By Kazi Zulkader Siddiqui, 671/Latif

Arjandas Oad, kit no. 76/Ayub House joined Cadet College Petaro in 1959 and left the college in 1964 after completing his Intermediate.

He was born on 15 September 1946 at Garhi Yaseen in upper Sindh. He was married in 1964 to Mrs. Nirmani Rana. They have four children - 2 daughters Dr. Maya Oad and Dr. Usha Sarecha, and 2 sons Rana Haresh Oad, 8418/Qasim and Rana Ganesh Oad, 8580/Liaquat.

Arjandas died in a car accident on 19 June 1979 while driving on the Super Highway.

Arjandas was the third son of his father Nariandas Oad, who retired as Deputy Collector and Judicial Magistrate. He was one of the 12 brothers and 6 sisters. His other real brothers were Dr. Ramchand Oad 374/Ayub and Sirichand Oad 524/Iqbal, while the late Nawal Rai Oad 368/Ayub and late Gopichand Oad 523/Iqbal were his step brothers. Sirichand and Gopichand were my batchmates.

Arjandas was a very good student and sportsman at Petaro.

In his final year, he was appointed the Junior Under Officer (JUO) of Ayub House.  He was also the captain of the College Shooting team as well as the captain of the Ayub House Shooting team, and received college colours in shooting as well. He was also a member of the college basketball team and the college sailing team. He was also an avid boxer.

He was extremely fond of rifle shooting to the extent that he had his own 7mm rifle during his last year as a cadet at Petaro.

Upon leaving Petaro, Arjandas obtained his graduation from Karachi University and then went on to acquire his M.B.A. degree from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi in 1967, with a focus on general management.

After his graduation, he joined the daily newspaper DAWN in Karachi as a Sub-Editor. While he worked for the paper, he aspired to be a part of the civil services, and was selected in the Civil Services of Pakistan (CSP) in the Income Tax Group in 1974. Upon completion of the 2-year training at the Civil Services Academy in Lahore, he was posted at the Income Tax Head Office at Karachi in the Salary Circle as a Grade 17 officer. Subsequently, he was first transferred to Sukkur as an Income Tax Officer, and later on to Mirpurkhas in the same position. He was posted in Mirpurkhas when he expired.

On that fateful day of 19 June 1979, Arjandas was travelling from Karachi to Hyderabad on the Super Highway when the car met with an accident. In the car with him were his mother, his wife, his four children and the driver. Arjandas and his mother expired as a result of the accident, while the others were injured. That was a sad day indeed. He was at the prime of his life when he had to depart.

Arjandas is laid to rest at the ancestral graveyard in Kandiaro close to his father and grandfather. Decades later when his beloved wife expired on 4 June 2006, she was also buried next to him in the same graveyard.

His eldest daughter Maya, who is now an assisting surgeon, lives in Canada with her family. His second daughter Usha is also a medical doctor and lives in the USA with her family. His son Haresh followed in the footsteps of his father to get an MBA in Finance and lives in Dubai, while the youngest Ganesh is a civil engineer.

Arjandas Oad - 1962

In his death, Arjandas became the role model for his own children who adored him. In the words of his son Haresh,

"I say this not because he is my father, but from a human point of view he was the most handsome and smartest person I have ever seen in my life. I have lived and studied in many countries which enabled me to meet people from various cultures but still I find him larger than life. He led a spectacular life which sometimes was dangerous, exhilarating and crazy. Even the hour preceding his death seems straight out of a novel. Even his death was spectacular. He was indeed a sight to behold. I still see him holding his French pistol in his hand, trying to load his children into a Ford wagon, his mother and driver on to a bus with instructions to drop them off at Liaquat Medical College Hospital Jamshoro. Yes, they never make them like him anymore."

My Humble Tribute to Arjandas Oad

By Dr. Ahmed H. Makhdoom, 97/Ayub

سانئِيَمِ! سَدائِين ڪَرِين، مَٿي سِنڌُ سُڪارَ دوسَت! مِٺا دِلدارَ، عالَمُ سَڀِ آبادِ ڪَرِين شاھ

“Oh Lord! May Thee Bless my Sindh with bounties in abundance,

Oh My Friend, my Beloved! Glorify Universe all with Thine exuberance.”

