style and was frequently critical of the corruption generally set up within the religious associations, church and politicians.( 15) He was a strong exponent of religious forbearance in Pakistan and extended his support to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the 1985 shortage in Ethiopia.( 16)( 17) He was nominated several times for the Nobel Peace Prize. Edhi entered several awards including the Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize and the UNESCO- Madanjeet Singh Prize.( 18)
Early life
He intimately expressed that he wasn’t a” veritably religious person”, and that he was” neither for religion or against it”.( 19) On his faith, he stated that he was a” philanthropic “, telling others that” empty words and long expressions don’t impress God” and to” show Him your faith” through action.( 20)( 21)( 22)( 23) His mama had brought him up tutoring love and care for humans
The Edhi Foundation and Bilquis Edhi Trust
Edhi devoted his life to abetting the poor. Over the course of sixty times, he single- handedly changed the face of weal in Pakistan.( 24) He innovated the Edhi Foundation.( 6) Edhi was known for his ascetic life, retaining only two dyads of clothes, noway taking payment from his association, and living in one room with kitchenette at the Foundation’s headquarters in the heart of Karachi.( 13)( 25)( 26)( 27) also, his preliminarily established weal trust, named the Edhi Trust, was renewed with an original sum ofRs. 5000. The trust was latterly renamed after his woman as the Bilquis Edhi Trust.( 28) Extensively regarded and admired as a guardian and rescuer for the poor, Edhi began entering multitudinous donations which allowed him to expand his services. As of 2016, the Edhi Foundation continues to grow in both size and service and presently remains the largest weal association in Pakistan. Since its commencement, the Edhi Foundation has saved over 20,000 abandoned babies, rehabilitated over 50,000 orphans, and has trained over 40,000 nursers.( 29) It also runs further than 330 weal centres throughout pastoral and civic Pakistan that operate as food kitchens, recuperation homes, harbors for abandoned women and children, and conventions for the mentally and physically challenged.( 30)
The Edhi Foundation is funded entirely by private donations and full services are offered to people irrespective of race, religion or status.( 31) It runs the world’s largest levy ambulance service( operating over 1,500 of them) and offers 24- hour exigency services. It also operates free nursing homes, orphanages, conventions, women’s harbors, and recuperation centres for medicine addicts and the mentally ill.( 32) Outside of its main base of operations in Pakistan, the Edhi Foundation has ran relief operations in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, the Caucasus region, Eastern Europe, and the United States. In 2005, the foundation bestowedUS$ 100,000 to relief sweats after Hurricane Katrina.( 33) As of 2020, the Foundation has transnational head services present in the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Australia, Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Japan.( 34)
In 2004, Edhi and his association ran into trouble with the Pakistani zealots.( 35) In 2014, the foundation was targeted and burgled of roughlyUS$ 500,000 and has been the victim of right- sect attacks and competition from Pakistan’s militant far-right( 36)
trip issues
In the early 1980s, Edhi was arrested by Israeli colors while he was entering Lebanon. In 2006, . In January 2008,U.S. immigration officers at the JohnF. Kennedy International Airport in New York City delved him for over eight hours after seizing his passport and other documents. When asked by media officers about the frequent detentions, Edhi said” The only explanation I can suppose of is my beard and my dress.” His appearance in traditional Pakistani apparel and a long beard made him appear visibly Muslim and thus, in apost-9/ 11 climate, urgedU.S. and Canadian trip authorities to keep him for fresh questioning.( 37)
Death
Organ Donation
Edhi failed on 8 July 2016 at the age of 88 due to order failure after having been placed on a ventilator. One of his last wishes was that his organs be bestowed for the use of the indigent but due to his poor health, only his corneas were suitable for after use in the donation.( 42) Edhi was an organ patron and after his death, in agreement with his wishes, his corneas were bestowed to two eyeless people.( 43)
State burial
Prime Minister Sharif declared public mourning on the day following Edhi’s death and blazoned a state burial for him. He came the third person in Pakistan’s history to admit a state gun carriage burial after Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Zia- ul- Haq. He was the only Pakistani without a state authority or a state part to admit a state burial. According to theInter-Services Public Relations( ISPR), state honors were given to Edhi by a guard of honor and a 19- gun salutation. Following the burial he was laid to rest at Edhi Village on the outskirts of Karachi.( 44)
Condolences
The attendees at his Janazah( Islamic burial prayer) included dignitaries similar as Mamnoon Hussain( President of Pakistan), Raza Rabbani( Chairman of the Senate of Pakistan), Ishratul Ibad( Governor of Sindh), Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Shehbaz Sharif( the Chief Ministers of Sindh and Punjab, independently), Raheel Sharif( Chief of Army Staff) along with Muhammad Zakaullah and Sohail Aman( the Chiefs of Staff of the Pakistani Navy and Air Force), at the National Stadium, Karachi.( 45)( 46) Prominent Pakistani numbers similar as Maulana Tariq Jamil( 47) and Pakistani − Canadian Sheikh Faraz Rabbani( 48) frequently expressed their strong support for Edhi and his work.
responses to his death came from several high- ranking Pakistani officers, with also- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying in an sanctioned statement” We’ve lost a great menial of humanity. He was the real incarnation of love for those who were socially vulnerable, impoverished, helpless, and poor.”( 13) Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif called him a” true philanthropic “.( 3) He was called Pakistan’s fellow of Mother Teresa by India moment in 1990,( citation demanded) and the BBC wrote that he was considered” Pakistan’s most reputed figure and was seen by some as a saint.”( 13)
Awards
Nternational awards
1. Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service( 1986)( 49)( 50)
Lenin Peace Prize( 1988)( 51)
2. Paul Harris Fellow from Rotary International( 1993)( 51)
3. Peace Prize from the former USSR, for services during the Armenian earthquake disaster( 1988)( 52)
Hamdan Award for levies in Humanitarian Medical Services( 2000), UAE( 51)
4. Peace and Harmony Award( 2001), Delhi( citation demanded)
5. Peace Award( 2004), Mumbai( citation demanded)
6. Peace Award( 2005), Hyderabad, India( citation demanded)Seoul Peace Prize( 2008), Seoul( 53)
memorial doctorate from the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi( 2006).
