SYED SHAMS UDDIN A Great Woman, A Great Deed—One That Will Be Written in Golden Letters in History for All Time
There are some individuals whose kindness, compassion, and unwavering dedication to humanity transcend all borders, religions, and races. Their lives become a testament to selfless service, and their work continues to inspire generations long after they are gone. One such angelic soul was Dr. Ruth Pfau, a woman whose name will forever shine in the annals of history as a beacon of love, sacrifice, and humanity.
Dr. Ruth Pfau arrived in Karachi in 1960, a young woman in her thirties, with an indomitable spirit and a heart brimming with compassion. Born in Germany, she could have chosen a life of comfort and privilege, but fate had ordained a different path for her. When she saw the plight of the leprosy patients in Karachi, she could not turn away. She made Pakistan her home and devoted her entire life to serving those who had been abandoned by society.
At that time, leprosy was a terrifying and misunderstood disease. It was widely believed to be incurable, and those afflicted were often cast out by their own families, left to beg for survival on the streets. Their wounds festered, their limbs decayed, and the stench of their suffering kept people at bay. It was a fate worse than death, and these unfortunate souls were treated as outcasts, shunned by the very world they belonged to. In such bleak circumstances, Dr. Pfau became their savior, their healer, and their guardian angel.
Without hesitation, she rolled up her sleeves and set to work. She established treatment centers for leprosy patients, where they received not only medical care but also dignity, hope, and love. She did not merely treat their physical ailments; she healed their wounded souls. She sat by their bedsides, cleaned their wounds with her own hands, shared her food with them, and reassured them that they were not alone. Her presence was a source of comfort, her words a balm to their shattered spirits.
Dr. Pfau’s efforts did not stop at just treating leprosy. She spearheaded a nationwide campaign to control and eventually eradicate the disease in Pakistan. Through her tireless dedication, she established 157 leprosy centers across the country, ensuring that patients in even the most remote areas had access to care. Her commitment led to Pakistan being declared leprosy-free by the World Health Organization in 1996—a monumental achievement that would not have been possible without her relentless perseverance.
She immersed herself so deeply in Pakistani culture that she became one of its own. She learned to speak Urdu fluently, understanding that true service comes from genuine connection. When she wore Pakistani attire, with a dupatta draped over her head, she looked no less than an angel who had descended from the heavens to serve humanity. She never married, never sought personal comfort, and never returned to her homeland. Instead, she chose to spend every moment of her life caring for those whom the world had abandoned.
Her sacrifices did not go unnoticed. She was honored with numerous national and international awards, including the Hilal-e-Imtiaz and Nishan-e-Quaid-i-Azam, some of Pakistan’s highest civilian honors. But beyond the accolades, it was the love and gratitude of the countless lives she touched that were her true rewards. She was affectionately known as “Mother Ruth Pfau,” a title that reflected the depth of her maternal love and unwavering care for those in need.
Even in death, she remained devoted to Pakistan. Her final wish was to be laid to rest in the land she had served so selflessly. Her funeral was given full state honors, a rare tribute reserved for the most distinguished and revered figures in the country’s history. And yet, no number of awards, no grand funeral, and no amount of praise could ever fully repay the debt of gratitude that Pakistan owes to this extraordinary woman.
Dr. Ruth Pfau’s legacy is not merely in the centers she built or the awards she received—it is in the hearts she healed, the dignity she restored, and the love she gave so unconditionally. Her life was a lesson in selflessness, a story of courage, and an example of what it truly means to dedicate oneself to the service of humanity.
Even today, as generations pass, her name will be spoken with reverence, her deeds recounted with admiration, and her memory cherished with gratitude. We, and the generations to come, will forever remain indebted to her boundless love and sacrifice. Truly, she was an angel in human form, and her place in history will forever be written in golden letters.
A window to Northern Areas-I, The Muslim dated July 4, 1997. By Syed Shamsuddin Most of our people even today seem quite oblivious of the geo-political position of Northern Areas while the exact historical background concerning Gilgit-Baltistan and where these must stand politically remains yet another subject of discussion. Not to speak of a layman, a person of the stature of Chief Executive of the country, once inquired whether the Northern Areas an integral part of the north west frontier province (NWFP). This happened when he rule the country in the aftermath of martial law. Yet another minister on Kashmir and Northern Areas, during the democratic government that followed, was pleased to tell a member of the northern areas council that he owed his minisitership not to them (Northern Areas people) but to the turbaned man of his constituency, standing at the door of his official chambers. There is infact, dearth of substantial historical evidence as to when exactly man ...
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