SNP

Bashir was a wonderful man and the essence of kindness.

I remember the day of the ‘Bin the Bomb’ rally in Glasgow during the 2007 election campaign. Alex Salmond wanted to travel through to Glasgow with Bashir and asked me to phone him and see if he could give us a lift AND bring a few oranges as Alex wouldn’t have time for breakfast. 7am the next morning Bashir arrived outside the hotel in Edinburgh. We get to his car and there it was, full to the brim with crates of oranges. We both had to squeeze (excuse the pun) into the car with crates on our lap and all around. What a laugh we all had, not knowing what to do with all this fruit but unwilling to leave it behind. I had the great privilege, that day, of listening to all of Bashir’s stories, including the story of the first time he arrived in Scotland. That story fascinated me and I knew then, he was a truly remarkable man.

The Norman McCaig poem below, I feel explains how important Bashir was, and will remain, to all within the Scottish National Party.

So here’s to you Bashir!  We’ll miss you!

On that stormy night
A top branch broke off
On the biggest tree in my garden.

It’s still up there.  Though its leaves
Are withered black among the green
The living branches won’t let it fall.

from Victoria Pyle, on 11th February 2009

A true Scot who I will greatly miss.  I will also miss the trips to Glasgow to collect teddies (Bashir knows what I mean), rest in peace dear friend.

from Stuart Pratt, on 7th February 2009

We meet many people on our journey through life, but it is rarely that we are fortunate enough to meet one who epitomises the true meaning of a gentleman. Bashir was that rare human being, a truly gentle man. I for one will miss his cheery smile when the next by-election comes along.

from Stuart Farquharson, on 9th February 2009

It is always sad when a good person passes away. But Bashir Ahmad was special. His love of Scotland, and his acceptance by the community, represented what our country can be - more than the sum of its parts, united by our diversity, and a home we can all be proud of.

His time of passing was unfortunate, now that Scotland is on the verge of joining the great world community of nations. But he has left a lasting legacy which his family can be proud of, and everyone’s thoughts will be with them now.

from Steven Carson, on 7th February 2009

I only met Bashir on a few occasions but the impression was that he had a very kind nature and was just such a lovely person, he will be a great loss to Scotland and the Party. Condolences to his family from Linlithgow Branch.

from Sheila MacIntyre, on 7th February 2009

Bashir Ahmad was one of life’s gentlemen, a truly decent human being whose kindness and humility we will never forget. His smile could light up a room and although he is no longer with us he will never be forgotten. We feel honoured to have known him and to have been thought of as his friends. A true Scot, rest in peace.

Joan and Robin Sturgeon

from Robin Sturgeon, on 8th February 2009

Those of us who campaigned with Bashir Ahmad will remember his quiet and unassuming presence with the public. His loss will be felt across all communities. Bashir did not alter the SNP’s fundamental values but he changed, for ever, how the Party is understood. After his election to Holyrood, nobody could claim that the SNP was a mono-cultural or xenophobic party and be taken seriously. The day he swore the oath in Urdu, Scottish multiculturalism came of age. I would often cite him to anyone who wondered how an English-born man with an English accent such as me could be a Scottish nationalist.

We now have members and supporters well beyond Bashir’s own community such as Sikhs, Hindus and peoples from sub-Saharan Africa. It is only a matter of time before such individuals will seek and gain election to our own parliament as well as Westminster and Europe. And Scotland will be richer for this. That is Bashir’s lasting legacy.

from Richard Bache, on 11th February 2009

“It’s not where we came from that’s important, it’s where we’re going together.“ With those words, Bashir Ahmad electrified the SNP’s annual conference nearly fourteen years ago. It was the most memorable of occasions, and vivid in my memory ‘til this day.

As others have said, he was the most patriotic of Scots. He made Scotland his home for over 40 years. He raised seven proud children here. Scotland was in his blood. But vitally, he played his part in shaping our Scotland of tomorrow.

Bashir had a vision of a country that prospers through the talents of its people. A country that looks after those in need. A country that is a force for peace in the world. And a country where everyone, regardless of their background, got the chance to make the most of their own life, just as he did when he arrived here all these years ago.

Asian Scots, he would tell you knew and understood the value of independence. Since he was a child, he had been inspired by the independence movement that helped lead to the partition of India and the creation of Pakistan. There is no good reason, he would explain why Scotland should not be independent too.

