A tribute to PMG Sardar Ali Sardar Aman

Col (r) Ikram Ullah Khan 

“A great man is one who leaves others at a loss after he is gone.” (Paul Valery).

This famous quote holds true when applied to PMG Sardar Ali Sardar Aman. 

Much has been written and posted on social/print media during the past three days about Sardar Ali Sardar Aman (late) by different learned writers, notably by Dr Inayatullah Faizi. After Dr Faizi\’s comprehensive chronicle, there is hardly anything left to add. However, without indulging in much repetition of what all has been said earlier, I would like to append a few points which seem to have escaped the eyes of the learned writers. 

Sardar Ali Sardar Aman was born to a well-known family of Chitral. His father Sardar Aman was an influential figure of upper Chitral. He was raised at a time and in an environment where people didn’t have much awareness about the significance of education. In such an inauspicious environment prevailing around, it was by no means an easy task to tread an untrodden region. But his father, going against the grain, traveled all the way to Bombay taking him and his cousin Mr Afzal Ali along in an attempt to impart them best possible education. Thus, both the cousins had the rare opportunity to get admission in Saint Mary’s School Bombay (now Mumbai).

After completing his SSC from Bombay, he returned to Chitral in 1951 and started teaching in a newly upgraded Middle school at Booni. After teaching for about four years, his burning desire for higher education impelled him to leave the service; and he embarked upon an arduous journey to Karachi with an intent to acquire university level education. With that intention in mind, he left for Karachi where he continued his studies and finally, succeeded in getting admission in Karachi University. After acquiring a masters degree, he decided to appear in Central Superior Service competitive exam as he was destined to do something beyond the ordinary. Through dogged determination, unflinching and untiring efforts, he managed to qualify in the said exam and became the first CSS officer from Chitral, a rare phenomenon in the history of Chitral those days.

His illustrious career started with his joining the Postal Services of Pakistan in early 60s after doing his CSS and culminated with his retirement as DG Postal Services in 1995. Though, he retired as DG Postal Services, yet he continued to be known as PMG. 

A reticent and soft-spoken person who would always carry himself with grace and composure. He preferred to remain silent and spoke only where necessary. Humility, gentility, courtesy, civility and politeness were some of the distinctive features of his great personality. He was a torch in the darkness, a beacon in the hazy horizon and an inspiration for all those who interacted with him. A remarkable man with an affectionate nature and temperate disposition; whoever met him became his fan. 

An iconic figure, an unsung hero and a real pride and benefactor of Chitral whose unforgettable services for the people of Chitral will be remembered for years to come. His greatness can be gauged from the fact that despite having done so much for the people of Chitral, he never ever mentioned his services even once either in public or in private. He was a self-effacing person and didn’t believe in self-projection and fanfare; instead, he always preferred to remain in the background. 

Great men always make a rare species but Sardar Ali Sardar Aman was the rarest among the rare. By the nobility of character, humility, gentility and selfless service to humanity, he earned the appreciation of all and sundry and left an indelible imprint in the minds of his friends and critics alike. 

As Deputy Post Master General and Post Master General NWFP (now KPK), he served the people of the province irrespective of creed, caste, language and locality. However, those who couldn’t fathom the value of this precious gem and couldn’t digest a Chitrali being placed at the helm of affairs, lodged a baseless complaint against him with ZA Bhutto who was the prime minister during his second tenure from 1973-1977, accusing him of giving inordinate preference to Chitralis and extending undue favour to them, to which ZA Bhutto is reported to have said: “He is doing nothing wrong. If I were in his place, I would have done the same.”

By establishing a network of post offices and branch post offices in the remote and far-flung areas of the province, particularly Chitral where almost every village got a branch post office, a critical mass was created for the people of backward areas, especially the educated youths belonging to those areas to make headway in their lives and flourish. 

Lastly, it may be mentioned here that during the twilight days of his glorious service, differences arose between him and Azam Khan Hoti who was then federal minister for communication in 1991 during Nawaz Sharif’s government. The differences arose when PMG resisted undue interference in his domain and refused to entertain his unreasonable demands. However, against all odds, he came out victorious and continued with his mission with much more vigour and enthusiasm.

May Allah (SWT) rest his soul in eternal peace.