UNESCO- Madanjeet Singh Prize( 2009)( 54)( 55)
POSCO TJ Park Prize( 2009)
Ahmadiyya Muslim Peace Prize( 2010)( 56)( 57)
memorial Doctorate by the University of Bedfordshire( 2010)( 58)
London Peace Award( 2011), London( 59)
National awards
tableware Jubilee Shield by College of Physicians and Surgeons( 1962 – 1987)( 51)
Moiz ur Rehman Award( 2015)( 51)
The Social Worker ofSub-Continent by Government of Sindh( 1989)( 51)
Nishan-e-Imtiaz, civil decoration from the Government of Pakistan( 1989)( 51)
Recognition of meritorious services to tyrannized humanity during the 1980s by Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Government of Pakistan( 1989)( 51)
Pakistan Civic Award from the Pakistan Civic Society( 1992)( 51)
Jinnah Award for Outstanding Services to Pakistan was conferred in April 1998 by The Jinnah Society. This was the first Jinnah Award conferred on any person in Pakistan.( 60)
Shield of Honor by Pakistan Army( E & C)( 51)
Khidmat Award by the Pakistan Academy of Medical lores( 51)
Bacha Khan Aman( Peace) Award in 1991( citation demanded)
Human Rights Award by Pakistan Human Rights Society( 51)
2013 Person of the Time by the compendiums of The Express Tribune( 61)
Honours
On 8 July 2021, a statue of Edhi was installed at Hockey Chowk, Quetta.( 62)
On 31 March 2017, a cupronickel honorary coin was issued upon the recommendation of the State Bank of Pakistan to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who decided to commemorate Edhi’s services on the public position.( 63) Edhi came the only social worker and the fifth Pakistani personality to have been fete with a honorary coin.( 64)
On 28 February 2017, Google celebrated Edhi with a Google Doodle hailing his”super-efficient” ambulance service.( 65)
In July 2016, the Defence Housing Authority renamed the 5 kilometre-long Beach Avenue in Clifton Beach, Karachi as’ Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue’.( 66)( 67)
On 8 July 2016 Pakistan Post issued a honorary postage stamp in memory of Edhi.( 68)
Nobel Peace Prize desires
In 2011, also- Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousaf Raza Gilani recommended Edhi for a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize.( 69)
In early 2016, a solicitation inked by 30,000 for a Nobel Peace Prize for Edhi was moved by Ziauddin Yousafzai, the father of Malala Yousafzai.( 70) In her condolence communication on Edhi’s death, broadcast by BBC Urdu, Malala said that” as a Nobel Peace Prize winner, I hold the right to nominate people for the prize and I’ve nominated Abdul Sattar Edhi” adding that” indeed the coveted Nobel Prize can not be a befitting homage to Edhi’s services for humanity”.( 71)( 72)( 73)
Literature
Primary
Abdul Sattar Edhi( 1995), Breaking the Silence. Islamabad National Bureau of Publications.
Tehmina Durrani( 1996) Abdul Sattar Edhi, An Autobiography A Mirror to the Blind. KarachiA. Sattar Edhi Foundation.
memoir
Lorenza Raponi; Michele Zanzucchi( 2013), Half of Two Paisas The Extraordinary charge of Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilquis Edhi, restated from Italian by Lorraine Buckley, Oxford University Press, Pakistan.
Academic
Yasmin Jaffri; Oskar Verkaaik( January 2011),” Sacrifice & Dystopia Imagining Karachi through Edhi”, Urban Navigations Politics, Space and the City in South Asia( metropolises and the Urban Imperative), Routlegde, India,pp. 319 – 37.
Popular
Steve Inskeep( October 2011), Instant City Life and Death in Karachi. New York Penguin Books.
Richard Covington; Shahidul Alam( 2008),” What One Person Can Do The Amazing Life of Abdul Sattar Edhi”. In What Matters The World’s Preeminent Photojournalists and Thinkers Depict Essential Issues of Our Time edited by David Elliot Cohen.
Richard Covington; Shahidul Alam( 2004) philanthropic to a Nation Abdul Sattar Edhi AramcoWorld.
Children
Amina Azfar( 2014), Abdul Sattar Edhi. Graphic Stories series( in Urdu and English). Karachi Oxford University Press.
Film
Omar Mullick; Bassam Tariq( 2013), These catcalls Walk.
Amélie Saillez( 2011), The Kingdom of Mister Edhi( Lastor Media).( 74)
Peter Oborne( 2011), Pakistan protectors of Karachi( Channel 4, April 2011, directed by Edward Watts, Quicksilver Media).( 75)
See also
Karachi- grounded philanthropists
Bilquis Edhi
Adeebul Hasan Rizvi
Hakeem Muhammad Saeed
Ramzan Chhipa
Saylani Welfare Trust
Ansar Burney
Ruth Pfau
Affiliated histories
Daniel Pearl
Neerja Bhanot