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Can’t believe you are gone, dear Sano Chacha (Uncle Sano)! There will be no more regular e-mails of birthday and anniversary wishes, no more regular phone calls coming all the way from Oslo… just to say hi and keep in touch.
My father Nasrullah (Nasir), was the eldest son among his five brothers. My younger brother Faisal and I have very vivid memories of the time we were growing up in Karachi, closer to both our maternal and paternal sides of the family. My parents both played a very significant role in the lives of all our uncles (my paternal uncles, four of them, as we call them “chacha” in Sindhi). My parents always welcomed them in our home, and offered them help and guidance whenever needed. As they were his younger brothers, my father was always concerned about their education, their well-being and even settling them out in their marriages, both my parents have been extremely supportive to them all, may Allah bless them for their good deeds. Ameen.
Among my uncles and aunts, my most favourite have always been both Sano Chacha and his dear wife Aunty Britt. I love them both so much. During the early years we have fond memories of them both visiting Karachi, before and after their children Jan and Tina were born. We too visited Norway during the 80’s and the early 90’s and the memories are remarkable. Some pictures of the visits I’ll share below. My mother and Aunty Britt have been close friends and they lovingly called her "Sisi".
Sano Chacha was humble, funny and I found him always easily approachable. He shared with me a great bond of uncle-niece friendship with his great sense of humour. During the years Sano Chacha worked for EB and other companies, he used to come for short visits to Karachi, which made Nasir and Sisi so happy. We would enjoy my mother’s delicious cooking and at the same time the chocolates Sano Chacha would bring as gifts for the family. That was also the time, Daddy was teaching me, how to drive a car. And my Dad had a temper… may Allah bless him. My driving skills were near perfection but I just could not learn how to reverse or to parallel park. I gave up! It was Sano Chacha who took me by the hand and further encouraged me to complete my driving lessons and helped me learn how to reverse with his patience and perseverance. I’ll always remember him for that. As kids, both Faisal and I had a good time watching ‘hindi’ movies late at night with Sano Chacha over a cup of coffee and “Dajm” chocolates, with endless laughter over how silly and exaggerated these movies really were… we had fun!
Time passed by and we were extremely saddened to know about my Uncle’s illness. It brought us all down with sorrow. Although a ray of hope was there that he will be receiving treatment and will live longer and a healthier life. Although the following years only once did he come back to Pakistan, and this time with Jan, and his lovely wife Frøydis accompanied with little Theo, who brought so much joy to the family. Alongwith Aunty Britt, Tina, and Froydis' parents. We have great memories of their trip. Attached are a few pictures to share those memories. Sano Chacha always stayed in touch and shall be missed.
I remember, there were times when I used to be sad, he would laugh at me, looking into my eyes and used to say “looks like you sold butter and didn’t get paid for it!!” Well as of now , I’m honestly very sad dear Sano Chach … and even today, your funny jokes are there in my memory to put a smile back on my face again! Now that you have returned back to your Creator, you are at peace and best of all…you are pain-free. May the Gardens of Jannah, be your eternal abode. Ameen.
—
Following are some captions for the pictures I’ve attached:
1. With Aunty Britt, Far and Mor-mor, at their residence in Hamar. (1993, when I visited Norway).
Sano Chacha and I (Karachi)
With Sano Chacha and my husband Shams (Naveed), in Karachi.
When all our Norwegein family visited us in Karachi.
Sisi and Sanu enjoying a good chat at dinner. ( Karachi)
Aunty Britt, Jan and Tina along with Sisi, sight-seeing at the Quaid’s mazaar in Karachi.
Celebrating Tina’s second birthday in Karachi. In the picture, Sano Chacha, my grand-father (Dada), Aunty Britt, Jan, little Tina, my brother Faisal and I can be seen, while Sisi is on the right side of the picture.
In the last picture both my parents Nasir and Sisi can be seen hugging Sanu Chacha, its a very happy picture. This was taken when they all had gone and stayed at my brother Faisal’s place when he was posted in Geneva. Beautiful memories <3
Huma
My dear father in law Sano
There’s noone in my life I’ve said no to as often as I have done it to you. Always speeking to deaf ears. You always wanted to help us in many ways and to the extent that we had to try to help you take care of yourself sometimes. Not an easy job. And sometimes we let you help us even though we didn’t need help. Because that was your way. It made you feel that you had a purpose. But you were not an easy man to give back to. That’s why I will use your afterlife to give you what I know you desired in your heart. That is to keep your family overseas and in Pakistan close.
