THE PASSING OF PROFESSOR TARIQ MAHMUD AHMAD,
FRIENDSHIP OF 67 YEARS CUT SHORT ALL OF SUDDEN.
It was the night of first December, 2024, rather late and I was tossing in my sleep. Suddenly I felt a presence in my blanket, and knew it was not natural. Son of a mother who was a psyche in many ways, I inherited some of her traits. It was not in my body, it was like somebody had slipped in with me. The weight was there and it did frighten me. I called my wife and told her I was feeling something. She held my hand and the moment passed. But I knew something was wrong., From the last many days I was seeing many dead persons in my dreams. Surely something was happening around me.
A few days later Ali Tariq, son of Tariq Mahmud Ahmad rang me at an early time. I knew something was wrong. He told me the death of my oldest friend Tariq Mahmud Ahmad on the first of December, 2024. Strange a day earlier than his death, I had rung him and inquired about his in-laws neighbour Pervaiz Ashraf, and asked him if he was alive. Tariq said very much so, I will let you know more. He rang me on my way to office, and I postponed the call. Later he rang me twice. No contact was made. It was my last contact with my friend, a relation which had lasted 67 years.
I was a student of Sacred Heart School, Thornton road, Lahore and on completing three years of initial studies, was promoted to First Standard at St Anthony’s High School Lahore in year 1957-58. Our teacher was Madame Christopher, who had a brother John in school too. Whereas somehow Madame Christopher nurtured a grudge against me, by flogging me with a cane, for hardly any reason, she was literally in love with another small boy, who she did not let go even in recess, treated him and even took photographs with him at famous Rollo Photographers, on Mall road, Lahore. Boys felt uneasy at this very unnatural relation. Others teased this boy too. The boy was young Tariq attending the school. Innocent like a baby.
Boys were forming groups of friendships. I got attached to Kazi Musrur Mahmud, a Bengali classfellow, son of Kazi Ainuddin Ahmad, President of Australasia Bank, Lahore. Slowly by and by, my friendship was Tariq was evolving, and by Ninth class, we were sitting together.
It led to his visit to my house obviously on a cycle, the best people could do in those days. My visit to his house could only be possible rarely in a hired rickshaw. His family grew on me. Ghulam Muhjasmmed, his father was in Irrigation Department, and he lived on Mian Mir Road, Lahore. His mother, a gentle old lady, belonged to Bhatti Gate, Lahore. Two brothers and three sisters. The youngest died as a young girl, one was in Canada and the other running a school, Ayesha Academy, on Davis road Lahore. Elder brother Khalid Ahmad obtained fifth position in the entire Pakistan in CSS examinations. The younger Hamid, joined the Army and was a Major working in ISI also. I was in contact with most of them. When the father in his gabardine pants used to come to school, we all used to welcome him.
Tariq Mahmud Ahmad wanted to be a doctor and joined the Pre-Medical group at FCC Lahore. Then he gave up the idea and was inclined towards CSS examination too. He did his Law from Law College Lahore, and then did his Masters in English from FCC too. Then he became a teacher, and finally ended up teaching at Government College, Lahore. So many career changes but he himself intact in his thoughts.
As time passed, we became more and more close, although there were differences. But he had emotions in him, and would stick with a friend come what may. Loyalty was the key of his life. Once I was obsessed with obtaining a large Mercedes star emblem, and he raided a LMC depot to snatch one on a garbage truck. However it broke into pieces because the truck was so old, it would not come out. It all ended in a big laugh as to the fiasco of same. Gradually our younger days came to an end. We all got married with newer responsibilities.
My wife was telling me, that it was rare for me to laugh. But I would always laugh talking with my friend Tariq. Our talk would relax us.
Then Tariq Mahmud Ahmad went on a Hajj. He was already obsessed with Saint Hazrat Mian Mir, and even bought a piece of land around the vicinity of the Saint for his burial. He faced many family crises in his lifetime, but came out strong. Religion became part of his life. Reading the Quran and saying his prayers, and also distributing eatable particularly at the Urs of Hazrat Mian Mir. I volunteered to show him a portrait of the Saint of Mughal origin, and he was hesitant to even look at the saint. Once walking through the mazars of various saints, he would caution me not to speak loudly, in the presence of those saints. Near his house too.
Love struck him a few times, but the outcome was not favourable. He served his femme fatale with farvour and servitude. But we all know that femme fatale can be terribly cruel in their dealings with love obsessed suitors.
Jati hoi mayit dekh kar tum Lillah be kanay nai ayhe, worked for him. Meaning that the beloved would not say Lillah on his funeral.
Yes I have lost a loyal and loving friend. I felt I must put him on record. As we shared so much, I cannot divulge all things of his life. Some things remain secret till the end.
May Allah grant you your wish of Heaven! You did a lot of good things in life.