By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
(Pakistan News & Features Services)
Muhammad Rehmat Ali, famously known as Rehmat Bhai in media and social circles of Karachi, has passed away peacefully and he was buried in a graveyard in the vicinity of the premises from where he operated his Rehmat Welfare Trust for more than two decades.
A large number of his admirers, friends, students and fellow professionals attended his funeral on February 8.
The area people were saddened and even shocked by his sudden death as he had gone to the hospital on his own feet on the afternoon of February 7.
It was being narrated that Rehmat Bhai had taken his usual ‘light’ lunch before going to mosque for Zohr prayers. He returned early, complaining of chest pain while offering his prayers.
A few staffers and volunteers of the educational institutions, running under the auspices of Rehmat Welfare Trust accompanied him to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) where he had earlier been treated a couple of weeks ago.
He was pronounced dead while undergoing treatment at the NICVD, bringing to an end the journey of a warrior who devoted his life for community service and social work.
He has left behind a legacy. He has set an example for others to follow. He demonstrated how a person, with modest resources, can perform big needs which brought about a change in the lives of thousands of people.
He may not be living physically anymore but the noble acts of his will keep him alive forever. His story is that of hard work, courage, simplicity, honesty and selflessness.
Born in a middle class family of Delhi in British India, he had migrated to the newly emerged country, Pakistan, in 1947 when he was hardly six or seven years old.
Having personally witnessed the trauma of mass migration and the subsequent problems faced by the immigrants, he decided to help out the people in need from a very young age.
The obsession for social work continued growing as he entered professional life after obtaining formal education.
He opted for a career in media advertising which allowed him to interact with a larger pool of people. Upon learning about his running welfare projects, the customers and clients also started becoming his admirers and supporters.
Rehmat Bhai had joined Monthly Karachi Observer soon after its inception in 1989. He developed a special bonding with its Chief Editor, Muhammad Nazakat Ali, which lasted a lifetime.
Although Rehmat Bhai had been carrying out welfare work since his early days, it was in 1997 when he chose to channelize his social work and laid the foundation of Rehmat Welfare Trust.
The formation of the Trust fast-tracked the welfare activities which were already taking place. The school, offering education free of cost, was expanded as were the health facilities.
Rehmat Bhai mobilized all his resources and contacts for operating and extending his welfare projects which were huge blessings for the area people in particular. He knew that education was going to become the vehicle of change. Therefore he was most concerned about facilitating matters relating to education.
Many families have availed the opportunities and benefitted by the functioning of these projects. The majority of those having acquired education from such families have now started leading decent life, thanks to Rehmat Bhai.
He may not be living physically anymore but the noble acts of his will keep him alive forever. His story is that of hard work, courage, simplicity, honesty and selflessness.
Having personally witnessed the trauma of mass migration and the subsequent problems faced by the immigrants, he decided to help out the people in need from a very young age.
The obsession for social work continued growing as he entered professional life after obtaining formal education.
He opted for a career in media advertising which allowed him to interact with a larger pool of people. Upon learning about his running welfare projects, the customers and clients also started becoming his admirers and supporters.
Although Rehmat Bhai had been carrying out welfare work since his early days, it was in 1997 when he chose to channelize his social work and laid the foundation of Rehmat Welfare Trust.
The formation of the Trust fast-tracked the welfare activities which were already taking place. The school, offering education free of cost, was expanded as were the health facilities.
Rehmat Bhai mobilized all his resources and contacts for operating and extending his welfare projects which were huge blessings for the area people in particular. He knew that education was going to become the vehicle of change. Therefore he was most concerned about facilitating matters relating to education.
Many families have availed the opportunities and benefitted by the functioning of these projects. The majority of those having acquired education from such families have now started leading decent life, thanks to Rehmat Bhai.
Pray Allah pak grant him the higher grade in Jannat ul Firdous. Ameen.
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