Sahil Iqball
It was too early for you to leave us. No one ever can fill the void you have left in our lives. The 50 years of your life were full of struggle and pain.
I have firm belief in it that whatever happens in this world, happens for a reason and with the will of Almighty, He has better plans for every being, so was the death of my father, of course he left us in an unexpected condition but he left for his last journey in a way that all the good and hard work which he had gone through during his life is exemplary.
People who used him, cheated him, and disowned him during his lifetime will never ever have the privilege to have a death like him. Though it was after his death, his work and passion for his profession got paid off worldwide.
I still remember how you used to motivate us with optimism and energy while paying price for the crime you never did. Those four-and-a-half years of your incarceration in various jails of Jammu Kashmir would have been the worst nightmare for anyone. Still, you stood strong like a rock to face all the miseries destiny had in store for you.
There has hardly been a time when I found you pessimistic or low on energy. People ask me about my inspiration and I proudly mention your name. You were not only my father but a mentor and a role model.
During the four years of imprisonment, I remember the hardships our family faced. When I almost give up the idea of continuing my studies in order to meet the expenses of the family. But you motivated me and my younger siblings not to leave education and pursue it in whatever conditions we face. Those words of wisdom and your belief in power of education are helping me in my life.
My specially-abled uncle left no stone unturned to feed us during those four years despite not being in the state of doing physical labor. I wish if I could ever return him those endless favors on us.
I was living a life free of worries and tensions after Dad’s return from jail never knowing that I have to go through the difficult of times in my life where worries, tensions, struggle for a better life will be my daily routine. But I have inherited your principles of life in me which never let me compromise my principles of life.
Surprisingly, I came to know that some so-called media fraternity members have started a campaign to collect donations for my family.
I fail to understand how was that even a sign of love and respect towards their colleague who in his lifetime never compromised his profession for the sake of some panes, while it’s a well-known fact about my father to most of his colleagues that he was passionate for his work not for the sake of money but for the sake of a better cause.
Those so-called media persons who took over to social media making fun of my father’s life full of modesty and hard work just for the mere sake of publicity were those who never bothered to pay a second visit to our family.
Days after my father’s death I came back to the city thinking that most of the media heads in Srinagar city has been my father’s friends or colleagues they may offer a job to me so that I can be empowered to take care of my family which was the best way to help a friend or a fraternity member’s family after his death it was again Syed Shujat Bukhari who offered me to work for his paper The Rising Kashmir and promised me a bright future in media but again I run out of luck and God had different plans for me and Shujat Sahab.
Now as I have completed my Masters in Mass Com and journalism I found myself pessimistic with a dull and dark future in media but it is worth mentioning that there are those friends of my father who without making noise on social media loudspeakers stood stand and firm to help and benefit us in one way or other.
During his incarnation in prison my father came out with eight book scripts in his hand, never wasted a sec of his life in the jail rather used it in a very proper way. Those books later earned him fame and appreciation from all sides. He remained loyal to his pen and wrote what came to his way as that came.
He never took his profession as a source of income rather a platform to serve society by writing the true stories of suppressed people, may the best of his deeds come to his rescue.
I have many sweet as well as painful memories to narrate, but I feel no words can truly describe them. I sum up with the thank you note to all those who came here with us, mourned with us, cried with us, empathized with us, giving me and my family a strong feeling of togetherness in those tough moments of our life.
You were a Hero throughout your life and you will remain one as long as humanity is alive and as long as people can read.
Miss you Dad
