Opinion | In the Footsteps of My Father: Remembering My Papa Abdul Rashid Qureshi

I Am a proud son, for I belong to a family where education is valued as the foundation of growth and wisdom.

The bond between a father and his child is something that usually follows not just the time of upbringing but also the aspect of outlook and purpose in life. My father, Abdul Rashid Qureshi, has been an inspiration, during his time and now in the years following his passing in May 2009. A life filled with determination, hard work, and dedication serves as an enduring legacy of what it means to live a life with purpose, compassion, and integrity. I write this article sixteen years after his death. It was that profound an experience that still brings reflection on the lessons he taught me and how his influence is shaping my journey even today.

Early Life.

Abdul Rashid Qureshi was born in 1956 in a village called Nambla in Tehsil Uri, Baramulla within the northern landscapes of Jammu and Kashmir. Although his early life was characterized by the simplicity of village living, certain values including hard work and perseverance were instilled in him by his parents. His father, Ghulam Mohi Ud Din Qureshi, was a postmaster a respectable profession that brought with it the need for dedication and service to the community. That woman, Aisha Begum, was almost an ideal homemaker because of the way she would kill a portion of her time attending to the needs of the family and its children, shaping honesty and integrity in them through action.

He grew up in Boniyar, and by life standards, he had a traditional childhood of any village boy who used all his or her time playing in the natural surroundings of his or her home and learning through the simplicity of rural life the basic lessons in life. My father attended Govt. Boys Middle School in Boniyar, where he studied hard to complete 8th standard schooling. It was a simple beginning, but one he had tackled with seriousness and resolve that would later identify his life.

But life did not get along with him for long. An early tragic loss, the sudden death of his father, forced him to discontinue studies. Thus, at a very young age, his formal education had to be called to a premature halt. His father being dead, he had no other choice but to take care of and support his family. In the most challenging phase of life, that was a time of test to his emotional as well as physical strength. But instead of submitting to tragedy, he fought it and lived a life that was the epitome of the kind of strength he would later pass on to his children.

Early Adult Struggles.

My father left school and was doing labour jobs with the hope of working as hard as possible to support his family. The boy laboured for some time before getting work as a washerman. This type of work required long hours of exhausting efforts, but he never complained. Work for him was a kind of working as a duty rooted in the dignity of labour, despite the difficulty of his work he approached it with the same seriousness and pride he later learned to enjoy as a driver.

After this, he finally discovered his calling as a driver an occupation that ensured for his family but also took him further away into the bigger world than his village. What initially led him to earn money for himself and then for his family became more than an occupation for him, driving became something he loved. There was, in fact, much pride for him in getting behind the wheel, soon, people began coming to admire his driving skills and respect him for his aptitude as a driver.

Family and Friendships.

He was surrounded by strong family ties and long standing friendships throughout his life. He had a brother, Bashir Ahmad Qureshi, and a sister, Saiyda Begum, to share the hardships and merriment of growing up. He would often tell me how much family meant to us, we were bound to care for our loved ones.

Outside his family, my father was very loyal and generous to his friends. Among his closest friends were Abdul Rashid Mir from Rampore and Abdul Hamid Thaker from Uranbouha, with whom he shared so many fine memories. These friendships, founded on trust and mutual respect, became a testament to the character of the man. He cherished his friends and made it a point to reach out instantly whenever his friends needed him.

A Career Behind the Wheel.

He worked for civil projects in Uri Civil as a driver from 1993 up to when he completed his work. His job ultimately met its successful end by making it financially possible to sustain the family, this was because of his undisputed reputation as an honest and dependable worker. He laboured from 1993 to 1999 without allowing a single moment to go by when he made something less excellent than the cause would have desired.

In 2005, he joined Hindustan Construction Company, wherein he worked on the project at Uri II Hydroelectric. It was there that he fully came to a rise to bring him fame. My Papa performed extremely well, almost impressing his friends and seniors. He received the Best Driver Award, which was a treasured recognition from his Company. Yet, despite these recognitions, he stayed very humble. To him, it mattered little whether recognition came or not, what mattered was the consciousness that he was doing his job to the best of his ability.

A Love for Knowledge.

Although my father finished formal education early, thirst for knowledge never subsided in him. He was an avid reader. He liked novels and newspapers particularly. Almost every day, he used to sit and read over two or three newspapers, he kept himself aware of current happenings and news throughout the world. He was also one of those people who read magazines very often, which he purchased almost every month. This interest in reading was something that he transferred to me, I was very often provoked by his intellectual curiosity.

His love for knowledge wasn’t confined to just books and paper. He would sit and ponder over the greater questions of life and humanity. One of his favourite topics was Haqooq-ul-Ibad the rights that others have over us. He firmly believed that best service we all can offer is service to mankind, and he lived it every day. Whether he was helping out a friend, lending support to a neighbour, or providing for his family, he never hesitated to extend a helping hand. Hard work and dedication are among the most important lessons my father taught me. He always advised us to put our hearts into whatever we did, work with honesty, and never take shortcuts. He would always tell me that, “There is no substitute for hard work,” and he practiced what he preached. His life is a testament to the potency of persistence, and his example continues to propel me to this day.

He was very deep into the concept of Haqooq-ul-Ibad, which literally means the rights of others. He would always remind us that if we must fulfill our obligation to God, then it is equally important to fulfill our obligations toward our fellow human beings. According to him, the best form of service is service unto man. Whether it was lending a helping hand for his neighbour, working for his family, or just being there for his friends, my Papa will always put others ahead of himself.

A Lasting Legacy.

May 2009 saw my dad leave this world, but he left behind a legacy for life. A lot lost in death, but lessons he gave and ideals sink in me every day. He wanted me to be a teacher, he wanted me to study on and on perhaps gain a P hd. Though life has taken me through different channels, his dreams for me remain very close to my heart each moment.

I find myself thinking at times about the 16 years since he was taken away from me. Grateful does not seem enough for this man who took care of me and guided me and inspired me, what I need to remember for you, dearest Papa, is not only the love and care with which you cared for our family but being such an example to us all. Your teachings, your values, and your consistent drive to help other people continue to inspire me as I walk in your footsteps. You are, and always will be, the dearest Papa to me.

(Writer is An Author, Writer and Columnist hails from Boniyar Baramulla and He Can Be Contacted on mukhtar.qur@gmail.com)