A Saint Walked Among us

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They say its human nature that the large majority of people we love and admire most we take for granted. We never really show them our appreciation while they are alive because, we think, there will be countless opportunities in the future.

How wrong can we be? The death occurred recently of Dr. Ali Akbar, a well-known and admired personality in my village of Haydarabad. His passing shook the community like an earthquake.

Dr. Ali Akbar – or “Ali” as he was known to most – was liked and admired by all for many reasons, but there’s much more to this compassionate gentleman than most know.

Ali Akbar was a truly remarkable young man from his teens and an inspiration to all in our village. He led an exemplary life, providing for his mother and four siblings, when his father left them. He was 15.

Most of the good deeds he performed were never made public. 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.

They identified the poor and struggling to make ends meet and assisted them in every way they could.

Giving out winter blankets was among their good deeds, but they 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 help maintain the dignity of the family.

Ali would visit and speak with mum or dad and ask if assistance was needed.

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

He said to go about the village and praise him and/or Sir Frank for their good deeds would cause them serious 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.

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.

I’m sure many families knelt in prayer for his immediate accession into Heaven when it was learned he had unexpectedly died of a heart attack.

Ali was a gentleman, husband, father of two children, and one of the most compassionate human beings to walk on the face of the planet.  On behalf of all the people in Haydarabad, especially those he helped, may he rest in peace eternally.

Alif Rafi

Haydarabad