“Service Before Self,”this is the motto of the Rotary Club and it was the belief in this motto and the desire to realize it, that made some spiritually aware people come forward and help in the elevation of the misery of others.
Two policemen, an automobile engineer and an immigration officer embarked on a twelve day, non-stop journey, covering a distance of about 6000 miles, from England to Karachi, driving down in an ambulance which is to serve as a mobile unit for the Medical Aid Foundation (Cancer Division).
According to Police Inspector Mr. Fred Prosser, who is the President of the Rotary Club Watford North England, it all began two years ago in July 1989 when Dr. Saira Khan, the force behind the cancer division of the Medical Aid Foundation , visited England. She was invited by Mr. Ausaf Hussain, a London based Pakistani. Who is the Vice President of the Rotary Club, to address the club. On hearing the appeal of Dr. Khan, Mr. Prosser decided that she must be helped out.
At first it was suggested that they should raise money and hand it over toe the Foundation. Later the Rotary Club decided to purchase the ambulance and drive it down to Pakistan.
It took two years of untiring efforts by the Rotarians to raise enough funds to put their plan into action. Mr. Fred Prosser recalls that during the Christmas season, he dressed up as a Santa Claus and passed the proverbial hat around for sixteen days. They held boxing matches, dances; sales and various other activities to generate enough income for the purchase of the ambulance. Another six months were spent in marking arrangements for their journey to Pakistan. (All of them had to give up their vacation to make the trip).
While Mr. Prosser and Mr. Hussain are Rotarians, constable Paul Wilkins and Mr. Deeno Goojar – the engineer on the trip, were volunteers who heard what the Rotarians were doing, liked the idea, and decided to accompany the two Rotarians, dong their bit for the suffering humanity.
Apart from Mr. Hussain none of them had undertaken such a long and arduous journey before. Mr. Hussain had made a similar journey to Pakistan 25 years back in his Toyota 500. But as Mr. Prosser pointed out. “Twenty five years back you were a man. Today you are an old man.” And it takes a very courageous and dedicated lot to undertake the commission which these men took. They made their way through Eastern Europe, beginning the journey from Dover and crossing the channel into France by a ferry. As it turned out, the captain of the ferry was an old Rotarian and on hearing what these men were proceeding to do, he refused to charges them for the trip.
They met with bad weather and snow I Bulgaria, but not until Turkey, did they encounter any mishap. Mr. Hussain, who was behind the wheel during that leg of the journey recalls, that the weather was very bad, and they had to purchase chains for the wheels to drive through the snow as they adcended the mountain.
Reminicing further, he said that it was at this point that the vehicle went out of hid control as it skidded on the snow-capped mountain. As the swerved the van to gain control. It nearly topped down the side of the mountain. And what were the other men doing at this time?
“I was sleeping at the back having some very delightful dreams answered Mr. Prosser, with a chuckle.
During their journey through Iran they met with a man called Hussain Ali, who was to act as their guide, during their passage through the country. Mr. Paul Wilkins stated that throughout the time they were in his company they were petrified that he might slit their throats, while the guide though that he would never escape from their company alive. It was a big sigh of relief that they heaved when they came in sight of the Pakistani border. They stayed in Quetta for two days during which they got the ambulance cleared by the custom authorities. But their ordeal wasn’t over yet. The next fifty miles, in reaching Quetta, was the worst stretch which they had covered during their entire trip. Mr. Wilkins stated that had it not been for the custom official’s familiarity with the area. Who accompanied them, they would not have been able to find their way, as the track could at best be described as a dirt track.
During their visit to the offices of The News International, Karachi, the English policemen, who were in their uniforms created quite a stir as they crossed the main McLeod Road. A horde of people gathered to inquire as to what these gentlemen were doing and whether there was some kind of filming going on. When Mr. Fred Prosser was asked whether he would like to try and control the traffic he just smiled and said that it was something he would not like to try at this stage. A similar reply came from Mr. Wilkins who declined the offer of driving in Karachi.
The team was invited for an Iftar and dinner at the Defence Club, by the Medical Aid Foundation, where the Ford ambulance was officially handed over to eh cancer division of the Foundation a six –wheeler, six – cylinder van, equipped with an X-Ray machine and an ultra sound machine, both of which are being shipped on from England.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prosser said that he had heard a lot about the hospitality and warmth of the Pakistani from his friend Mr. Ausaf Hussain, but he never believed it, as he always thought the Welsh (he is a Welshman) to be the most hospitable. It was only during this visit that he accepted the truth of Mr. Hussain’s statement. “the love and affection with which the Pakistani people have greeted us is phenomenal.” He added.
The desire to help out suffering humanity knows no end. It transcends all bounds of nationalities, religion, race and colour. This has been proved beyond the shadow of a doubt by these four men, and also by all those people in UK who came forward to help these men achieve their goal.
Mr. Prosser recalls that there was a woman who was 75 years old whom he had never met and when she heard of what these men were doing, she sent them a check for five pounds as a donation. “The people back home.” Explained Mr. Prosser, “Are alive and conscious of the fact that they are more fortunate than many others. We may crib a lot inside, as you must have read in the papers, but we know that as a nation we are blessed and we want to share these blessings with those who are less fortunate than us, no matter which county they belong to or what language they speak.” On their way to Pakistan they were loaded with canned food and clothes which people had plied them with. “There was so much stuff which we had to leave behind as we were unable to accommodate it in the ambulance.” They distributed these things to anybody who they encountered on their way, and who they felt to be in need of their assistance.
These men have set a sterling example of selfless devotion. The world is in dire need of people who take the time to care about the trials of others and who strive with all they have, to help eliminate the misery and suffering of the unfortunate ones, amongst their fellow human beings. |
