The Distance Covered
The torch set ablaze back in 1950-51 has very
successfully illuminated the hearts, minds and souls of thousands of people in
and around Bhowana - a small town of Tehsil
Chiniot, District Jhang – as of now there are dozens
of Civil Servants, Doctors, Engineers, Dental Surgeons, Lawyers, Civil Judges,
and professors. Besides, there are hundreds of people who are associated with
teaching profession and have joined different walks of life as skilled
professionals. The subtle inspiration and constant financial assistance for the
talented poor students of the area provided by “Friends Welfare Society” has
gone a long way in bringing about this silent revolution. A small initiative
taken by Professor Muhammad Anwar Khan with other five people back in 1980s has
done the talking through its pragmatic concrete actions and has made the real
difference in the lives of the many.
Professor
Muhammad Anwar Khan strongly believed that he who died rich died poor. He would
not only inspire and guide young people in discovering their destiny but would
spend all his financial means on their financial assistance and stipends. On
Sep 26, 1986 only six months after the birth of his seventh son professor Anwar
died of Cardiac arrest in just fifteen minutes vindicating the point that men
of God meet their Lord in a dignified peaceful manner. He embraced his death with
a resolute calmness as if he had nothing to fear it, yet with a stream of tears
rolling down on his cheeks implying that although he had covered a long
distance on a bumpy road he had still many miles to go before he could sleep
in the bony arms of death. Indeed, he would have done a lot more had he not
been cut in the prime of his life.
Interestingly enough, he kept the bulk of his
charity work close to his chest and never shared with even his wife Jannat Bibi
who would more often than not question his heads of expenditure which remained
unexplained till his death. During the process of searching relevant documents
for his pension benefits, his personal files were scrutinized. Resultantly,
dozens of letters of thanks were discovered which were written by his
beneficiaries as a token of theirs sense of gratitude. Every letter was a story
of the making of a man who was financially assisted, paving the way for his
settling down in life with dignity. This discovery amply explained his heads of
expenditure and commitment to charity. That’s why at his death he left behind
not only his seven sons and a widow but also hundreds of people to bewail and
mourn the loss. Their tears spoke of his character and relevance to their
lives.
Charity repays itself. It is its own reward and comes back
in multitude. After his untimely death, his widow Jannat Bibi proved to be a
brave and visionary mother. She raised her seven sons in style and with rare
dignity. All seven have graduated from prestigious Government College Lahore.
Five have joined civil service, one has opted for Pakistan Army as a
commissioned officer, and one is CEO of his own company and takes care of
family business. Simultaneously, they have been keeping the mission alive by
closely associating with the charitable cause. Now, they have pooled in their
financial and human capital to institutionalize the avowed mission of their
late father on enduring lines. Thus, “Anwar Jannat Memorial Foundation” has
been incorporated as a non-profit organization with a status of a public
company under relevant law in Pakistan.
It is an extension of the silent movement set in motion about six decades ago
by Late Professor Anwar Khan. It has set for itself a lofty agenda of noble
acts. Hence, the journey continues with its mission being timeless and space
less.
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