Sardar Khan was my colleague at Daily ‘THE MUSLIM’ working as a part-time page-maker but he was good at many things except page-making. He was a regular employee of the Ministry of Finance and was now living a retired life.
He always replied: “I would prefer to leave” whenever I taunted him that “You would become a perfect page-maker or would leave this trade, if you continue working with me.” But to my surprise he became a perfect man in his job within a couple of months, perhaps, taking my challenge and prove that he can do it.
At that time computers were not used for page-making and the page-makers had to prepare the page(s) on bromide (photo paper material or the film). My theory in my taunt was that when the page-making is being carried out, one of the persons involved i.e. the editor or the page-maker should be perfect in this field and if both are not well-versed with this job, none of them would succeed. He proudly said, “Dekha Munawar Bhai, I have done it.”
I had full praise for him as only a few people can respond so quickly, but he did it.
Gradually, our relationship turned into a personal friendship rather than office colleagues and we often used to visit each other’s home. He always phoned me as soon as the Rajab moon is sighted to know about the date of Niaz of Hazrat Imam Jafar Al-Sadiq (A.S.). He used to ride Vespa at that time and used to visit us alone but when he purchased a four-wheeler then he, his younger brother Abrar, sister Shahnaz Zardar, and niece Farah Naz alias ‘Gurya’ used to regularly visit us on Rajab Niaz.
Many talents of Sardar Khan came into my knowledge with regular interactions in both the families; He was a good photographer on the basis of which he was promoted as ‘Press Photographer’ and he was also available privately for large and small functions – I also enjoyed his services for my August 14 function that our Association had arranged in the locality and he was immensely lauded; I spotted him one day, sitting in a yellow-cab and stopped my car asking, “Sardar Khan, Yeh Kubb say?” He smiling told me that I have bought this but I have to pay the instalments.
I was aware of his involvement as “A Category Newscaster” with Radio Pakistan; he was very good. He also worked as an ‘Official Photographer’ for Radio Pakistan He was also spotted while acting in stage dramas and we used to see his stage drama pictures in various national newspapers.
Sardar Khan was most probably brought to the stage with the guidance of his elder brother Dildar Khan who followed Sardar Khan to say goodbye to this world materialist world exactly after four months after him. Sardar Khan passed away on February 08 while Dildar Khan on June 08, this year.
The family is observing the Chehlum of Dildar Khan today (Sunday, July 13).
I was not well aware of Dildar Khan’s capabilities and qualification although was my friend at the Facebook. A very soft-spoken and decent person; but after going through Qaiser Masood Jafri’s (a friend of the bereaved family for the last 43 years; He was introduced to me a few years ago when Mr. Jafri was on a visit to Islamabad from Karachi) Facebook note about the family woes, losing Sardar Khan and Dildar Khan within a span of four months.
I came to know that Dildar Khan had done double masters, one in Urdu Literature and the other in Library Science. He served Radio Pakistan Islamabad (External Service) for almost 25 years as Duty Officer. He was a full-time employee of the Ministry of Finance from where he was retired. He was a person having a deep love for stage and theater. Mr. Jafri narrates, “Half a century ago when the stage was at its peak in Liaquat Hall Rawalpindi, Dildar Khan used to act in plays as well as direct these stage plays. I remember, actor Afzal Khan, who became famous as ‘John Rambo’, was working in Dildar Khan’s play when he got an offer to act in the series ‘Guest House’ from Islamabad TV, and he became a “superhit” overnight. He was also a very sincere and compassionate person, and because of this habit, these two brothers suffered huge financial losses in extending loans to friend most of which were not returned. Only the sincerity of a person remains, which the Almighty God will reward In Sha Allah. The youngest brother Abrar Khan is also quite sick these days. He works in CDA. He also is a very blameless person. I appeal to all of you who are familiar with this family to pray for the forgiveness of the late Sardar Khan, Dildar Khan, and pray for the recovery of those who are sick.
I also pray the Almighty Allah may keep the departed souls of the two brothers in eternal peace and give courage to his friends and family members to bear this irreparable loss with fortitude.
I would like to mention that all three brothers were sick: Sardar Khan was hospitalized, his elder brother Dildar Khan and the younger brother Abrar Khan were sick at home. Their niece Farah Naz had to run from pillar to post to look after them; running to hospital and taking care of other two brothers at home.
We also pray for younger brother Abrar Khan who worked in CDA and is very sick these days and is now on retirement.
Farah Naz, who is very good Urdu debator and have won All Pakistan Debating Contests, some of which were supervised by me during my tenure as Director Academics in Higher Education Commission. Farah Naz is attached with Radio Pakistan since 2000 looking after Urdu programme and documentaries besides as broadcaster of English news. She also worked for PTV Sports for a few years while her mother and Sardar Khan’s sister of Shahnaz Zardar also worked for Radio Pakistan as a broadcaster besides doing a job in Muslim Commercial Bank but could not continue with Radio Pakistan for lack of time.
