Dr Aroosa Fatima
“The greatest glory that a man can achieve, is to be remembered even when he becomes a mortal entity”. Usman Khan Kakar is one of those children of glory, whose living was every man’s dream, but whose death was even more monumental.
One year has been passed in a blur, and people are still struggling with the loss of him and still mourning his death with intensity. By all means, the whole month of June is attributed to the memory of Lala, but 21 June formally has been started to observe as the Usman Lala Day of remembrance. His admirers across the whole Pakistan have paid tribute to his mighty being in their own divergent yet beautiful ways by conducting many notable events in big cities, including the art exhibitions, religious services, lectures and conferences.
How he created difference in the world?
His living has created a difference in the world and he is valued by all ethnicities, all colors and all cultures. To be honest, none would have fathomed the reality that what actually he had gained in this mortal world, until they witnessed thousands of grieved people swarming his funeral procession from Kuchlak to Muslim Bagh.
All zealous love that people showed him and still are showing is neither for granted nor by luck. He earned it all by himself through his hard work as a political worker of the Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, his energy as Pashtun Nationalist, his truthfulness as a politician, his vision as a political leader, his brotherly demure as a colleague, his efforts as the Chairman of Senatorial Committee for Less developed Areas, his character as the representative of Baluchistan, his voice as the voice of oppressed, his father like behavior with students of all races and his being as the kindest employer towards his employees.
His message to generations
To illustrate his bold and blatant message to the admirers from all walks of life, a poem of Munner Buneri from his Senate Speech is being quoted, which he delivered on June 20, 2019 that still echoes in the Parliament. Though stated as sarcasm, but its objective was to evoke the emotion of always being honest, distinguish between the right and wrong and call spade a spade.
Do demonstrate blood as water, if you intend to remain alive
Do not call spade a spade, if you intend to remain alive
Do not dare to call an illicit a sinner, if you intend to remain alive
Do describe dead as a sound asleep, if you intend to remain alive
Do glorify a coward as brave, if you intend to remain alive
Do tag cheap as precious, if you intend to remain alive
As this world is only worth living for charlatans
Do illustrate poison as an elixir, if you intend to remain alive
What should we do?
The Lao Tzu once said that “being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage”. Let’s ask ourselves a question, are we ready to be as courageous, kind, helpful and diligent as Usman Lala? If you are already acting upon that, then congratulations, you are tributing to his life on daily basis; and if no, then let’s make a promise that we will follow him to his principles, we will keep him alive by keeping his ideology animated, we will practice his theory of life. If we want other people to cherish and honor Usman Lala as we do, we need to set the example that we will practice those principles of Lala, at which we want others to act upon.
