By: Noushah Arshad

22nd August, a day when a life was brought from heavens to the earth. No one knew that one day he will become the mentor of thousands of people all over the world; he will bring luck and happiness into the lives of depressed ones. He was named Ashfaq Ahmed Khan, the most respected and beloved Baba Ji of many of us.

His play “Mann Chalay ka Sauda” was the first introduction, of his magical personality, to me. At that time I was quite young to understand his immense knowledge of philosophy and spirituality which was explained in the play. For many years I considered him just a writer who writes somewhat unique and different plays.

In December 2004, three months after his death, my father brought his book Zaavia-1 for me. Before reading that book, I never knew that I was going to dive in an ocean of love and care. It proved to be a powerful healer for me. As I kept on reading the book, my problems gradually disappeared and I started feeling blessed. It was as if I was getting a new life from the book. Every page that I turned, every chapter that I read, opened a new world for me. I learned to live a happy, blessed and satisfied life. I learned to deal with my sorrows and to celebrate every moment of my life as it was a precious gift of God for me. Baba Ji taught me to respect God�s creatures and be humble to them.

In last four years I have learned a lot from the three volumes of Zaavia. The way Baba Ji has expressed his thoughts embedded in beautiful stories and words, it has no match. His way of expression is very soft and caring. While reading his literary works or watching his dramas, it seems as if he is teaching his reader or viewer. He teaches something that is not a piece of cake to teach for everyone. It requires special care to advise people and specially youth. Most of the people can’t do this easily. Baba Ji is blessed with this gift that he understands the psychology of people and knows the human nature very well. That’s why we never feel that he is giving us pieces of advise somewhere hidden in his stories and beautiful thoughts.

I feel him very close to my heart and I am sure that most of us do so. His words, his literary works and his teachings will always keep him alive in our hearts. . . Great people never die. They breathe in beauty of their great deeds.

*Author is Studying Business in a local University.