Yesterday, someone asked me to check out Google Australia’s homepage. When I went there, I was pleasantly surprised to find the following:
Initially, I wasn’t sure why Google Australia’s homepage featured Edhi saab, albeit it being something that should always be welcomed because I mean it’s Edhi saab. A little research revealed that February 28th would mark his 89th birthday and since Australia was a few hours ahead of Pakistan, it was already February 28th there. And it wasn’t just Australia’s homepage, there were a few other countries who’s homepage did the same.
Japan
South Korea
Pakistan (duh)
Other countries that’ll be seeing the Doodle include the US, the UK, Sweden, Ireland, Denmark, Portugal, Greece, Estonia and New Zealand. How Google chose these countries, I’m not sure :/
In a blog post published last night, this is what Google had to say about the Doodle:
‘Today’s Doodle honors Abdul Sattar Edhi, a global-reaching philanthropist and humanitarian who made it his life’s mission to helping those in need.
Edhi was born in India but moved to Karachi shortly after Pakistan was formed. He soon noticed that many Pakistanis lacked shelter, medicine, education, and other essentials, and was moved to help in any way he could. He began by simply asking others around him to contribute time or money, especially when a flu epidemic hit Karachi. In a 2009 interview with NPR, he said, “I got medical students to volunteer. I was penniless and begged for donations on the street. And people gave.”
In 1951, he established the Edhi foundation, which is funded solely by private donations. The foundation, which operates 24 hours a day, provides a variety of social services from homeless shelters to medical care — all free of charge — and has helped thousands of people around the world in times of need. Most notably, the foundation operates the world’s largest volunteer ambulance network in Pakistan. “In my entire life I have driven no other car except my ambulance,” Edhi said.
Edhi was directly involved with the foundation throughout the rest of his life. He always focused more on those around him than on his own comfort or needs. In fact, he and his family slept in a room near the foundation’s headquarters and had only a few belongings. But his charitable empire and “family” were vast — at the time of his death, he and his wife Bilquis were registered as parents or guardians of tens of thousands of Pakistani children. “My mission is to love human beings,” he said in an interview. “Each day is the best day of my life.”
Here’s to Edhi, whose unwavering commitment to others will always be remembered.’
“My mission is to love human beings”
Anyone else getting goosebumps?
People like him rarely come around.
Especially in a place like Pakistan, where there is a dearth of role models.
Since his passing, the Edhi Foundation has feared drops in donations. Let’s do our part and keep his legacy alive. If you would like to donate, you can do so here. If you can’t due to financial constraints, please share this with someone who can.
Happy Birthday Edhi saab