Why Google pays tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi today

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PakistanToday
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Edhi dedicated his life to the poor from the age of 20, when he himself was penniless in Karachi. The spread of Edhi’s foundation grew internationally, and in 2005 the organisation raised $100,000 in aid relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Edhi was born before partition in Bantva Gujarat, India on February 28, 1928. He died last year in Karachi of renal failure.  He was offered treatment abroad but insisted on being treated in a government hospital at home.

The Edhi Foundation’s slogan is: “Live and help live”.

Today would have been his 89th birthday.

In his honour, Google changed its logo in the United States, Iceland, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Estonia, UK, Denmark, Ireland and Pakistan to a doodle, or illustration, of Edhi.

Google hailed Edhi’s “super-efficient” ambulance service. “In celebration of Abdul Sattar Edhi, let’s all lend a hand to someone in need today,” it said.

The technology giant’s team has created over 2,000 doodles for homepages around the world.

“The doodle selection process aims to celebrate interesting events and anniversaries that reflect Google’s personality and love for innovation,” the company says.

With more than 1,800 ambulances stationed across Pakistan, the Edhi Foundation is Pakistan’s largest welfare organisation.  In 1997, the foundation entered the Guinness World Records as the “largest volunteer ambulance organisation”.

If you call 115 in the South Asian nation, the Edhi Foundation will answer.

In his words, at the start of his work, Edhi “begged for donations” and “people gave”.

This allowed him to convert a tiny room into a medical dispensary.  He also bought an ambulance that he himself drove around.

Raising more donations and enlisting medical students as volunteers, his humanitarian reach expanded across the country.

Today Edhi Foundation runs outpatient hospitals, a child adoption centre and rescue boats.

It also helps in the burials of unidentified bodies.

There cradles of unwanted babies outside Edhi emergency centres.

Throughout his life, Edhi emphasised the humanitarian, rather than religious, motivation for his work.

His foundation receives “zakat” (Islamic charity) donations, which he used to help Muslims, Christians and Hindus.

Asked why he helped non-Muslims, he said: “Because my ambulance is more Muslim than you.”

He also famously lamented: “People have become educated … but have yet to become human.”

When he died, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said:  “Edhi was the real manifestation of love for those who are socially vulnerable, impoverished, helpless and poor. We have lost a great servant of humanity.”

Throughout his life and after he died, many questioned why Edhi never received the Nobel Peace Prize. After the nominations in 2014, the hashtag #NobelPrizeforEdhi was created. In an interview Edhi famously said that he didn’t care about the Nobel Prize and that he wanted people, he wanted the community.

According to some other reports, the State Bank of Pakistan will issue a commemorative coin of Rs50 in memory of Edhi, next month.

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31 COMMENTS

  5. Great personality still lives in the hearts of people. He devoted his whole life to serve the humanity not for any reward but only he pleased to serve people, gave selfless services.Words cannot elaborate his services.God bless him and REST HIS SOUL IN PEACE.
    He was not given Nobel Prize, clearly shows the criteria of Selection Committee.

  15. Abdul Sattar Ehdi = Saint
    We all grew up hearing about people like him, he was in my opinion “A Saint” a person who dedicated his whole life for humanity, (orphans, mentally handicapped people, old persons, free ambulances for all and so many countless things including shelter for animals.) He will be missed dearly by all.

  17. A great ppskistani…we love u…May Allah give him rest in peace…thanx alot Google…i’m proud…

  22. Thanks Google for making me aware of this great humanitarian whom i had no awareness before today. Edhi represents what it is to be human "Help live others live".

  23. Sounds just like robin hood only problem is hes not english.. less is more & more is less. R.i.p never new you sorry… hahahaha & see with google they seam to make more ? with useing dead people rathar than good people ??????.. booo

  24. Yet if he contested election against ppp, pmln or pti he may loose because People have become educated, wealthy but have yet to become human
    Abdul Sattar Edhi
    May be correct for this nation.

  25. Thank you GOOGLE for the logo you gave in the memory of Sir Edhi <3 he is the man of strength,loyality, peace, happiness and much more…

  26. what ever you you say guys but its really difficult to spare yourself for other's services throughout the life span.

  27. Pakistan's 'Richest Poor Man' .
    He is still alive in our hearts. an example of Humanity,Peace & love…
    May Allah rest his soul in Piece..

  29. A big salute to this great personality .we will never forget this respected person .May his soul rest in peace.Ameen

  30. He set the landmark to serve the humanbeing and taught lesson us that life is something else beyond the materials .he was true muslim .i want to be like him and i pay my regards him from core of my heart.

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