Agha Ji - Endless sea of love!

“You don't know me but you are my nephew," claimed an elderly gentleman from Bannu holding me firmly in his grip. And this is not a rarity as every other day someone in my clinic or hospital embraces me fondly, proclaiming that 'I am his nephew'. It is more than two decades since Agha Ji bade farewell to this ephemeral abode and a lot has changed but then there some things that never alter.

The love people rear for Agha Ji exhibits itself in one form or the other every now and then. Though there are not many people around in his age group but more encouraging is the veneration and love young officers, sportsmen and dwellers of Peshawar rear for him.

Most police officers at the top have some personal story to relate about him. "I learnt a lot working with him when I was a newly appointed as ASP and he was heading Mardan in mid sixties," revealed the first IGP that was appointed out of the province and I had never met him before.

"He was a role model for all of us and we used to derive a lot of strength from him," announced a recently retired senior officer.

He was most kind to his juniors and most remember him very fondly for the little personal favours he extended to them.

"I used to be his steno and he really looked after me when my son had an accident; my children and their children will continue to pray for him for times to come!" confided a seventy years old stoutly built gentleman peeping in the past.

While inaugurating Lala Aman Boxing arena, Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah announced, "The services of Lala Aman that he rendered so selflessly for promotion of sports in the province shall be always remembered, he had a mission to promote sports at grassroots and he worked tirelessly towards it."

For the family it was fulfillment of a long overdue aspiration where a sports facility was being named after his name after two decades of his passing away and three decades of when he was actively involved in sports affairs.

Many sports-related office holders that we met on that day, disclosed how Agha Ji encouraged them on one to one basis - nourishing the relationship with love and kindness. Many sportsmen of yesteryear remembered him fondly for his loving attitude and encouraging approach.

Little did I know of his fans among sportsmen till an ex-hockey player and a serving assistant professor in Cardiology unveiled to me, "Sir, I used to have more intimate relationship with your honourable father than I have with you - even now: I used to play hockey and he used to visit the ground regularly and encouraged all of us." 

An ex-football player introduced himself, "I achieved a lot in the sports and there was one driving force behind me and that was Agha Ji."

"You may not remember me but I used to play hockey in Bannu and he was the person who encouraged me to participate at provincial level." With all this, I am a little perplexed -how little do I know about him and happier - to learn something good and new the role he played in others' lives.

"You have to win this race," urged Lala Kareem, riding on the bicycle, offering water and moral support during the ten miles race.

The race was one of the pre-requisites for joining police force in early forties under the British Raj.  There were more than a hundred participants all aspiring to join the ever challenging career in police - which was more in demand than the armed forces because of the looming shadows of world war.

Lala Kareem took upon himself to train Agha Ji for the race and both would venture out together on little used GT Road at that time.

Little wonder, Agha Ji stood first in the race and was among the few privileged to be selected in the police force.

That bond grew stronger with passing years and Agha ji used to visit his friend - in deed and need at regular intervals. Agha Ji would always mention this story and his doors remained opened for his friend and his family till the end of his life.

"We have to buy a speedometer for his cycle," and we spent a couple of hours in Bull Ring shopping centre in Birmingham looking for it. Having not found it, we eventually ended up ordering it for special home delivery. 

'Chacha gula' was a unique character who is still remembered very fondly in the interior of Peshawar. His claim to fame was his bicycle - most precious Raleigh cycle adorned with a light, parking stand and an inimitable horn and the speedometer was for the same.

He was a member of the 'Heroes football' team that visited Iran and won quite a few matches. I am not sure about his exact position but he had invaluable contribution in post match analysis and gup shup. Agha Ji was very fond of him and would visit him at least once a fortnight. Agha Ji would take utmost care of him and people around would use this contact to solve their problems.   

One of his dear friends was Arbab Saadullah Khan - a leading landlord of Landai Arbab. Both succumbed to the icy hands of death within 24 hours.

Agha Ji would have never left the city, if he had been informed of his death in time. Both had wonderful understanding and used to spend hours together. The love they had for each other passed on to the second generation. Arbab Sahib would accompany Agha Ji whenever he had to visit different nooks and corners of the province.

Agha Ji can be best described as an endless sea of love. His love reached most hearts without any discrimination of age and ethnicity.

His unlimited love flowed in rivers, rivulets and tributaries - touching hundreds of thousands of hearts.