He left us stunned

Chaudhry Muhammad Asum, father of my elder daughter-in-law, passed away around 5:30 pm on January 11, 2006 at his home in Wah Cantt, Pakistan. May his soul rest in peace.

He was a self-made man who always did all his work. The day of his death, being Eid ul Adhha, he slaughtered, skinned two goats himself. After preparing meat of one, he had just started chopping meat of the second goat when he had heart attack and breathed his last within few minutes.

He was a kind father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, a daughter, two sons and four grandchildren. He was born in Gurdaspur, India and migrated to Pakistan in 1947 at the age of 11 years with his one elder brother, one younger sister and two maternal uncles after having lost (killed by Hindu & Sikh militants) all his paternal and maternal relations including his parents and leaving all their property in India.

As luck would have it, the two uncles also died by the time Chaudhry Muhammad Asum passed F. Sc. (first 12 years of education). So, he was forced to seek employment at a very low level. He joined Shipyard at Karachi as an apprentice foundry man. With his self-study and hard work he came to be know as an expert in the knowledge of foundry practice. Several Renowned Industrialists of Pakistan engaged him as consultant for setting up large-size foundries.

Chaudhry Muhammad Asum was a peace loving person who enjoyed seeing others happy much more than getting something for himself. He drew his satisfaction from serving others and never demanded anything. During my over 13 years’ close acquaintance with him, In spite of my efforts, I was never able to know what he wished. He always said to me, “What you will do is my wish.”

May his soul rest in abundant peace in heavens and may God grant enough strength to His wife, sister, daughter (Ambrin Zakaria) and two sons (who are younger to Ambrin)