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Afzal Jehan Begum(1935-2012), Founder of Afzal Fruit Farm

Afzal Jehan Begum had a larger-than-life personality. She was strong-willed, opinionated, prudent, innovative, fashionable, and loved to travel. But her green thumb and love for nature was a trait that stood out amongst all others.

Gardening was not just a hobby for her; It was her life. She nurtured and cared for her plants the way a mother cares for her child. She understood the needs of her plants; whether they needed more potassium or phosphate fertilizer, whether mealy bugs had to be washed off with soapy water or whether they just needed a good old ‘goadi’ to thrive. She always tended to them with love. Peculiarly, she would attribute human emotions to her green friends. For instance, if there was a water shortage (and there were plenty), she’d sadly look at her morose-looking hibiscus and say, “he’s mad at me as I didn’t water him today”.

It was due to her passion, far-sightedness, and entrepreneurial drive that she bought 400 plus acres of land in Mitiari, Sindh, and planted assorted fruit trees including mango, banana, chickoo, jamun, falsay and pears, to name a few. She planted many of the saplings with her own hands and worked tirelessly, in the scorching heat. In spite of physical exhaustion her spirit would remain elated as she would marvel at the sight of her infant trees transitioning into tall, strong adults. Way before the advent of “horticultural therapy”, she recognized that planting trees renews and rejuvenates us and reconnects us to nature and our own roots. She also knew that even after she would be long gone from this ephemeral world, she could still serve humanity by leaving behind perpetual charity in the form of fruit trees.

One tree out of the many that she planted stood apart – just like she did – from the rest of the crowd. This particular mango tree grew entwined with a neighboring rose plant and the mangoes from this tree had an exquisite rose fragrance. The fruity- floral, delicious-scented mangoes were unique, distinct and irreplaceable, just like her. Her beloved husband named the tree ‘Afzal e gulab’, in honour of his wife.

We pray to Allah to grant our grandmother the most beautiful garden in paradise.