The little girls were calling their baba and crying badly Baba, Baba, don’t leave us, and don’t leave us. Their sound was full of pain which shows that it was their first trauma. All the others around were also crying. I entered their home with my sisters and stopped after seeing the pain on the faces of his daughters. It was not easy to see the pain in the eyes of daughters who lost their fathers. Give them space to move forward, these are his students, a woman said to others. They all followed her instructions and provided space to us. We moved forward, hugged his wife and saw a smile on the face of our respected teacher. I listen to the recitation of Surah Yaseen and some voices of females crying. I looked back and was not surprised to see his students, who were reciting the Quran and some were standing with his family to share their pain. My Grandmother’s voice whispered in my ear that good people always die full of happiness and satisfaction on their faces. It’s true Maaji, you are right, good humans have satisfaction and smiles on their faces when die, I murmured.

It was the first of April in Ramazan, I was sitting with my family for Sehri. The news of the death of our teacher was shared on social sites, my sister informed me with a sad sound. I looked back at her and said, No, no it might be First April fool. You know, people share such things on social media on the first of April, I replied. I confirmed it from other researchers, she said. We have lost words and decided to go to his home, stand with his family in this difficult time and the male of our family will offer his Nimaz Janaza. He was an intellectual from Sakhakot, working as an Associate professor at the university. When I entered his home, it became clear that his life was full of sacrifices. He was living with his family in one room; he was sacrificing his luxurious life for the basic needs of his brothers and sisters’ families, he was the one who always welcomed others.

We mostly use his kitchen to cook meals, Last year he bought a new AC for his room, and the elders and children of our family were happy and celebrating that day. We always spent long afternoons of summer in his room, he was the backbone of our joint family, his sisters and sister-in-laws told me while crying. Who are these girls around him, I asked. These are his daughters, nieces, relatives and students, his mother responded.

I was sad for his family, students and friends. I was thinking about his supportive nature and honesty with others. Everyone was crying because he played an important role in many lives. He was not only a good researcher with many research publications; and supervised PhD and MPhil students but also a good human being. He taught us great lessons of simplicity, positivity, kindness and the key to success not only in his life but also in his death day taught us great lessons. He always taught us that true intellectuals are those who do not seek recognition. They give back to society by teaching without expecting anything in return, their Students and the behaviours of others with them are actually their true mirrors. Teaching is a prophetic profession, if you are honest with your teaching, you will be always valued. You must be remembered for your good deeds. You will be an important part of the lives of your students and society.