Alif Rafi

They say its human nature that the large majority of people we love and admire most we take for granted. Never showing them our appreciation while they are alive, because there will be countless opportunities in the future to do so.

How wrong can a person be? The death occurred recently of Dr. Ali Akbar, a well-known and admired personality in my village of Haydarabad.

I’ve had the honour to speak, chat, be guided by, and, indeed to thank him a number of times for what he did for my family and me, but not nearly often enough.

Most of the villagers knew and admired Dr. Ali Akbar or “Ali” as he was known to most, but there is much more to this compassionate gentleman than what one might expect to read in the newspapers. I do not know the number, but I know many families have good reason to miss him.

Dr. Ali Akbar was a truly remarkable young man from his teens and an inspiration to all in our village. He led an exemplary life taking care of his family first and then generously reaching out to anyone who needed assistance.

Most of his good deeds will never be known. He was never one to seek publicity or self-glorification in his compassionate giving. If it were not for Ali and his 'foreign friend of Bangladesh' Sir Frank Peters, many children in the village would not be educated today, and that’s a fact.

Together they operated a down-to-earth scheme of charity and compassion that benefitted the community. They identified the poor and struggling to make ends meet and they attempted to assist them if they could.

Giving out winter blankets was among their good deeds. Ali and Sir Frank did it discretely, literally during the dark hours, so neighbours would not see.

My family was a beneficiary to their kindness on a number of occasions. When they gave assistance there were no drum rolls or public gatherings for all to see, as politicians do.

In fact, their attitude was the complete opposite. Whatever family they helped, they did in total secrecy to keep the dignity of the family intact.

Ali would visit and speak with mum or dad and ask if all was okay and if assistance was needed. That on occasions included an interest-free loan that carried no deadline to repay. “Repay when your situation improves”, he used to say.

Ali made it crystal clear that nobody outside the family must be told about help given to the family or it would never be given again.

He said a ‘thank you’ from within the family walls was quite sufficient. To go about the village and praise him and/or Sir Frank for their good deed would be destructive and cause them serious insurmountable problems.

He said insincere people with fake problems would flock to them just to get money or other help they didn’t really need and it would be a nightmare for them trying to sort out the fake from the real.

After given assistance Ali often called to the house just to see if the situation had improved and brought medicine with him if required. (He was a homeopathic doctor).

The best way of describing Dr. Ali Akbar is to say he’s was a saint walking among us. He himself wasn’t rich, but he shared what little he had and through the now famous Ali Akbar Fun’n’Games he brought more joy and fun to the children over several years than anything like it previously known.

After reading the heart-wrenching tribute by his long-time dear friend Sir Frank, it brought tears to my eyes. His writing echoes the sentiments of the entire village, which is in mourning, and shock.

I was fortunate to have met him in the street before he died and to shake his hand and thank him. There is no doubt he is in Heaven today.

I’m sure many families knelt in prayer for his immediate accession into Heaven when it was learned he had unexpectedly died on Saturday, January 18 at around 10.00pm of a heart attack.

Ali Akbar was a gentleman, husband, father, and one of the most compassionate human beings on the planet. I wish Allah had made more. May he rest in peace.