His passing leaves a huge hole in our personal and political lives.

Bashir Ahmad was the embodiment of humanity. He had a wisdom that could both guide and inspire. Without fail, the briefest encounter would deposit a good feeling in your heart and leave you knowing something special had just happened to your own life.

There is a single photograph on the wall here at Headquarters which marks the SNP’s historic election victory in 2007. It’s a photo of Bashir in traditional Pakistani dress* on the day he took his seat in Holyrood. The fact that we self-selected this image says everything about the man we have lost. And what’s helping me through these difficult days is I know I will never be able to look at that photograph without feeling that feeling and remembering the man who made everyone smile.

I will miss you dear friend.

*Bashir also enjoyed wearing the kilt. Click to enlarge the photos above.

from Peter Murrell, on 10th February 2009

A terrible loss for Bashir’s family and Scotland. My thought with his wife and seven children.

from Peter Drummond, on 7th February 2009

The news has come through this evening that Bashir Ahmad MSP has died of a heart attack.

He was at home with his family. The suddenness has left us all stunned. People with him at work only an hour or two earlier say all seemed fine. From God we come and to Him is the return.

Uncle Bashir, as we called him, was a great man. The best. People admired him because he had those characteristics we all need - exemplary manners, a great nature, warmth and hospitality.

He was a history maker - Scotland’s first ethnic minority MSP, its first Muslim MSP.

He epitomised the stereotype of the first generation Asian Scots. Graft, hard work, entrepreneurship. He was also different to most in our elder generation - through his civic engagement. I’m in the SNP largely because of him. In 2003, he made the effort to get to know a lot of us who’d been involved in antiwar activity. Not only had he blazed a trail that a number of us were to follow, but he encouraged and helped others to do so. Often, elders give lip service about getting young people involved - he meant it.

He set up the Scots Asians for Independence as a bridge between the party and the Asian community and there are a tranche of people that owe him a debt for that work. So many in BME communities lack contacts and role models, and that’s what made this body so important.

For him, it wasn’t about his own personal achievements or glory. His cause was independence. Whenever you were to meet him, most likely you’d be quizzed about what you were doing to achieve it. In more recent times, you could also sense his own personal frustration that with his years, he perhaps didn’t have as much energy as he used to.

For me he’ll always be an inspiration. Speaking to people this evening just reemphasises the esteem and fondness in which he was held. My thoughts and prayers with his family.

from Osama Bhutta, on 9th February 2009

Bashir Ahmad was, quite simply, a unique human being. Kind, sincere, devout, passionate, funny, he was always determined to see the good in everyone he met. He loved Scotland from the moment he set foot in Glasgow as a young man with no money and little English and encountered the basic human decency of the Glasgow bus driver who went out of his way to deliver him to the door of his uncle’s house in Pollokshields - a story Bashir never tired of telling!

Bashir was proud of his roots but he considered Scotland to be his home and he completely dedicated the latter years of his life to campaigning for independence. There were no half measures with Bashir - if he believed in something he gave it everything. He considered every political opponent - from party leaders down - as people who were just not yet persuaded…and he usually made it his business to do the persuading. There was nobody he wouldn’t try to win over.He converted so many people to our cause over the years with his simple, passionate espousal of the rightness of independence. But I often thought as I watched and listened to him in full flow that it was less what he said that won people over and more that it was him saying it. It was often as if they thought that if someone of Bashir’s character believed that Scotland should be independent, then it must be right.

Bashir founded Scots Asians for Independence and built it from nothing to the force it is today. He won the Pollokshields East council seat in 2003, in an otherwise difficult election for the SNP. No doubt about it, it was his victory more than it was the SNP’s. No-one else would have won that seat in that election. Four years later, he was immensely proud to be elected as the first Asian MSP and represented his community and all of Glasgow with distinction. He played a vital part in my own election as MSP for Govan too and I will be forever grateful to him for that. True to form, he was already thinking ahead to 2011, working out our strategy to deal with the boundary change that will bring in to my constituency another big part of the Asian community, his community. I’m so grateful to him for all the support and help he has given me over the years. Above all else, though, I am grateful for the privilege of having been his friend for the past 15 years. As I write this, I can’t really imagine life without him. Campaigning will never be quite the same again but I, for one, will give it that wee bit extra in future because I’ll be doing it for him too.  I will miss him hugely.

from Nicola Sturgeon, on 7th February 2009

It was heart touching to be at Bashir Ahmad’s funeral this afternoon with many people from all over Glasgow who also felt the same way.