Sano, you simply only wanted to give or live. The latter was a talent of yours. But deep down I think there was a longing too. A longing you never spoke of. A longing for looking into all your brothers eyes at the same time. You know that’s partly why I wanted to go both to the States and Pakistan when we could afford.
But anyhow; daily life was our blessing. With the family present in the sale country. Our happiest days have been all the family dinners and celebrations, talking, laughing, dancing, working side by side at Brønnøya. And our great travels to Pakistan, Jordan, Sweden and Denmark together.
I’m sad for us not being better at paying enough attention to the muslim traditions and sad for you never teaching Jan urdu. I’m happy Theo is showing interest in both. I can’t imagine how it has been to be so far away from your brothers and your ancestry. Maybe that’s why you were so keen on keeping us all together all the time. Always welcoming the big family: You, Britt, Jan, Tina, Tom, Bente, Freddy, Marta, Hallgrim, your 4 grandchildren, my mom, my late stepfather: We were a team for many years and you were the glue. I appreciate so much how you welcomed me and my family. My dad and his family and my sister and her family has a close relationship to you too even though they live a couple of hours away. I think the same gode for Hallgrimsen family. You always included everyone.
You and mom cooperated perfectly to «save» the childhood of our boys. Only to support the professional choice Jan and I have made by being artists and teachers and not earning all that much. And also to support us building us a house and a life at Brønnøya. You must have known that Brønnøya is the true happy place for Jan, your only son. He could never live anywhere else and he have many similarities with Isak on Sellanraa AS we all know. But Isak too needed some support and help. Bare hands needs love too while working hard. The Island partly made Jan and you were there to make that possible. But you were always a bit worried about our job situations and our income. Only now you can relax cause now I am a headmaster and Jans work situations are more stabel too. I can feel that made you calm.
I want to share a couple of glimpses of our life together:
1. One day our washing machine broke down and you took all our laundry, carried it over the island and came back with them washed, ironed and folded. I couldn’t believe my own eyes, but that says everything about you Sano.
2. In a birthday at Leangkollen we both laughed and danced throughout the night and that picture of you is burnt to my mind. You arms held up high in oriental style.
3. The look you had when you first got to hold Theo, your first grandson. Wow! And the list of names you gave me both times.
4. You strolling over Brønnøya with a cigarillo in your mouth and a backpack full of groceries every saturday for years to play football with Jan and the rest of the footballgroup. Hanging out afterwards.
5. You delivering bag by bag with groceries, every week for years.
6. You watching The Jungle Book, laughing so much it always made us laugh too.
7. You and me side by side by the fire on Brønnøya massane times and that one time IT exploded because there was gasoline in a container too close to it.
8. You with grandchildren on your arm in all different situations.
9. You when you laughed till you cried. A classic.
10. You and your PM. Personal Manager. A busy schedule. Helping others and working at Nebb.
An active man.
There are so many memories to share. I can’t share them all.
Sano I promise you and you know I’ve told you before. I’ll honour our pakistani blood and your history, I’ll translate your book and tell from it to the kids and I will keep in touch with the family. It is my turn to shorten the distance as much as possible. I love our family and this is my way of showing you how much I love you too. And how I am you forever thankful. There is no possibility we could have the life we have without you and my mom. I’m in awe......
Rest in peace Sano and say hi to Nasir. I hope you get a good laugh together wherever you are.
This is a trying time for the ones left behind. In this time we question our purpose, our faith, and our very being. But, we do not question one truth - life. You lived life in a manner that will not soon be forgotten. Thank you for being my fathers big brother. Thank you for being the man we will always remember. I love you. - Erik
My cool brother.
Beloved husband,
Great father, and
even greater grand father.
Ada, you have been the best cool brother to us. Though you are not on earth anymore but you will always be happy & alive in our memories.
Love from every single one of us over here in U.S.A.
In times such as these it is seldom that we can find the words to completely capture the essence of the effect of our loss. For many, including myself, it will take a long time to completely realize a loss of this magnitude. Sano Rahman was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. I can only speak from the context that I am familiar with, he was my uncle. One that, although separated geographically, always ensured that I did not feel this divide. He would be the first to make contact on holidays, usually in the form of a gift sent in such a meticulous fashion that it would leave the most detail oriented in awe. This attitude continued in all the communications that I had the privilege of having with him. He carefully documented everything, and kept in touch like it was his profession. This was just his way, and I loved him for it. He leaves us with two children and four grandchildren, which insure that his legacy in this world has been left firmly, and without doubt. Although we have lost him, and we feel this deep remorse that cannot even begin to explain, there is some beauty in this moment. The beauty in the privilege we received by being allowed to have him in our lives for all of these years. Within us he will live forever, never to be forgotten.
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