Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Remembering Arshad Aziz

 
(1 April 1956 - 7 July 1977)
Arshad Aziz - a handsome, well built course mate of ours joined PMA May 1975 and right from day one he had a aura of his own and his pleasant personality earned him many a good friends from our course, as can be seen from the photos shared herein under. Like many of us, he too hurriedly wrote back home informing him them of the tough and rigorous life in PMA as is evident from the letter he wrote to his maternal aunt on 22 May 1975:
Herein under there two more letters from Arshad Aziz (shared by his niece Maleeha Malik today - 26 August 2020- one must appreciate his aesthetic sense in choosing animated letter pad of his times:
Arshad remained with our course but destiny had some other plans for him and was relegated to 56th PMA Long Course in the final term. We never knew why, but he was to embark upon a journey with the cadets of 56 PMA Long Course to Murree - a journey that was to take him away from us forever to his heavenly abode, along with more than a dozens other cadets when their bus plunged into a ravine. The details of this tragic accident have been covered separately in our post: 7th July 1977 - The day we lost two of our comrades
The news were printed on the front page of the then only English newspaper The Pakistan Times
For quite sometime, I had only two photos of Arshad Aziz: The thumbnail photo (above) and the following memorable photo shared by Asif:
(L to R) Javed Sultan and Arshad Aziz and Asif

Then one day, I received a mail from Dr Tanveer Ahmed Malik, brother of Arshad, who promised me to send more photos of Arshad. Please read the message from Dr Tanveer and see a number of photos sent by Dr Tanveer of Arshad's PMA days as well as that of his burial day. I on behalf of all course mates thank Dr Tanveer for this favour and sharing some of the memorable photos of Arshad.
Dear Jalal Bhai !! AOA, As promised in my last mail, Please find attached few pics of Arshad while he was in PMA and couple of them of his burial. I shall be thankful to you if you could label the names of his course mates in these pictures. I could only recognize General Zahir ul Islam with who happened to be his close friend. Wasalam and regards - Dr Tanveer Ahmad Malik
The photos herein under (and the photos of accident above) are the once shared by Dr Malik of his brothers - never shared before (Some of the photos are with our course, while a few are with cadets of 56 Long Course after his relegation): 
 As pointed out by Dr Tanveer, General Zaheer figures out prominently in the photos - others who are also frequently seen are Asif Alvi, and Faheem Khawar
Beside many other qualities, Arshad was also a good debater as can be seen in the photo on left
 In the photo on the left besides others, late Khurshid can also be seen (second from left)
As photos above show, Arshad was quite close to Zahir, Asif and Alvi
 With cadets of 56 PMA Long Course
... and finally a rare video of Quaid e Azam guard featuring Arshad Aziz (Courtesy Maleeha Malik)

Then suddenly all smiles ceased - no more letters from Arshad and no more of his typical silent smiles. Everything got buried with the burial of sixteen smiling and enthusiastic cadets, including Arshad and Iftikhar from our course:
The farewell send off of bodies of the perished cadets from PMA in helicopters

Asif Alvi in his mail remembers Arshad: What a sweet person he was and being his side room mate i have vivid memories of him. I feel he was the most sophisticated prospective office, full of wit and equally mature. He was in deep love with one of his cousins and was planning a wonderful life but God has his own ways and directions of destiny for humans. When i reflect about his, barring his running capabilities, probably he should have ended among to cadets. Even in the hard days of PMA he was a veracious reader. He had intimate friendship with Gen Zahir, and you may fine more insights into his personality from him. God may bless his soul. Ameen 

Muhammad Asif remembers Arshad and says, "Arshad Aziz was in our platoon (Tariq-I) and relegated in 1st term on physical grounds as he was very week in PT (A CASUALTY CAUSED DUE TO ------ATTITUDE Of Gen G. M Malik, the then Bn Comd). After relegation he became part of 56 PMA L/C. A group of about 40 to 50 cadets went to Murree on excursion trip on one of the week end and on their way back they met an accident and in which many cadets were killed and Arshad was one of those. Arshad was very humble, quite by nature and through gentle man, in short span of 6 months which he spent with Tariq-I, he became friend of almost all platoon mates. ."

The mention of Arshad Aziz while could not have been wholesome by input from his brother in law Dr Malik as mentioned above, I am equally indebted to Arshad's niece Maleeha Malik who recently got in contact with me and shared some valuable letters and the news clipping, she recently provided. She wrote:
Assalam alikum Jalal Uncle,
I went to New Jersey this weekend and found Arshad Mamu’s beautiful letters that he wrote to my Naani (his phopho). I also found a newspaper clipping about the accident. There were two condolence letters from General Zia ul Haq and Brigadier Ahmad Kamal Khan to Arshad mamu’s family. I also found a really funny letter giving a glimpse into PMA life. I can’t begin to tell you how it feels to read his letters. My grandparents saved these letters in plastic sleeves. They span the years 1971-1977. It even includes his last letter written on July 5th and received on the day he was buried July 9th. It is like taking a trip down memory lane and into history. His love and humor are prominent in all his letters. He was and continues to be so loved. May Allah bless his soul in heaven. You may publish these online since they pertain to his PMA life. I am fortunately or unfortunately the only one in this generation who still reads and writes Urdu so I have inherited this treasure now.
Best wishes
 Herein under are two letters shared by Arshad's nieces, one from General Zia ul Haq, the then COAS and Brigadier Ahmad Kamal, the then commandant PMA:

Let us keep memories of Arshad and all those brothers who have taken their Heavenly flights by sharing their memories and photos.

