On June 7, 2023, at 2 PM, I found myself attending a Symposium in Memory of the Late Prince Adnan Aurangzeb. The event took place at the Taxila Institute of Asian Civilizations, located within the premises of Quaid-e-Azam University. The personality being honored had made immense contributions to society, and as I sat in the auditorium, I reflected on the profound impact of his loss.
I couldn’t help but think about the strong familial connections we shared with the late Adnan Aurangzeb, both on the maternal and paternal sides of his family. He was the last strong link in a chain of leadership that his family had produced over generations, despite his aversion to politics. Instead, he believed in dedicating himself to selfless service for the betterment of humanity.
The proceedings started at 2.25 pm till then the quests kept coming in till the hall was packed to the capacity . Fateha was offered with the recitation of ‘Surah Akhlas’ for the departed soul in the presence of his friends, family and faculty of both the Quaid – e-Azam and Hazara university, where he delivered the very last lecture of his life before he met the fatal accident on the Hazara Motorway .
Candles were lit in his memory led by his Honourable Wife along with her children and close family members. Later messages of international figures of academic repute were read by his youngest brother Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb and key note address by his younger brother. Dr Mahmoud Aurangzeb who served as the guest of honour at the event, who reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the family to carry forward his legacy.
Messages from around – the – world were also rallied live to the audience through Zoom. But the key note address r Dr. Mahmud Aurangzeb, was symbolic of the family’s sensitive nature unable to withstand pain of others, made his voice choke with emotions that made tears welled up in my eyes, while the courageous Begum Falaknaz Asfandyar, kept wiping her tears being seated a row ahead of me as she knew well the pain the family endures by parting with their dear ones.
My mind wandered back to the time I last heard him speak at the Public School Sangota Swat, where he served as the Patron of our Alumni. On that occasion, he displayed an uncharacteristic emotional side, which left a lasting impression on me. He passionately declared that the people of Swat would never succumb to those who sought to deny their children enlightenment through education. His words rang true, especially considering the non-indigenous nature of the political militancy imposed upon Swat, which tragically claimed the life of his first cousin, the late Prince Asfandyar Amir Zeb, a former Education Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Just last month, when Public School Sangota Swat was attacked, the people rose up in protest and condemnation. With the strong moral support of Prince Adnan’s family, the incident, which resulted in the loss of a five-year-old girl’s life and left six others injured, demonstrated the awakening of the people of Swat. They realized, albeit belatedly, the true essence of leadership in society—the leaders who genuinely feel the pain of human suffering.
During our last lunch together at Bar Be Que Tonight Restaurant in Islamabad, our conversation veered towards mobilizing the alumni to play a positive role in Swati society. Prince Adnan also shared with me a book on the Gandhara Civilization, which convincingly portrayed his vision to promote Pakistan’s soft image through the promotion of cross-cultural interactions, interfaith harmony, and trans-frontier collaborations. These efforts were crucial in healing the deep and ugly scars of bigotry that had sadly tarnished the country’s international reputation.
As I conclude these lines, I find solace in knowing that Prince Adnan’s legacy will continue through his courageous spouse, the Honorable Zainab Adnan, and his two supportive brothers , Prince Mahmoud Aurangzeb and Prince Hasan Aurangzeb. I am sure the family will humbly serve their country and humanity, carrying forward his vision. Long live Pakistan and its protectors of soft image. 🇵🇰
A very profound & touching obituary about a gentle soul who stature is taller than the mountains surrounding swat valley
His compassion & dedication would serve as beacon of light for generations to come..