مانواريون نياٹيون سنھڻيون مٺڙيون؍

مانوارا مٺژا  اعلي مرتبت ساٸين؍

خوش ھجو شال سسداٸين؍

سائين لک قرب ۽ مهربانيون؍

اوهان جا لک لائق ۽ احسان

سائين

مـُون کـي جِـيـَارِيـنِ، وايُـون وَڻـجـَارَن جـون؍

(شاهه ڀٽائيؒ)

It is only few days ago that I came across this Link on the Facebook. Without any hesitation, I added it into the list of my ‘friends.’ Why? It is personal – well, I don’t mind sharing my love, reverence, respect, gratitude and admiration for these beautiful, brilliant, bright sons and daughters – real, true, worthy and noble  sons and daughters of my Mother Sindh! And, because they are children of my Mother, they are my kith and kin, my very own, my blood relations. And, I have had this relationship with them – of blood, heart and soul for a very long time. As my murshid, my guru, my teacher, my guide Saaeen Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai has expressed it so eloquently:

جڏھن "ڪن فيڪون"٫ من تڏھان ڪون ماروٸين٫

تون ڪيٸن وجھين تني کي٫ سومرا٫ شڪون٫

حميرآنڻون حڪون٫ جاڑَ جسي کي پاتيون  

Jaddanhi “kun fa yakuun”, manu taddhaan kuun maaruein,

Tuun keenya wijheen tani khei, Soomra, shakuun,

Hameerano hakuun, jaarra jusei khei paatiyuun.

“Soul with loved ones thence,

Whence “Be” the Lord proclaimed,

 Oh worthy Sir, how could you hence,

Keep me in fetters chained? 

My body, the earthly lords unnecessary,

Tied in chains and restrained!”

Yes, my body too, “.....the earthly lords unnecessary tied in chains and restrained!” These were the chains of religious bigotry, religious supremacy and religious hypocrisy. And, with the help of that Beautiful Lord of the Worlds, the One and Only God of all religions and faiths, I broke asunder those chains of ignominy and shame and started my love-affair with the Community of Oads, the native, the indigenous, the original children of that Great Civilisation, the Cradle of Civilisations, Sindh.

This love story started at Cadet College, Petaro, Sindh, in 1959, when I started my journey of knowledge and learning, which would give me a stepping-stone, a spring-board, a runway, that will propel me and fly me towards the attainment and accomplishment of my education and achievement and perfection in my life.

In the same batch of Petarians, the Third Batch, was an Oad – Saaeen Arjandas Oad, son of a well-known, formidable, honest, worthy, noble father, a Deputy Commissioner, Saaeen Naraindas Oad. We came from two different villages of Sindh, but, only five miles apart – so we were ggotthaaee (ڳوٺاٸي). He, from  Kandiaro and myself and my younger brother, Khalid, from Darbelo. There were two more ڳوٺاٸي in our batch – Saaeen Khadim Ali Memon, also from Darbelo, and Saaeen Bashir Ahmed Vistro from nearby village of Macchur. All five of us, although in different classes and Houses, were bound together with that ancient, but, powerful bond of God-given love for one’s own land, one’s own Maleer, Marui and Maarunarraa مَلير؍ مارٸي ۽ مارۇنٸڙا  And, once again, murshid Saaeen Bhittai reminds us of that sacred bond:

"الستُ بِربڪم" جڏنھن ڪنِ پييومِ

"قالو بلا" قلب سين تڏنھن تتِ چيومِ

تنھي وير ڪيومِ وچن ويڑھيچن سين

“Alastu bi Rabikum” jaddanhi kani payomi,

Qaluu balaa qalaba seen taddanhi titi chayomi,

Tanhi veira kayomi, vachanu veirrheechani seen.

“Am I not thy Lord?”

Sweet voice when I did hear,

 “Surely Thou art,” 

Heart announced loud and clear,

Loyalty, that moment,

To my loved ones, I did aver. “

My ancestors and ancestors of Saaeen Arjandas Oad were deeply in awe, love and respect for each other. Saaeen Naraindas Oad was amongst the near and dear friends of my late father Saaeen Abdul Wali Makhdoom, a well-known Judge and Jurist in Sindh and Chairman of Sindh-Balochistan Services Tribunal.

