Qaimov, a Russian national residing in Peshawar as a homeless person, commonly known as Qaim Baba, died late on Saturday night aged 70.
A couple of days ago, Qaimov was diagnosed with multiple diseases and was admitted to a local hospital. Zulfikar Keyani, a resident of Civil Quarter who was his last host, said Qaim Baba’s death occurred owing to kidneys failure.
He was laid to rest at Aurakzai graveyard on Sunday morning. A large number of people, mostly shopkeepers from Shoba Bazaar, Bhana Mari and Dabgari attended his funeral prayer.
A Muslim by faith and a broadcaster by profession, Qaimov remained very popular amongst residents of Peshawar owing to some of his trademark characteristics including roaming around the streets of the city from dawn to dusk, living without drinking water yet appearing always decent and well dressed despite lacking proper accommodation.
He was fond of traditional Peshawari Qehva.
Though there are no details on his youth and middle age, he was witnessed for the first time in the late 90’s in front of Peshawar jail. At the time, he was avoiding conversation but shaking hands with local people.
However, at the time he talked to this scribe and introduced himself as Qaimov, a national of former Soviet Union. He was a broadcaster (radio journalist) working with Radio Moscow during the cold war and had accompanied former Soviet troops to Afghanistan in the early 90’s.
According to Qaimov, he was on assignments as a radio journalist in Kundoz province of Afghanistan when he was apprehended by fighters of Hizbe Islami Afghanistan headed by Gulbadin Hekmatyar. He remained in his captivity at Charsyab for a couple of years till the fall of Kabul to Taliban in September 1996. He was later arrested by Pakistan security forces and following interrogation, was detained at Peshawar Central Jail.
Qaimov was freed some months later and was left with no option but to live astray.
He never begged and was helped financially and logistically by several people, mostly shopkeepers.
In fact, Qaimov had realised the mistake of entering and accompanying Soviet troops to Afghanistan. He was a father to four daughters and was unable to face his family upon return.
Even though he was approached by diplomats from Ukraine, Russia and several other central Asian Republics, he had refused to be repatriated to his motherland.
He was fluent in English, Pashto, Urdu and Dari besides his mother tongues Russian and Uzbek.
He was well acquainted with the poetry of Allama Iqbal, Khushhal Khan Khattak, Rahman Baba, Sheikh Saadi and others. He also held a deep political insight and had detailed knowledge on international affairs and regional politics.
Though a stranger to Peshawar, Qaim Baba, in a period of around 15 years, made scores of friendships in the city. He will be remembered for a long time for his faith in humanity, peace, tolerance and patience.