“Sarfraz has gone home on his white horse”
In memory of Sarfraz Khan (1957-2012)
CAI “Most-remote-area” project director
Asalaam-o-Alaikum,
With heavy heart, I regret to inform you that our beloved brother, mentor and dear friend, Sarfraz Khan, passed away peacefully in Islamabad at about 5:30PM Pakistan time on Tuesday evening, 13 November, 2012. When I left him about 48 hours ago, he was relaxed, peaceful, coherent, and said he was waiting for his ‘white horse to pick him up and take him home.’
His departure leaves a deep void in CAI and our hearts, but we should celebrate that Sarfraz was a man ahead of his time, and long ago was making plans that the schools he established were sustainable and enduring, and in his wake he given us a vision to follow, has left two qualified female directors, who are the first women ever to do work like that in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Tajikistan and Wakhan-Pamir, Afghanistan.
We weep, but the Pamir, Hindu Kush mountains, stand tall and prouder than ever, to know that in their foothills, tens of thousands of eager children have the light and hope of education to pave a brave new future because of Sarfraz’s courage and vision.
Please remember Sarfraz’s wife Bibi Numa, and his nine children in your prayers and thoughts.
Inalilah he wa Inailiahr Rajiun. Amin. ‘Surely we belong to God and to Him shall we return.’
Allah Hafiz.
Greg Mortenson
Walaikum salam, Greg,
Even though expected, the news of our losing Sarfraz is very saddening and leaves a void. The man who devised so many strategies to save you from being kidnapped has himself been kidnapped by death, leaving us all powerless to change the inevitable. You are the one most affected by this loss, having worked so closely with him on so many dangerous yet urgently needed projects. You should at least have the satisfaction of immortalizing Sarfraz in your excellent book Stones into Schools. There is no doubt in my mind that Sarfraz’s legacy will live on. May you find the strength and courage to bear this loss the same way that Sarfraz faced his end so heroically.
Inna lillahe wa inna eleihe rajioon.
Your partner in grief.
Abdul Jabbar
CAI Board Chairman
Dear all,
Inna lillahe wa ina elaihe rajehoon.
It has deeply touched my heart and I feel very much sad to hear this painful news.
My bottomless condolence to his noble family and to all CAI team. Sarfraz Khan was truly a great leader, he had lived his life to promote the remotest communities with education and had enlightened peoples’ heart with flames of hopes for bright futures. As Greg has said he was the first one to employ women as leaders & directors in regions where women cannot live or equally work as men and sometimes even cannot gain their rights of livelihood.
This act of Sarfraz Khan could be a revolution for women of these distant areas. Sarfraz Khan had true pride for living his live to serve others in different ways.
Let us pray that may Allah grant him the greenest place in heaven and give tolerance to his respected family in these depressing & tragic moments.
Once again with lots of sympathy,
Pariwash Gouhari
Community Program Director
Pamir & Wakhan, Afghanistan
Salaam.
By now you have all heard the news about Sarfraz’ death. Even though I knew it was coming, it’s still hard to accept. I know many of you feel the same way.
Over the past six years I spent a lot of time with Sarfraz, in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Tajikistan. Everywhere we went together – first with Deirdre, then with Teru, Ellen and Erik – he showed me the way. He taught me something new every day. He was my teacher, friend, translator, cultural interpreter, driver, tea-drinking and smoking buddy. I trusted him with my life, and so did my family. He made me laugh. He made me work. And he made me smarter. The first time he ever called me “sister” was one of the proudest days of my life.
Sarfraz had an amazing, intuitive understanding of what Greg and CAI do and why. And he worked very hard to carry that work forward, helping to build stronger communities, stronger people and a stronger CAI everywhere that Greg sent him.
Sarfraz told me in September: “We are working for all needy people. In all places where nobody is helping those people, CAI wants to help. Not just for Sunni or Shia or Ismaili. Our boss’ vision is to serve all the poor people and the needy people, places where there is no school, or if there is a school, it is like for animals – that’s where CAI wants to help.
“All the time we are getting many questions from the government. Why are you going to the mountains? Why don’t you work on the cityside? I tell them – the government, the other NGOs, nobody is helping for the poor people in the mountainside, only on cityside. And going to those areas – Pamir, Chapursan, Korphe – is not easy. But that is CAI and Greg Mortenson. We need for everyone strong education. We need for girls and we need for women. We can show how it works and then they become good people and peace comes.”
Inshallah, my friend. Inshallah.
There will never be another Sarfraz Khan. He was one of a kind. And I will forever miss his wisdom and his wit.
We all pray for Sarfraz and his family at this sad and difficult time. But perhaps the greatest honor we can pay him in the long term is to carry on that work in the same selfless way he did.
Rest in peace, Sarfraz. We will never, ever forget you.
Peace,
Karin Ronnow
CAI Communications Director
“Manifesting Hope – Tribute to Sarfraz Khan” included in 2012 Journey of Hope
He was an amazing man and, as so many of the CAI staff does, he gave his all to help others. I feel so fortunate that I met him and worked with him, and I tell many people that he is a big reason why the Central Asia Institute has been so successful. He is irreplaceable, and I am sure that many many people will miss him dearly.
I can’t believe that he is gone, but it brings me peace to know that he is no longer in pain.
I hope he can watch over us all and continue to give us guidance and witness all the good that he has done. The goodness in his heart will live on in all who is has touched. It will live on in mine.
My heartfelt condolences to his friends, family, the incredible CAI staff, and to you and Greg.
Peace,
Ellen Jaskol
Photographer (JOH vols. IV & V)
Salaam my dear friends,
With big sorrow I got the sad news about the death of Sarfaraz Khan, and it is really a big loss for CAI team. I don’t have enough words to describe his intelligence and good behavior.
