Book on Ajmal's life

To throw light on the severalfacets of his life, his dad, Mohd. Khaleequr Rahman, has decided to pen twobooks on his son’s life — one on son Ajmal and another on the closebond that Ajmal shared with his cousin Ayazuddin. Khaleequr Rahman,says, “Ajmal’s 16 years in this world were well-lived and were fullof adventure and warmth. Even though he was a teenager, he had the maturity of a25-year-old. He was kind-hearted and had a burning desire in his heart to helpthose in need. Around 15 days ago, I made a page on a popular social networkingsite in his memory and it already has around 500 likes and approximately 70,000views. Close to 8.5 lakh people have searched for Ajmal on a popular searchengine. People want to know more about Ajmal and that is what is driving me towrite about my son.”The book is already in progress and Rahman plans to wrap it up in the next two or three months. “I’ll be speaking to his friends, teachers, school principals etc., to learn more about the experiences they shared with him. I’ll also be writing one on the close bond Ajmal shared with Ayaz, who was more than a son to me. The two were more like buddies than cousins. Both studied in Chirec and St Mary’s and also went to the same cricket coaching center.”MohammedAzharuddin’s experiences and inputs too will form a pivotal part of thebooks. Khaleequr Rahman, says, “Ajmal and his uncle were very close. Azharbhai would not take my calls if he was busy but he would always takeAjmal’s calls. Azhar bhai will share his experiences in thebooks.”Sharing a few anecdotes about Ajmal, that will make itsway into the book, Rahman says, “Once, without our knowledge Ajmal boughtsome boys from Borabanda four new cricket kits with his own pocket moneybecause they used sticks as bats as they couldn’t afford real ones. Welearnt about this gesture only when these boys attended Ajmal’s funeral.Several times, Ajmal helped others and never told us because he was worriedwe’d object. He had a great heart,” he says.Rahman alsoreveals he will spearhead the NGO that his son had set up. “After hereturned from his school excursions, he told me he wanted to do something tohelp youngsters. He said he wanted to start an NGO. He was in class X then. Heactually googled ‘how to start an NGO’ and took me through theprocess. He asked me to spearhead it till he finished college. Meanwhile heconceptualized YOUNG — Youth Organization for Upliftment & Grooming.He even got in touch with the UN and got approval from United Nation YouthProgram Department to use its official logo in events organized by his NGO forUN’s International Year of Youth 2010-2011. I will live his dream now thathe’s gone.”