Awaaz: Echoes of Freedom And Justice is an autobiography of Ansar Burney written by Shehar Bano Rizvi and Tasneem Premjee Chamdia and I recently finished it. Reading the book was like a rollercoaster ride since each chapter can be a book and movie in itself. Such is the adventurous and happening life of Ansar Burney.
I had always known about Ansar Burney, but did not realize the impact and scope of his work till I read this book. That was my loss. And I’m really glad this book will now fill in that gap. As a nation, Pakistan is in desperate need of positive leaders who the youth can look upto and learn from.
Each page of this book is filled with inspiration and knowledge. There were so many lessons I picked from the life of Ansar Burney. Lessons you can only learn from a life well-lived: trust in Allah, respecting parents, family first, preserving human dignity and so much more. He is a true role model for those who wish to make a difference in the world.
I love the honesty of the narrative. It never gets preachy or self-indulgent. I was extremely touched by the stories of Ansar Burney sahab’s childhood which quite evidently formed his world view and shaped his personality. A true endearing story from the book is how he met his wife and her constant support in his life. That is a truly inspirational story in itself.
There were many parts in the book where my heart cried and the visuals have stayed with me such as the illegal captivity of individuals for years over personal animosity or the story of child jockeys, but you keep reading because Ansar Burney Sahab persists and you find inspiration within the dark times.
I highly recommend you to read this book. It’s not an easy read but an important one. Thank you Ansar Burney for all that you have done and continue to do!
The book is available on amazon via link here.
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