A Great Symbol Of Highly Successful Personality of J&K State:
BY NAGHMA TEHNIET:
LATE Mirza Muhammad Akram’s life is a story that has so many twists and turns in it, that to cover it in a single article is indeed a daunting task. The story reflects the pains of partition, it unravels the struggles of migration, it exposes the unparalleled ups and downs that life has taken him through but there is one common feature that remains consistently permanent throughout this story and that is ‘his unsheltered belief in God’s will and unending contentment’.
Hailing from a financially better-off family, his early childhood was the only period of his life which was relatively stable. They had enough land, animals, jewelry and above all means of livelihood to lead a reasonably comfortable life. But then came a political decision that would upturn the lives and fates of millions of people in coming months and years. Although partition of India and Pakistan was a result of a stroke of pen but it left long-lasting impact on people’s lives. Those who were well off became economically challenged within days, Mirza Akram’s family being one of them. He belonged to the Jarral Rajput clan which had a long history of leading and winning battles while ruling Rajauri for almost 700 years. Almost 90% of its male population was in army at the time of 1948 war, and they had played a significant role in getting freedom for the Pakistani part of Jammu and Kashmir. To achieve this, they sacrificed life, money and above all their homes. Almost 11 years old Mirza sahib was no exception. For next 3-4 years, the child’s life was in a constant flux. They kept moving to find an abode that is safe enough to lead a peaceful life and close enough to their dear homes to let them go back as soon as possible.
He lived with this dream of returning to the place he fondly called ‘Kaar’ (meaning home in Pahari) for next 75 years of his life and it was there in his eyes when he breathed last in 2021. The adversities of childhood transformed this child into a responsible young man very quickly. At the age of fifteen, he was already married off and was sent to find a job with a big trunk on his shoulders and to literally lead his own and his dependents’ destiny for decades to come. He proved that his shoulders were worth carrying the weight-the shoulders carried the responsibility and financial burden of educating four of his siblings and eight children. Their illustrious careers and commendable traits bear testimony to the fact that he fulfilled his elders’ expectations to the fullest.
His professional journey starting from the role of ‘village aid worker’, reaching up to the level of Director General Local Government and Rural development (LG&RD) department is a perplexing, and exemplary story. He kept investing on his education and professional development with whatever meagre resources he had. He had got exposure to the working of foreign funded programs at the onset of his career which provided him with the professional skills that went a long way in his career progression. He kept improving his education credentials alongside his professional journey. The dreams which were interrupted by the challenges put forth at a tender age, were fulfilled at the later stages of his life through his continuous passion and vigor. He got promoted to Project manager position by appearing in PSC examination. His diligence and unflinching commitment to work led him to rise up the ladder consistently in LG&RD department. He was always out and about serving people under his jurisdiction, assessing their problems, finding out solutions and implementing plans for the uplift of the region.
The people around him saw him as a thorough professional, a highly successful one, and a loving father. But being successful is not something that truly defines him. It’s his love for people and vigor for helping others and above all his passion for girls’ education and gender mainstreaming that sets him apart from others. Being father to five daughters at a time when there was a stigma attached to it, he never let people’s preconceived notions come his way. He made best educational opportunities available to his own daughters, at times better than what his sons were getting. This was not just out of love for his daughters. He wanted to be a trend setter by challenging predefined norms of society to give a ray of hope to others like him. He made impossible possible by sending his daughters to hostels for getting best education making their dreams realize. He led others to dare have similar dreams and brought about a change in the mindset of his fellows and clan.
Through Ar-Rafah foundation (an NGO focusing on girls’ education, women empowerment, and provision of economic opportunities), he had disbursed around PKR 6 million, in the form of scholarships and micro-credits. He single-handedly managed the finances and management of this NGO. Despite limited resources, he kept expanding progressively. He has left this legacy for his children to take it forward. He has already equipped them to handle it efficiently and expand it and they are keeping the baton flamed.
His story perplexes the reader that despite so many odds, how could a meek young boy evolve into a man impactful enough to leave such a strong legacy. There are two traits that set him apart and can be attributed to his success. Firstly, he was selfless to the extent of being beyond human at times. He would get happiest to forgive someone who has done worst to him. Secondly and more importantly, he had blind faith in God’s will. He would start a philanthropic venture without sufficient capital with the conviction that God will arrange, and people will gather for support with God’s will. He would send his child to the best educational institute with the hope that God will beef up his resources and this would happen. He was a man full of conviction and optimism and has left big shoes to fill for his children and his clan. May his soul rest in peace.