Since 2003 I became friend with him and I learned many things and good advice from him. It is impossible to forget his honesty and good work for poor people through Afghanistan and Pakistan.
My condolences to his family and all his friends and let’s pray for his family and children. God bless him and keep his family safe from harm.
Condolences,
Wakil Karimi
Community Program Director
Central, Southern & Eastern Afghanistan
Dear incredible CAI team and Sarfraz Khan family,
Allah took my brother; Sarfraz Khan to his home earlier than we hoped, I cannot imagine that he is
not physically with us anymore. He is always in my heart and even my eyes never forget him for a
moment.
I am very proud of being one of his students and brothers. He was a man who could never stop his
duties and missions due to tiredness, difficulties, coldness or hotness. While doing his duties,
Sarfraz Khan never considered ethic, language, religion, nationality and any other type of
discriminations. He was a good leader who could in a short time manage to tie and connect different
nations of the countries where CAI serves – such as Afghan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and America –
together in order to serve the poorest communities and neediest students, especially girls.
Sarfraz Khan taught how to behave with different community leaders, religious leaders, students,
teachers and most important, how to listen to the people who are needy and how to respect
them.
In order to honor him, all of our schools in Badakhshan recited complete Holy Quran and prayed for
him and asked Almighty Allah to place him well in heaven (Amin). During the schools’ opening
parties all the participants prayed for him.
Ina lillah wa ina ilaihi Rajeun.
Janagha Jaheed
Baharak, Afghanistan
Director NE Afghanistan
Salam everyone.
Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Rajioon.
May God give peace to his soul and tolerance to his family to bear the great loss. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family members and the staff of CAI.
Dilshad Begum
Women’s Education Program Director
Gilgit, Pakistan
Salaam dear ones,
Sarfraz should live in our hearts and thoughts, and in our work bringing hope, opportunity, and the light of education to thousands of people.
God bless his soul, his family, and all of you.
With great sadness and a humble heart, I wish you all blessings of peace,
Anne Beyersdorfer
CAI Executive Director
Very sad to hear this that our friend and colleague Sarfraz Khan has passed.
May Allah give his family strength in this hard time. We never forget him.
Mohammad Nazir
Community Program Director
Skardu, Baltistan, Northern Pakistan
Sarfraz will live forever in our hearts and souls and in the lives of all those whom he touched so tenderly and lovingly. He was a brave and honorable man and a role model for those who will follow his footsteps.
Talat Khan
Chemistry teacher and CAI Board Director
San Francisco, California
I am saddened by and sorry for your loss with Sarfraz’s passing. He touched so many lives in such a positive way and left such a positive impact on so many people. I do hope that, in my own small way, I can pay forward his legacy to others.
Col. (ret) Chris Kolenda
Department of Defense
It’s unfair to lose someone so special. He taught us all so much about how to be a dedicated, strong, funny, fearless, and adventurous person. He is forever in memory as the courageous, chain-smoking, master of many languages, loved by all, Sarfraz.
Carmine Leighton
Boston, Massachusetts
Perhaps the sadness is balanced a little with gratitude for what he made of his life – his dedication, teaching, facilitating opportunities for young girls and boys so their futures would hold greater possibilities. Celebrate the vision he lived and the legacy he leaves.
H. Kris Ronnow
Chicago, Illinois
It was sad news to hear the great loss suffered by Sarfraz’s family and CAI. He was not only a man of great ambition and honor but a master project manager. His work is beyond compare. May Allah rest his soul in peace and grant patience to his family to bear the colossal loss.
Wasim Ifthkar Janjua
K2 expedition Liason Officer
Rawalpindi, Pakistan
What an extraordinary man he was. I shall never forget him.
Mark Jenkins
Writer National Geographic Magazine
Laramie, Wyoming
His legacy and his name will long endure.
Joy Durighello
English As Second Language (ESL) Instructor
CAI teacher trainer volunteer in Pakistan
San Francisco, California
Sarfraz is still here, we won’t let him go. It’s not just sad, it’s unbelievable. I can see him everywhere. Missing him so much. God bless his soul with peace.
Fozia Naseer
Community Women’s Development & Scholarship Director
Azad Kashmir, Pakistan
Sarfraz-what a great guy-one of the best men I’ve ever met, and I say that sincerely.
Mike Bryan
Writer at Large
Co-author Stones Into Schools
There are no words to describe the grief that I feel right now, and I cannot imagine the sorrow that has been thrust on his family and everyone who knew him well. Although my visits with Sarfraz were short, the moments and words that were shared are unforgettable and will always remain deep within my heart. His passing will certainly leave a void in our lives and in the hearts of children and teachers who have been touched by his kindness, generosity, and respect.
With deepest sympathy,
Solmaz Mohadjer PhD
Seismologist
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
We did not at first believe Sarfraz Khan’s big plans for Tajikistan only a year ago. But he worked very hard, and everything became successful. Our people and leaders will never forget him.
Muyassar Kambarovich
Dushanbe, Tajikistan
He was so brave and proud, and seemed to be indestructible! I remember when I first met him in 2004, tall, strong, handsome, with his gorgeous smile, just waiting quietly to join us. What a loss for CAI, what a loss for you (Greg) – he was your brother.
Julia Bergman
CAI Board Director / Chairwoman emeritus 1997 – 2009
Retired librarian
Grass Valley, California
It seems hard to believe – He was tough as nails. I’ll always be grateful for the time I spent with him, especially on that ride across the Wakhan. We had a lot of time to talk, and he was a good man.
Teru Kuwayama
Photographer
New York, NY
We will continue to update this page with messages and photos.
