Recently on the social media site X formerly known as Twitter, I saw a post from Wajahat Masood, where he had uploaded an image of a cover of a memoir by a legend and a great mentor for both of us, I.A. Rehman Sb, titled "A Lifetime of Dissent - A Memoir by I. A. Rehman."
It took me back to down memory lane, when I met with Rehman sahib for the very first time with another great friend, comrade and mentor, the late Haider Abbas Gardezi sahib at the HRCP Office, Lahore.
Within the initial minutes of that meeting, I found grace, simplicity, modesty with other great qualities of that great man sitting in front of us with a revolutionary humanitarian spirit. We had a long conversation with him and that was the start of a most beautiful relationship with Rehman sahib and credit really went to Haider Abbas Gardezi sahib.
From that historical moment onwards, I stayed in touch with Rehman sahib and also met him in Lahore and Multan. Through those meetings and conversations, I was able to progress with more logical and unconventional ways, enabling me to look at the things with other perspectives rather than to remain enslaved on the illogical patterns of the past.
I had always long conversations with him, coming up with hundreds of questions on all the topics and yet I always found him so humble, kind, candid and always willing to answer all my sceptical queries. There was not a second where he had stopped me from asking and it was his greatness to bless me with his logical, balanced and dispassionate analysis on all the topics.
A witty, compassionate with extreme patience, I always watched him in engaging with youngsters with amazement. I will never forget his patience at the funeral of his nephew, Mr. Rashid Rehman sahib. I was surprised to see that despite that volcanic incident, he kept asking all the mourners to remail calm and patience.
Later on at his residence in Multan, while meeting with people, he urged again to remain in calm and at that time, I kept looking on his face, found him in pain due to that unfortunate incident, but peace took over on his body language. That was a moment, which I would never forget and always shared with all others to learn that classical attitude of that great person. He used to say on many occasions, “A world that is afraid of freedom will never be free.”
Campaigner, fighter and liberator, I.A Rehman sahib will always be remembered for being many things. His great contribution to ending all the discriminations and to fight for equality is legendary.
Rehman sahib remained a prominent key figure of the HRCP. He attracted many intellectuals, human rights activists, political figures and people from the different walks of life across the globe. His unconventional commitment and struggle for the constitutional, democratic, legal and fundamental human rights all based on the core principles of equality.
What also astonished me on several occasions, was his profound ability to discuss in detail on the subjects of art, theatre, medicine, poetry, film, global politics, constitutionalism and on other matters with the existing and the latest developments, related to all those subjects.
He was not only a great thinker, journalist, activist of South Asia but an iconic legend of this world. I would humbly suggest everyone to read his Memoir, not just to know him, but to evolve and to explore with better ways to achieve progress in your lives with more urge to serve humanity without all discriminations.
https://fb.watch/pMzUAQa0Vx/