Abdul Sattar Edhi: All you need to know about the ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ of Geeta revered as living saint of Pakistan

A selfless humanist, Eidhi is now the the philanthropic icon of Pakistan

Around 13 years ago, Geeta was lost in Pakistan as she was departed from her parents in the ‘Samjhauta Express’. The specially challenged girl, who was merely 7 years of age then was stranded in the neighbouring country in an absolute helpless situation. Being deaf and mute, she could not make her plight known to anyone. At the moment when she faced the threat of all forms of exploitation, including slavery and flesh trade, there was a real-life ‘Bajrangi Bhaijaan’ across the border who not only adopted the voiceless girl but treated her as his own child. (ALSO READ: Geeta returns to India: Refuses to recognize her parents; will be sent to NGO, says Sushma Swaraj)

Here is all you need to know about Abdul Sattar Eidhi, the living saint who is now the philanthropic icon of Pakistan:

Born in 1928 in the Gujrati town  of Junagarh, Eidhi’s family turned a victim of partition. Having witnessed the violence and bloodbath in the course of partition, his heart was extremely pained. Throughout his life, he had rejected materialistic gains in order to serve the society in a selfless manner.

In his early 20s, he joined charitable organization ran by Kutchi Memons, ethnic group of Muslims hailing from Gujarat. However, on discovering that the outfit only chooses to extend help to members of their community, he was disturbed and left the organization. A radical humanist, Eidhi has never found religion as criteria of discrimination among the beneficiary of social work. Despite being a devout Muslim, he made no single attempt to convert Geeta as a Muslim in the past 13 years, ensuring that she remains connected with her roots, customs and tradition.

In 1950s, Eidhi left for a long trip to Europe. Interestingly, he reached Rome in a penniless state, and traveled to England through alms from people he met. It was in Great Britain where he was astonished by the effective operation of a welfare state. Upon returning to Pakistan, he found there was no civil society mechanism set-up in the nascent country. Subsequently, he established the Eidhi foundation.

Throughout his life, Eidhi rejected materialistic gains and employed himself in socialistic practices. On setting-up the Eidhi foundation, he could only acquire a battered van which he used as an ambulance. Eidhi would find a number of dead bodies left unclaimed by administration or family members. He would carry out their burial according to traditions. He would hurtle round the province of Sindh in his poor man’s ambulance, collecting dead bodies, taking them to the police station, waiting for the death certificate and, if the bodies were not claimed, burying them himself.

By 1960s, a number of philanthropists in Pakistan extended help to Abdul Sattar Eidhi. Subsequently, his organization established a number of medical camps in the province of Sindh offering first-aid help at free of cost.

Eidhi, also known as a radical social reformer was involved in a long battle with religious fanatics in the region, even locking horns with Islamist dictator General Zia.

The Eidhi foundation has saved the lives of 35,000 infants born out of unmarried couples who are usually killed in Pakistan. Outside every unit of the social outfit, a cradle is placed urging people to leave their toddler here if they cannot sustain them.

Currently, the Eidhi foundation has over 60 centres spread all over Pakistan, employing around 2000 men and over 500 women. Supported by philanthropists from around the globe, it has turned into a household name in Pakistan known for extending humanitarian aide to the needy without discrimination.

Abdul Sattar Eidhi along with his wife Bilquis Eidhi, who served as a mother for Geeta, have also been awarded by the Ramon Magsaysay Award. The inspiring story of Eidhi should make one firmly believe that ‘Humanity knows no boundary’.