DR. RUTH PFAU, A PHYSICAL ILLUSTRATION OF SELFLESSNESS AND COMPASSION

"THE KINDEST OF HEARTS, HAVE FELT THE MOST PAIN".

In 1960, Leper's colony of Karachi behind McLeod Road near the City Railway Station was an ultimate figure of melancholy and helplessness. As this colony usually called the "KOORHI AHAATA" (in Urdu) was established by some kind and rich men of the city to put the lepers in. A person caught by leprosy was rejected by the family and had to go through a complete social shut down that demonstrated the utter helplessness of the victims. But no one of these unprivileged folks had the slightest notion that ALLAH almighty has finally decided to end their terrible suffering by sending an angel to them. The gorgeous Doctor Pfau was to fly to southern India as a part of a catholic mission in Paris "Daughters of the Heart of Mary". But due to some visa issues, she had to spend a few days in Karachi and that was the time when Pfau had to visit the leper's colony and the distressing situation of the people broke the kind spirit of Ruth Pfau and she decided to stay in Karachi.

Dr. Ruth Pfau was a German born protestant. Pfau was the sufferer of world war II horrors and lost her home to the bombing of the Soviet forces. So later life of Pfau indicated that the specific event enabled her to understand the pain and suffering of the dejected more comprehensively than anyone else. She pursued a career in medicine at the University Of Mainz and there she met a lady who devoted her life to the service of humanity. She became an inspiration to the young and kind Ruth Pfau and she converted to Catholicism. In 1960 she came to Pakistan on a transit visa but could not handle the wretched feeling of leprosy patients and set up a small clinic in the Leper's colony. The same area where people avoided visiting during the day or even passing through it, due to the unbearable scenes and smell caused by the bodies of the lepers.

 Ruth Pfau took the service of humanity to all new standards of self-devotion and empathy. She lived among the people who were considered dead by the families. She brought hope to those who were waiting in dark huts for the death to come and take their spirits away. She ate among those who were not desired to be seen wandering around due to the unendurable sight of their wounds and puss flooding out of them. She intended to treat those who were rendered untreatable medically and spiritually. Dr. Ruth Pfau established a clinic. When you finally rise up to help the fallen, you are sure to get many comrades for the cause to form up a solid team, and this is what happens with young Pfau. Dr. I.K Gill joined her as the first eminent person who took care of the social work not only for the patients but the families of the sufferers as well. 

The efforts of a selfless lady soon heard and recognised across the country. In 1963 she established the first formal leprosy clinic and it was like a salvation for thousands of lepers in Pakistan, India, and  Afghanistan. Her selfless work and loyal serving for humanity earned her the honour of being the Federal Advisor for Leprosy to the Health  and Welfare Ministry in 1979. Finally, Pakistan awarded the citizenship to its beneficent lady in 1988.

It was due to the selfless efforts of Dr. Ruth Pfau that in 1996 WHO declared Pakistan a leprosy free country and it was the first country of the continent to win this prestige. No need to name the kind spirit who let this miracle happen in the motherland. She laid the foundation of Mary Adelaide Leprosy Centre (MALC) in Karachi, that later branched out various missions and programs against TB and blindness prevention. Dr. Ruth Pfau became the living angel for the lepers and government of Pakistan was not late in recognising and honouring her services and awarded Hilal i Pakistan to this distinctive human being in 1989. after 10 years on 9th September 1999, Archbishop Simon Anthony conducted a grand mass to mark the celebration of 70th birthday of Dr. Pfau. The unique thing about the event was that the kind woman was cheered by Christians and Muslims alike. There were thousands of people who showered their love and respect for the women who served them without thinking once of their religion.

Awards and Distinctions:

Ruth Pfau was again hailed as the mother Teresa of Pakistan in 2010 and received the Nishan e Quaid e Azam by President Asif Ali Zardari.  She received huge funding and awards from both Germany and Pakistan. Some of the prestigious awards she received during her life are:

• Hilal i Pakistan
• Sitara i Quaid e Azam
• Verdienstkreuz 1. Klasse
• Grobes verdienstkreuz
• Grobes verdienstkreuz mit Stern

The example set by Ruth Pfau is not the first of its kind. Abdul Sattar Edhi also made the world see the exceptional acts of kindness and sympathy common in Pakistan. Both Edhi and Ruth Pfau made an extraordinary effort for the people without being bothered by their faith. Sadly it was the true message of Islam but a Christian Lady surpassed even the biggest  and eminent Muslims in serving the humanity. The undoubted teachings of Islam strictly prohibited Muslims to inflict pain both physically and emotionally to the non-Muslims and be a cure of their suffering.

BEWARE! WHOEVER IS CRUEL AND HARSH TO A NON-MUSLIM CURTAILING THEIR RIGHTS,OVERBURDENING THEM, OR STEALING FROM THEM I WILL COMPLAIN (TO ALLAH) ABOUT THAT PERSON ON THE DAY OF JUDGEMENT. (abu Dawud)

On 10th August this brightest star of the sky of excellence, sympathy and unimaginable love for humanity left this World to meet her beloved Lord. Ruth Pfau was not a doctor or a preacher, she was the voice of salvation and love for the ignored and hated fragment of the society. So Government of Pakistan decided to present the state funeral to the great lady on 19th August at Saint Patrick's Cathedral Karachi. 

The procession kicked with 19 cannons of Pakistan artillery paying the tribute to the compassionate soul of Dr. Ruth Pfau. 

When the dead body was wrapped in the green flag of Pakistan, all differences and disagreements between the minorities died away. The coffin was carried by the Army soldiers and some of the most eminent national personals attended the funeral, including President of Pakistan Mamnoon Husain, COAS General Qamar Javed, Air Chief, Sohail Aman and several political and social dignitaries. German embassy sent a delegation to present the birth country of Dr. Pfau.

 A massive crowd witnessed with shattered hearts, the vehicle carrying the coffin of the lady who proved to be a dear and loving mother to the leprosy patients. Some of the most heart wrenching scenes were waiting to be captured by the lens of international and national media as people cried their hearts out when Dr. Ruth was on her final journey in a coffin, wrapped in red clothes.

  "Serving" seems a small word but lives of people like Ruth Pfau are the practical demonstration of it.The efforts of these few people enlighten the whole chapters of the human race with examples of brilliance and empathy and cover the ugly and tyrant face of man. Dr. Ruth solaced and accepted the people who were rejected by their own blood. 

Ruth Pfau showed us the true face of humanity and God himself. God is nothing but compassion and DR. Ruth devoted her life to the service and compassion of the creatures of her loving Lord. Nations who remember their hero and carry on their missions are sure to see the extravagance and glory in history. Sindh Government has renamed the Civil Hospital Karachi to DR. RUTH K.M. Pfau hospital in a little effort to honour her service. Dr, Ruth Pfau is dead physically, but the love she showered on the people of Pakistan and the service she offered to the lepers will always remain alive in the heart of every Pakistani and we will always be indebted to her.

May God offer her peace and finest of the ranks.