Syeda Rashida Abidi struggled against hypocrisy and illiteracy, patronized women education and battled against those who could not see the rise of women independence
By Umeen Fatima
All people die, yet not all people live!
My loving, caring mother Syed Rashida Abidi had lived! She packed so much life into her eventful seven decades, as a teacher, educator and an Administrator, at large. She was a patron of education and learning in Karachi. She fought from the forefront, against all odds, old conventions and the forces which obstructed the cause of learning, particularly when it came to female education.
Her fearless pursuit to the cause of education in the country, had pushed her to create institutions of learning in Karachi. Not one, not two but five schools, which we proudly know as the Group of Ali Ali Schools, located all over the fast-expanding metropolis. She built campuses, located in huge buildings and equipped these with the best Science Labs, gardens and a zoo.
She took pains to heal lacerated hearts and broken families
She was an Educator of outstanding disposition. I have witnessed her unending struggle against hypocrisy and illiteracy, She travelled, chased her dreams, patronized women education and still put one foot in front of the other battling what she knew from the start was a war against those who could not see the rise of women independence in good light. She did so with grace, dignity, integrity and courage.
More than 50,000 graduates of the Ali Ali Group of Schools continue to serve our country as doctors, engineers, scientists and technicians. Many opted to serve institutions in UK, Europe, USA and the Middle East. Truly, this achievement cannot be surpassed. Her service and devotion was internationally recognized. Few even know she was awarded the Order of Merit, by the Head of Foreign state, for her contribution to learning and education in Pakistan.
Time and tide do take the toll of even the wisest and the bravest. Even during her weak and painful moments, she had the heart to laugh at her critics who fallaciously saw her impact and influence receding with age.
My beloved mother, the woman, the myth, the legend that she was — men wanted to be with her, women wanted to be with her and above all, thousands of her school children wanted to be with her!
As values disintegrated in her country, she was deeply saddened
In the passing away of Mrs. Syeda Rashida Abidi, who was a Muslim woman of much capability and prominence of the past 60 years, an era has ended — the era of a vibrant, vivacious and valorous Pakistani— and also a keeper of the heritage and sainthood of Imam Ali (AS) and Imam Hussain (AS)
She was proud of the well-cemented inter-faith concord that she believed was the soul of her country is inclusive, pluralistic, and democratic. As values disintegrated in her country, she was deeply saddened. When someone asked about her, some time ago, despite being in retirement from active life, she mentioned ‘I have humbly served God’s children, I have no regrets’
In her younger days, my wonderful mother must have spent a very colorful life, living it to the fullest, yet she was a very spiritual and ecumenical soul. In her benchmark, “Sufism, The Heart of Islam,” she has focused on the fact that true Islam that many have forgotten the real essence of religion. She took pains to heal lacerated hearts and broken families.
My mother, who undoubtedly was referred by many as a woman of merits, was further marked by her unquestionable love for her family, especially her only son, her love of marsias, and devotional music. Her life-long love of learning, her love of cuisine, her acceptance of everyone and refusal to judge or dismiss anyone, her enjoyment of people, and of hearing and telling stories.
In her rather short time on this earth, her journey was like a rock thrown into a lake – sending ripples ever outward into the future. Your addiction doesn’t define you.
She was a writer, a traveler, an orator, an educationist, a social activist, a poet, a thinker and above all a never-say-die community worker. She loved good ideas, and her friendships and family ignited the hearth that was her heart!
Each one of us who knew her, had liked her in more ways than one. The end of her life has portrayed death truthfully. She died in the middle of her life, in the middle of a sentence.
Sadly, without Syeda Rashida Abidi our country has become immensely poor.
_________________
