M.S. Nazki
MENDHAR – The late Sardar Rafiq Hussein Khan was a divine blessing to the people of Mendhar. A class act and a complete package, his life was centred on humanity, with service to others being his prime aim. For him, politics was merely a staircase to serve mankind.
Today marks his fifth death anniversary, yet Sardar lives on in the hearts of the people. History, with its flickering lamp, stumbles along the trails of the past, striving to reconstruct scenes, revive echoes, and rekindle with pale gleams the passions of former days. Today, the people of Mendhar will do just that, recalling flashbacks of the tall, lanky Sardar walking into their homes—memories now flavoured with poignant tears.
Sardar often called himself “a lucky man.” Now, the people of Mendhar and all who knew him say they were the lucky ones. It was a privilege to have known him—a truth that remains undeniable.
He stood as one of the prominent minarets of the People’s Democratic Party—often termed the party of lawyers. Sardar Rafiq Hussein Khan began his career as a young lawyer, driven by a aim to help people, resolving countless issues without charge. A client’s smile brought him more satisfaction than any reward. Politics claimed him by default, as his popularity soared in a once-forlorn Mendhar, now a buzzing constituency.
Sardar was a great man—a wonderful intellect, a soul of matchless courage, and one of Mendhar’s most distinguished sons. Today, we gather to pay a tribute of love and respect to Late Rafiq Hussein Khan, who wielded his unmatched influence for the good of humanity. That is why Mendhar continues to hold him in the highest esteem—a reverence that will endure.
Among public figures and benefactors, history holds none in greater affection than the patron of the people. Sardar was a lawyer and a politician—a common enough combination—but he was also a statesman who ensured Mendhar was never left deprived. He lived in a frugal home in village Harni, far from extravagance. Simplicity was his forte; dynamism for public service was his energy. Until his last breath, he sought to contribute more, yet one’s time is divinely ordained—a truth that applies to all.
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Years ago, my mother remarked that in life, one encounters only a few truly special individuals. Many are good, even fabulous—but only a few are exceptional. Sardar Rafiq was conclusively one of them. Not merely for extraordinary talent, but for how he applied his gifts—politics among them. He wasted neither time nor talent, nor shied away from any challenge.
His political legacy is illustrious: elected four times as an MLA to the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, he served as a cabinet minister without airs. Accessible at all times, he delivered on his promises—a guaranteed fact well-known to the people. In times of trouble, they still turn to the Khan household, confident they will not be disappointed—such was the aura he cultivated.
He maintained excellence without arrogance, earned respect without assuming it, and displayed confident humility. In his final months, he likely knew the end was near, but true to his stubborn nature, he shielded others from his suffering. His thoughtfulness, courage, and bravery were among his finest traits. Despite his political flamboyance, he never dramatised matters. He faced his dreadful illness with resolve, making it his own battle without alarming those around him.
Yet, astonishingly, his loss echoed across Mendhar last year because he cared profoundly—about standards, commitment, and quality in all things. He wished to continue but could not.
Sardar Rafiq Hussein Khan was a man of joy and delight, both in his actions and in those around him. His endless chatter, skyward laughter, dancing eyes, and welcoming smile remain unforgettable. So too does his unbridled enthusiasm for life’s challenges—whether chatting with passersby, feeding the hungry, bringing smiles to poor children, or bowing respectfully to elders. These were hallmarks of his magnanimous personality.
A year ago, he was with us. Today, he is not—but his memory remains etched in hearts. From the heavens, he must watch over Mendhar, smiling, perhaps whispering: “I wish I could be with you. Never mind if I am invisible—I see you all. Live joyfully, stay united, and keep moving forward. That is the only way.”