10 comments:

mfm157 said...

This post means so much to my family. Arshad Aziz was my parents' cousin. I was born a few years after his death so I never got to know him. But I heard so many stories about him. I am writing a story about him and I would love to correspond with others who remember him. Once when I was little, I asked Arshad's mother (whom I love like my own grandmother) if she missed him. She said, "Yaad ussay kiya jaata jo khabie bhula ho. Woh khabie bhula he nahi."
-Maleeha Malik
email: Maleeha.Malik@gmail.com

Jalal HB said...

I will get in touch with a few survivors I know and ask them if they are willing to correspond with you. May memories of Arshad and all those who perished in the bus accident never fade. May Allah bless them all. Aameen

mfm157 said...

The letters and the clipping add more to this blog and for that I am grateful to you, Jalal Uncle. All of the letters he wrote were to his aunt (my Naani); his respect and admiration for his aunt were prominent in every letter. My father was Arshad's Taya's son and after his death my dad became like a son to Arshad's parents and that is how I became familiar with his heartwarming story. The recently discovered letters highlight his aura and humorous personality even more. May Allah bless the souls of all those departed so young on that ill-fated bus (Ameen). May we all remember to work hard in our lives; to spread joy and laughter wherever we go like Arshad Mamu. And to remember that we all belong to Allah and to Him we shall return. The letter from the former commandant of PMA, Brigadier Ahmad Kamal Khan, is exquisite in its Urdu and its deeply touching message: "Marhoom Gentleman Cadet Arshad Aziz be Allah ki amanat thay. Aur sahib-e-amanat jab chahay apni amanat wapis lay sakta hai."
In gratitude,
Maleeha Malik

Jamil said...

Jalal every time i go through your Blogs about our days at PMA, i somehow get Lost in that amazing days of our life.
You have kept the memories of our Dear friends n comrades who left us for their journey to heavenly abode.
Arshad Aziz waa a great course mate, very humble, kind n yet witty n cool. Though we would meet during various Training events, certain academic classes yet i can remember his smile n gentle way of conversation.
I want to thank Col Kaiser Khan for providing detailed account of his last day.
My sincere thanks to Miss Maleeha Malik for letting us know the hidden qualities of her uncle Arshad Aziz n sharing his letters Written from PMA. Who could know such a handsome man is on his way to heaven soon.
I feel so sad when i read about his love with his Beloved cousin with plans to marri her, oh man it brings me to tears that the man Proposes n God Disposes, but i have a strong believe that love never dies.
May Almighty Allah rest his soul in best place in Jannah tul Firdous. Aameen!

Jamil said...

Jalal my dwar do kind of you for taking so much of pain n doing such amazing job of creating these Blogs for 55 PMA n not misssing anyone, we live or we leave for heavenly abode.

mfm157 said...

His stationary was definitely funny. The line at the bottom, "Isn't there a longer time than forever?" really makes me think of the forever and permanent trip we all have to make to God Almighty- he just made his sooner than the rest of us.

mfm157 said...

Arshad Mamu’s mother, Mubarika Begum, passed away on July 1st, 2021. Inna lillahay wa inna elayhay rajeeon. Till her last breath she wanted to know the day and month; it felt like she wanted to go in the same month as her son. Finally reunited with her beloved son whom she silently pined for 44 years. May Allah bless her soul. Ameen.

Qizilbash said...

Though he was from another platoon yet I remember him because he had a personality which attracted. Quiet, smiling and polite he was an admirable person. His loss shattered so many of his dreams. Rest in peace Arshad, your face is in my memories. May you enjoy the pleasure of Jannah. Aameen.

Jamil said...

May Almighty Allah rest her soul in peace Aameen

Jamil said...

اناء للہ وانا الیہ راجعون
No doubts that we belong to Allah n would have to leave this world ine day. Those who have already left ahead of us left their loved ones in pain but Allah is kind n merciful, grants us patience Sabber e Jameel.
Thanks for the detailed life story of our beloved friend Arshad Aziz.
I would also like to thank Maleeha Malik for sharing Arshads letters, families views n love for her Mamoon Arshad.
اللہ تعالٰی مرحوم کی مغفرت فرمائے اور جنت الفردوس میں اعلی مقام عطا فرمائے آمین