My life took a completely different dimension on this December 2nd, when my father Mr.Thomas Benjamin passed away. His death was not only a shock for all of family members but for all our neighbors and friends; as he had been active and worked just like a young person even being 68 years old. He told us on Dec 2nd that he had stomachache, when he was taken to hospital, he died within 20- minutes. I was not ready to believe on his funeral that he was the same person who was normal couple of hours ago and now he was ready to be buried.
I remember talking to him all day a day before his death, when he spent a full-day with car mechanic repairing our car. I also remember coming back from office to home and commenting him that he was looking extremely wonderful wearing new sweater. To my surprise, his bathing that day during evening was the first ever time in his life, as he never took bath during evenings. I can never forget his phone calls as I would leave for home from office and kept asking how far was I from home.
My father spent a very much struggling life. He was the only child of his parents and I don’t remember that fortune ever accompanied and stayed with him for long time. He lost his father when he was 17- years old. Although, he got admission in Gordon College but, he could not continue with his education after the demise of his father. After that, he spent few years working in ship and travelled through the US and the Europe until he returned to Pakistan in early 1970’s when my grandmother, mother and my four brothers were expelled from our ancestral home by my father’s uncle. The reason which I am told by mother for this was that my father’s uncle hated him, my mother and my brothers. Since then, he was deprived from entering that home and was also denied any share in his ancestral home. That home was built by my father’s grandmother. If my father’s uncle hated him to great extent, then my father’s first cousin, Morris Benjamin proved much more tyrant than his father. Inspite of all injustification, my father faced in the hands of his uncle and then his first cousin, we were always taught by father to greet and meet Morris Benjamin, even though many times he didnt reply to our greeting. I never remember my father calling Mr. Morris by name as he always called him his elder brother. Morris Benjamin died five-years ago, now his two sons carry the same legacy of his father and not willing to accept and give us our right.
During his life, my father did many high profile jobs such as; a bank manager and officer in WAPDA, but his he lost both of these jobs. Afterwards, he went to Libya, there we all spent few years as he worked as the photographer. He earned love and reputation among Libyans but he was soon called back to Pakistan, as his widow mother and my grandmother needed all of us here.
Upon return to Pakistan from Libya, he started his shop of steel where he himself started making steel items. All of his friends, who saw him doing high-profile jobs advised him to search for job instead of doing the steel work. But, he preferred to run that shop as he didn’t want to waste time and wanted us to suffer in his job search.
He always wanted us to get as much education as we could. For this, he worked so hard that he didn’t spare himself to do work with steel. Today, I am so thankful to Lord that no one in his whole family is as educated as my siblings are. Beside, his work he also gave his life for the work of the Lord by starting a youth group and then as a secretary of church. The stories of his services in these areas were recalled by the speakers in his memorial service.
I never remember my father saying anything against all those who deprived him of his rights.He spent all his years on rented home and also fighting for the home of his mother, which was occupied by her tenants. For this, I also consider myself guilty as I couldn’t help him in resolving this.
He was very much proud of my accomplishments and I thank God that I never disappointed him. I remember, anyone in the church, who didn’t have enough finances to admit the child in school or the sick ones in hospital, he did his best to help the needy.
He was a child with child, a young with young and old with old ones. On 2nd December, suddenly he left all of us. I still can’t believe how urgently he left all of us alone. He was perfectly fit. Even though, his death is a shock but we are all thankful that he died the same way he used to pray that he didn’t want others to serve him.
When we are all alone now, I pray to God that we can get all the rights which he strived for his whole life. He never inflicted pain on others rather prayed for all who did this to him. I also pray to God that my and my family will continue to do all those works which impacted the lives of many people. Now for sure that he is in the best place, but his absence will always be missed and can never be compensated by anyone.
Lubna Thomas Benjamin 