A Call Worth Hope
‘Please Call Back’ has never been and could never be of as value as the one I saw written on a light pink post-it slip for me, handed over by the receptionist at our Embassy on March 25th 2020; and, as I called back the music to my ears was a young voice saying in Urdu: May Pakistan Kay Liay Ventilators Donate Kerna Chahta Hoon, Jitnay Bhe Mairay Stock May Hain (I want to donate ventilators to Pakistan, all in my stock) leaving me spellbound. But, this was not it, the young man carried on, saying: Lekin Na Maira, Na Maire Company Ka Naam Aana Chahiay Aur Na Mujhay Koi Tasweer Khinchwani Hay, Aap Please Mujh Say Ye Donation Lay Lain And Pakistan Bhaij Dain (But, neither mine nor my company’s name should come up, Neither I want a picture, please just take this donation from me and send to Pakistan).
It is very hard to express the pace at which butterflies were flying in my stomach and the blush under my bearded cheeks. My unprepared response was: “Sure; can I come to meet you, please?”, and that is how a window of kindness opened to this selfless young Pakistani entrepreneur with a true heart of gold who has donated medical equipment worth millions of rupees to help the authorities in Pakistan fighting coronavirus pandemic. Surprisingly, that too at a time when the whole world is panicking and is ready to pay whatever asked in price for ventilators — a lifeline that is rapidly acquiring the status of being extinct; and, donating all you got in stock is quite bold unimaginably.
The very next morning, on my way to the warehouse everything around seemed so charming — the beauty of spring in the form of cherry blossom; the fields of onions and cabbage; the wildly grown mustard on the banks of country roads; people jogging and biking on the bank of Lake Teganuma in Kashiwa; strawberry farms with upfront small stalls sat up by old Japanese men; and, the clear blue sky — Japan never seemed so beautiful before. There was something about the power of this blindfolded kindness that was holding my heart close to every glimpse of the scenery outside the car’s window.
With all the nervousness and anxiety, I reached the site well before the scheduled appointment drawing multiple sketches of the donor in my mind — judging every man passing by, till I saw a lad approaching with a smile and all the casualness to welcome me in his office. It took me some good time to believe that this young guy in his thirties has been playing a ‘saint’ irrespective of age, the natural desire for fame and all worldly ambitions. Listening to his life story and seeing the great work he has been doing as an entrepreneur reassured my confidence in our exceptional expatriates who not only make it good for themselves and their families but also add significantly to the image of our country. Pakistan is, no doubt, lucky to have people like Asad Nawaz Khan — I am finally using the name with his consent.
Opening his heart in a matchless manner, Asad has donated medical equipment worth more than Rs.35 million that has already been shipped for Pakistan; and, in this story we find what gets the world going — selflessness, sincerity and sacrifice with spiffing sobriety. Through this piece, I must thank him on behalf of whole Pakistan for his love towards his country; and, seek excuse at the same time for dragging him till the last moment of dispatching the consignment containing donated equipment, though he wanted to stay unknown and uncredited.
Adding to the recognition he well deserves, from the record of our office we came to know that Asad was one of the major donors from Japan a decade ago — while in his twenties, when Pakistan faced devastation by floods. However, he requested and managed to secure anonymity then; unfortunately but intentionally not this time.
The reason for bringing Asad to the public eye is realization of the fact that at a time of such dismay when the uncertainty in life is deepening with every passing day and hopes being grounded, people like him are true beacons keep showing the path ahead. In addition to the inspiration other people with resources are drawing from this noble act of kindness and philanthropy, definitions of assets and the values attached to such holdings are also changing making me recall a concept taught by one of our professors at Carnegie Mellon University about “collecting ‘I owe you’s (IOUs)” — the more you have in your basket at the end of your life, the richer you leave this world.
A lot is being said about a complete transformation expected in post covid-19 period; and, I believe one such realization could be the value of kindness in our lives, giving new meanings to ‘sharing is caring’ for the coming generations with the birth of indigenous superheroes like Asad Nawaz.
