| |
Fusion.
Yes, that is the word to describe the ambience as the
kids fall over each other, each with his own little
story to tell Khala.
The trademark fusion of human compassion and practical
discipline that carries through the Ferozepur Road premises
housing the SOS Lahore Village points back clearly to
the vital source… Back in the Village office,
the spring sunshine falling on her slender silhouette,
Souriya Anwar’s countenance is lit up in a signatured,
low-key expression of pride, pleasure, and empathy:
“Just look at this.” For just this once,
President, SOS Pakistan, Souriya Anwar allows the personal
to come up front as she unfolds the collage of Valentine
wishes addressed to her. Bedecked with ribbons, chart
paper heart-shaped cut-outs, big, small, glitter-ridden,
sequin-spangled and sparkling, with the artistic enthusiasm
of all that it takes to say it out aloud, the wish cards
spread out on the table are but a pointer to what Khala
symbolizes for the kids.
Dear Khala, begin all the wishes... poignantly potent,
the relationship is but a small measure of the immense
volumes of genuine, untainted love readable from between
lines that have been copiously penned by children. And
these are children from whom normal human emotions like
love, affection, care, were cruelly snatched away very
early in life. Yet, today, as on any other celebratory
occasion, they know enough to be able to talk of such
sentiments.
‘Valentines Day or any other,’ reads one,
‘wouldn’t have the same meaning if you weren’t
there to share it with.’ Another says, ‘May
life bring you all you want it to.’ Yet another
declares, ‘Loving you is my favourite thing to
do.’ The wish cards talk of the sunshine brightening
up the heart, of joy to bring a smile, of love that
fills the heart…
Happy reflection of what she means to the kids, the
messages alone should have been strong alibi to support
the decision of the Government of Pakistan to finally
recognize this work of immeasurable humanitarian concern
by honouring Souriya Anwar, sitting President SOS Pakistan
with a Sitara-i-Imtiaz, twenty-two years too late! “For
me the award stands for a public recognition of the
state’s social responsibility. As it is, SOS and
its record successes represent the combined services
of the countless people who have supported it in one
way or the other all these years.” In no uncertain
terms Anwar makes sure to say that when, on the twenty-third
of March this year, she goes up to receive the Sitara-i-Imtiaz
from the President of Pakistan, the citation will not
be heard by her as a personal compliment.
“Yes,” she muses out aloud, “SOS is
my life. A very important part, but in the words of
the Dalai Lama, it is, for all of us who are in any
way connected with the project, a work of love that
knows no borders, no racial or ideological differences,
only human beings.”
“I was aware of the dismal condition of local
orphanages, so when this offer came up, I had no second
thoughts.” Fully aware from the day SOS Pakistan’s
first village became operative in Lahore, that this
was going to be a commitment for life; Anwar today oversees
the running of some forty SOS projects in the country.
“I could see even at that point in time, the magnitude
of the project but I knew that as Muslims the people
of this country would stand by our commitment.”
Anwar remembers telling Pohl in the initial days that,
“We are, one day, going to finance the project
ourselves.” It has not been only providence that
her confidence of so many years ago has been cause today
for Secretary General SOS International declaring Pakistan
the diamond in their family.
A determined woman who is building the future of the
country in her own right, Anwar, who can sit back and
laugh over the many years SOS kept on offering a salary,
just in case their chosen local representative lost
interest along the way, has one major regret even though
now SOS Pakistan is internationally graded as one, solid
ship nobody can sink. Still following a disciplined
ten to late afternoon, six days a week work schedule
at the Village, Anwar is now more involved than in the
early years, with administrative responsibilities. “I
miss the years when I had had more time with the children.”
Yet in spite of the wide spread of the responsibilities,
she still finds the time to listen, for in listening,
she says, lies the solution.
At SHE we salute this epitome of womanhood with a life
less ordinary, who, in the heyday of life opted out
of the coffee party circuit.
|
|
