In Memory of Rizwan ur Rashid

 
(9 May 1955 - 22 February 2014)

Rizwan was one of the jolliest and wittiest course mates of our course. Wherever and whenever he was around, there was bound to be loud bursts of laughter and broad smiles. He was vibrant and creative for he knew which joke fitted the audience and what made them laugh. In fact his personality was larger than life and he lived to bring smiles on others faces. He knew the art of engaging people around him and when he got into a mood, then there was no stopping as there would be an outburst of tons of jokes, making others unable to stop laughing. He had the Charisma to positively engage others by connecting with with his endless wit. Perhaps that was the aim of his life for as long as he lived - to make others happy.

Shirazi adds: “A thoroughbred gentleman that he was, who always went with the flow; not annoying anyone, not pointing fingers and always living with equanimity.”

Tariq Sher remembers a Rizwan who was sincere, rather quite but when it came to making others laugh, he didn't care whether his ownself was being involved:

I was his platoon mate for one term only. He was polite, rather quiet, sincere and very a jolly person. He would narrate simple and clean jokes in a manner that one will burst into laughter. He also had the ability to take jokes and laugh on himself.

Khawar Nadeem recalls Rizwan and his wittiness even when undergoing BSM's special parades:

Rizwan Ur Rashid - a damn witty jolly fellow with a highly sensitive heart and a real kind soul. Truly honest and sincere to bones and follower of highest moral values. A Gallian with a tremendous potential and harmonious nature. A great comrade and a true friend indeed. His favourite fun dialogues especially before, during and after tough times (including 20-40 blanket fall-ins or mid night rain/snowing fall-ins "behind Qasim Block ننگے پیری" (Quote late BSM Masoom Gill) were: "Jolly good fellows, now get ready for تکا تکا دھن دھن" and "Check One Two" Dear Rizwan, may you rest in eternal peace with same jolly good angels and hoors always surrounding you. Ameen 

Second term was the boxing term. Munawar Ahmed Solehria recalls the bout between Hashim and Rizwan: " If I remember correctly, Rizwan was opponent of Hashim Ali Siddiqi, in boxing. Hashim is my platoon mate. With due reverence to both; during the bout, continued to run chasing each other without exchange of punches. One of them might have touched the other during this running. PTSO Major Shahid Sharaf was the referee. He finally said. “ Hardly a bout. However Blue (one of them) is the winner “. May Allah Almighty bless Rizwan with the highest place in Jannat ul Firdous. Aameen. "

Final Term Field Firing visits

Rizwan happily chats with Amanullah, whom Rizwan called Mulla Khan, while Aitbar looks around

Memorable Tipu seniors' visit to Nathia Gali - Rizwan kneeling in the center

A happy group photo of Nathia Gali - Rizwan as usual all smiles sitting extreme right - while Samuel tries to catch up

Aslam Javed recalls Rizwan: "Very jolly fellow. always smiling. He belongs to Rawalpindi and me and one or two platoon mates normally spend weekend at his place during PMA time. He studied in Gora Gali. His younger brother Major Irfan Rashid  died after a one year his death." (read about his brother Irfan in next para)

Final Term Tipu Platoon: Rizwan stands second from left (The group also includes late Shafiq Anwar and Waheed Ahmed)

Remembering Rizwan, Asim Jelani writes:

Chaudhry was a very special loving personality. We both were posted from PMA to Bahawalpur. He joined an artillery unit and myself a Signals unit. A very witty person who would always crack jokes while you were around him. He was not much conscious of his dress  and  appearance. A person with extremely simple habits. I just can't forget his smiling face. A very cool tempered and contended person.  As we both had no transport with us. We used to take cycle rickshaw to go around in the city area. A thorough gentleman. My lot's of prayers for Allah's mercy  and forgiveness for grant of eternal peace. Ameen

Rizwan, like late Mumtaz, was a repository of fun and laughter. We were together in PMA for attachment in 1986 and between the assessment examinations and tutorials, all attached officers would gather around Rizwan to laugh and make merry from his never ending jokes.  Perhaps laughter was imbedded in the family as his younger brother Irfan who was in my unit was equally jolly and ever smiling. It was heart lamenting to find his brother crying when I went on Rizwan’s funeral. His departure sealed the smiles on many faces and the void his death created can never be filled. 

Rizwan extreme right at the Three Stars promotion dinner

His last interaction with me was for a specific reason: To sit down and records all those funny anecdotes of the course he vividly remembered and mimicked for this Pictorial Recollection I had decided to compile many years ago. But time did not allow him to meet me again and his laughter and lighter part of some of us got buried along with his body forever.

 

Rizwan at 2010 and 2012 Course Get Together

Zahir Khan was platoon mate of Rizwan. He recalls: 

Rizwan Ur Rasheed had been my platoon mate and dear friend all along while in PMA, during service and even after retirement. Known for his subtle sense of humour, he would always spread positivity and happiness around him. Soft spoken and composed, we never saw him complaining or detesting. 'Shy by nature', but no more at the dining table. He would equally enjoy all the jokes cracked on him which were mostly related to his being 'chubby'. As GCs, we would often travelled together to his home in Chaklala for the weekend where rich and delicious 'prathas' prepared by his mother would be awaiting us.  Having been a student of Lawrence College Murree, he had a flair for expression specifically in written. The news of his demise was sudden and shocking for all. His liver ailment was diagnosed very late as he gave little attention to his own health while he was busy looking after his terminally ill mother who had passed away shortly before. He would take joy out of almost anything and everything and never be bogged down by life's pressures. I am sure, he would even be looking down from the heavens 'smilingly'. He would always be remembered for his innocence, sincerity and light heartedness. May his soul rest in eternal peace.

One of the last photos of Rizwan seen here with Jamil and Asad – and perhaps one of the very photos with no broad smiles on Rizwan’s face, but a feint smile though showing signs of his ill health

Life with Rizwan went on in smiles but while he made everyone laugh, from inside he was suffering from a deadly disease, only a few knew. And then the fateful year 2014 came. I received his death news while many of us were attending funeral of mother of Jamal Zia in Islamabad in 2014. And it was already very late in the evening. Despite that some of us dashed to his house in Askari 11 Rawalpindi and were just in time to attend his namaz-e-janaza.  

May Allah bless Rizwan and all our course mates who have left us earlier than us and rest their souls in peace up in the heavens. Ameen. 

PS: Please also read the comments by Dr Nida, daughter of Rizwan, in the comments box below and see how eloquently and lovingly she remembers her great father. In fact there can be no better remembrance of a father than her account. May her family be blessed. Aameen

Please refer to our Reference Page to read about all those of us who have left us midway for their Heavenly abode.