During our term break from Petaro, all five of us used to take the train together from Hyderabad Railway Station for Padidan Junction and await their for the overnight to take an early morning train to Tharushah (Saaeen Bashir Vistro’s ggothu), Darbelo (where myself, my younger brother Saaeen Khalid Makhdoom and our dear friend Saaeen Khadim Ali Memon used to alight) and then the train proceeded onward to Kandiaro where Saaeen Arjandas Oad used to get down. Sometimes, Arjan used to get down at Darbelo to stay with us for few days. Then, we used to together go to Kandiaro and meet Arajan’s family. He had several younger brothers and all of them were under direct orders from Arjan, who used to command them to get pots of tea, food, hand-washing basins, towels, etc., etc., t make us comfortable. His and his family’s hospitality was simply astonishing, amazing and inspiring!

And, very soon all of us grew, went our different ways and became successful in our own lives with responsible jobs and families of our own. Suddenly, my world was shattered when I learnt about the death of Saaeen Arjandas Oad, his mother and few others in a car accident whilst coming to Karachi from Hyderabad, driving on the Super Highway. Saaeen Arjandas Oad left behind in my heart his unflinching love and affection which I will forever cherish as long a I live. My friend, you are no more there – but, surely, we shall meet again sometime, somewhere!

I also knew his other brothers – Saaeen Gulab Rai Oad, Saaeen Ramchand Oad, Saeen Naval Rai Oad, Saaeen Srichand Oad and others. However, they were much younger than me, hence, the intimacy that I enjoyed with Arjan never materialised between me, my family and the youngsters and their families. Nonetheless, all the same, they were much closer to me and that bond of respect, love, mutual reverence and admiration kept us glued to each other.

The Community of Oads of Sindh is a remarkable community – from humble, modest and simple beginnings they have achieved excellence in education and worked their way through tireless and relentless efforts, stamina and courage to get the best of knowledge and attain success, well-being, respect and outstanding achievements in their profession and eked out an exceptional name for themselves and their community in Sindh and elsewhere in the world.

Personally, that bright candle of my love-affair with the Community of Oads had never extinguished or even diminished – all the more, it has become more brighter, brilliant and sparkling.

I wish all members of the Community of Oads, my best wishes, unflinching support and guidance, prayers, duaauun and extend my hand of love, friendship and brotherhood for years to come and generations and generation to follow. We will love you forever!

جيھا جي تيھا؍ مون مارۇن مڃيا؍  (شاھؒ

Jeiha jei teiha, muun maruun mancjia!

Whatever thou may say and think are they,

My kindred folks dearest eternally are they! 

ٿر ٿر اندر ٿاڪ؍ عمر  مارۇنٸڙن جا؍ (شاھؒ

Thar Thar andari thaaka, Umar maruunarran jaa!

In every nook and corner of Thar my kinsmen reside,

There, Oh Umar, my heart has made abode with pride.

صاحب تنھنجي صاحبي؍ عجب ڏٺي سون؍

پن ٻوڻين پاتال ۾؍ پھڻ تارين تون؍

جيڪر اچين مون؍ تَ ميرياٸي مانَ لھان؍   (شاھؒ

Sahaba tunhjee sahibee, ajabu dditthee suun,

Panu bmorreen paataala mein, pahannu taareen tuun,

Jeikara acheen muun, ta meiriyaaee maana lahaan.

Lord! Thy Lordship and Thy Majesty supreme,

Creation all everywhere saw with awe sublime,

Sometimes a tiny slim leaf Thee drown so low,

Heavy bergs at times higher above Thee flow,

Lord! If ever in my heart Thee come and reside,

Honour and respect shall forever be by my side. 

اچو تہ  سنڌ جي سينڌ سنواريون

ڌڻين شاد ۽ آباد رکيو    

الله سائين سدائين توهان کي خوش باش صحتمند ، شاد ۽ آباد رکي آمين ثم آمين"

الله توهان کي ڊگهي ڄمار عطا فرمائي آمين"

!  ساٿ سلامت، قوم سلامت، سنڌ سلامت

سدائين گڏ

  الله واهي

پنھنجي دعاءن ۾ ياد رکندا

خادم دٸاگوُ احمد مخدوم؍