To: "Dr AS Sekhon" <assekhon@shaw.ca>
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 2:09:08 PM
Subject: Re: My Deepest Condolences…..
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2014 2:09:08 PM
Subject: Re: My Deepest Condolences…..
My dear Bhai Sahib
I am overwhelmed with sadness. We have lost a friend, a visionary and a inspirational teacher. Please read below and forward to all his friends and well wishers.
My dear fiends
It is with great sadness that I have to announce that my friend, my teacher Brigadier Usman Khalid died early this morning in London. A great visionary has passed away. We shall not gaze upon his like again. رَاجِعونَ لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّا
May Allah bless this great man, so inspiring, principled, rebellious, and full of ideas and a diehard supporter of the two nation theory. He was a true Pakistani, a great soldier, inspirational teacher and above all a perfect gentleman. His extraordinary life has come to an end but his legacy will endure...
He is survived by his sister Dr Kaneez Yousaf, son Abid Khalid and four daughters, seven grandchildren and thousands of friends and supporters and student disciples.
We will miss above all his love which has sustained us throughout our lives. But we are comforted by the memory of his long, full and inspiring life and so proud of his devotion to helping others as he sought to change the world for the better.
Brigadier Usman Khalid was a prolific writer and a great campaigner for Kashmiris, Dalits, Adivasis and all the oppressed people of the world, however, his primary focus was on South Asia. There was never a dull moment listening to him, even if you disagreed with him. He spoke his mind and spoke with confidence and conviction.
He had unshakeable beliefs and his abiding determination that Kashmir would become a part of Pakistan and India would ultimately be held to account for the atrocities that it has perpetrated not only to Kashmiris and Sikhs but also on its own people.
A great writer and his book ‘Authentic Voices’ published by the London Institute of South Asia is a remarkable work that was dedicated to 250,000 Sikhs and 90,000 Kashmiri martyrs and many more who have been killed in all parts of India notably, Assam, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
He was the founder father of London Institute of South Asia and later became its chairman. A few years ago I had the singular honour when he and the board of directors asked me to the Executive Director of this institute. Our challenge is to take this forward and further. I would personally miss his guidance and support
He believed in movements for the causes he cared about. In the world of politics that is often too small, he thought big about Pakistan and our world.
I saw him last night for the last time. When I had met him a few days earlier in the hospital he said,” Saeed my body is failing me but my mind is fine. Please give me a run down on events in Pakistan, Kashmir, and the rest of the world”. When I started briefing him his eye lit up. He may have been ailing in body but was as sharp as ever in mind.
Brigadier Usman Khalid inspired my generation and gave people hope of a fair and sovereign Pakistan.
He was one of the greatest assets for Pakistan Army but he was not given the treatment he deserved. He was a great visionary who had unshakable commitment to Pakistan and lived and worked for it wholeheartedly - mind, body and soul.
London Institute of South Asia (LISA) has opened an electronic register to record all the condolences and messages from his friends. Please E mail me with subject marked as BRIG USMAN KHALID; saeedismat@yahoo.co.uk . We shall ensure that all messages are forwarded to his son Abid Khalid and daughters.
Regards
Saeed Ismat
*****
On Monday, 31 March 2014, 17:18, Dr AS Sekhon <assekhon@shaw.ca> wrote:
Piare Chhotte Bhai Sahib Janab SamiUllah Malik ji,
and
Piare Chhotte Bhai Sahib Saeed Ismat ji,
Aslaam O Alaikum!
Further to my telephonic conversation with both of you, I wish to express my deepest and heartfelt condolences at the demise of our older brother, Vade Bhai Sahib Janab Usman Khalid ji. Please try to accept and handle the situation that it has been Khudawand Bakhshida's Will. The Will and Order of the Khudawand where we all are helpless before His will.
Would you please convey my heartfelt condolences to Vade Bhai Sahib's son, Barkhurdar Abid Khalid, although I would contact him personally, too.
Chhotte Bhai Sahib Malik ji, please face the time boldly and courageously as we all are with you and you have to look after my Aappa ji. Khudawand will shower His blessings on you, Aappa ji and the family.
Bhai Sahib Ismat ji, now you have far more burden on your shoulders. For the immediate help and advice, our brother and Chhotte Bhai SahibMalik ji, will do that job. The job created by the sudden vacuum with the demised soul of our Vade Bhai Sahib, late Janab Usman Khalid ji.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the greatest loss in our lives. Well, we all have to live with it and fill the vacuum created suddenly. Time is the best healing factor. Khudawand Mehar Karange.
Please give my regards to Chhotte Bhai Sahib Janab Malik ji and his life partner, to you and Aappaji (Doctor Sahibaan), and Dr Abdul Mu'min Chaudhury and his family.
Also, my regards to Barkhurdar Abid Khalid and his family, and the son in law of the late Vade Bhai Sahib ji of London, U K, and Vade Bhai Sahib's daughters of Kent, U K and Dubai.
With lots of love and warmest regards to you both.
Your brother,
Awatar Singh Sekhon
*****
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