One thing I will never forget is that whenever Mr Ahmad spoke, he never spoke as a politician but just someone who simply spoke from the heart and with a gentle voice.

Your brief encounter will never be forgotten. May God grant you peace and have mercy on you. Ameen.

from Naveed Bakhsh, on 7th February 2009

We will miss him much. Bashir was always with the people and an inspiration to all. May God have blessings on your soul and grant you paradise.

from Nabeel Shaikh, on 7th February 2009

Bashir Ahmad was a man of many qualities. He inspired young and old alike. His warm smile would cheer your day and will be remembered for many years. Bashir’s sudden death is a great loss not for his family and Asian community but it will be felt across the whole nation. The SNP has lost a sincere and committed member. May Allah give him peace.

from Muhammad Asif, on 9th February 2009

I was distressed and saddened to hear of the death of my friend, Bashir Ahmad. We shared a special and unique bond, as he was the first member of the Scottish Parliament to come from an ethnic minority and I the first ethnic minority member to be elected to the National Assembly for Wales.

Bashir Ahmad was a great man with an ability to connect with people from all kinds of backgrounds and with all kinds of views. I remember fondly our time campaigning together in the Glasgow East by-election Scotland, when we became friends. He was always courteous to everyone. He was a modest and kind man and a true gentleman.

Bashir worked tirelessly for community cohesion and to increase political awareness among the ethnic minorities.

The attendance at his funeral showed the high esteem in which he was held – by people of all parties.

I send my deepest sympathy to his family and friends.

Scotland has lost a true patriot and a hard-working and well-respected Member of Parliament.

from Mohammed Asghar, on 10th February 2009

When I heard on Friday evening about Bashir’s death shock was the first reaction. Then two quick thoughts went through my head.

The first was the conversation I had had with him just the afternoon before, sitting next to each other voting in the Parliament when we had joked about my son’s impending 21st birthday and how Bashir had taken him away from a meeting of National Council nearly 15 years ago to buy him a box of Lego - much to my wife’s worry as she had no idea who Bashir was, or why he had taken her six year old son away into the wintry streets of Partick!

That event was the beginning of a much closer relationship than one which was simply political. I suppose within a year of meeting him in the Spring of 1995 Bashir had become a friend of the whole family and he has remained just that through political thick and thin. For example he was always our first (telephone) foot on Ne’er Day.  He even came to the airport to see us off on holiday on more than one occasion, and was waiting for us when we came back, with a car full of curry to make sure we had something to eat when we got home!  Cathleen, Cailean and I will all miss him tremendously. 

My second thought arose because I was at the Edinburgh Burns Club Burns Supper and it was a verse from Burns himself. Writing in the “Epistle to Davie, A Brother Poet” he says:

“The heart aye’s the part aye
That makes us right or wrang”

Bashir had the biggest, most generous, kindest heart I ever knew or will ever know. I don’t think I ever heard him say a malicious word about anyone, nor did I hear anyone say such things about him. No effort was too much trouble for him, no journey too difficult, no task to irksome.  For others he would literally do anything.  He was particularly keen on reconciling those who had fallen out and he would spend hours suggesting and hinting at the need for good sense to prevail.  In fact he literally agonised over such things. His was a religion of peace and he was the best advocate for Islam it is possible to imagine. 

Islam also enjoins hospitality but for Bashir it was not just a duty it was a huge pleasure which he took very seriously. Many, many people in the SNP have had the experience of sitting in his house in Moray Place being fed like Kings, whilst he watched, eager to ensure your satisfaction and pleasure. And all the time it was hard to persuade him to consume so much as a grain of rice!

No wonder he was so well respected and revered in his community, in his city and in the political party he came to call his own. In that Party he put to shame those who weakened or flagged in the cause. Securing independence was his aim and he intended to make sure that he and his community were in the vanguard of making it happen. 

One of his friends from the Glasgow Mosque told me at the funeral that Bashir kept coming back to him to try and persuade him to vote SNP. Even though this man was political neutral and did not involve himself if such things, Bashir would not give up on him.  That was typical of Bashir - no vote was untouchable; every voter could in time be persuaded.

Of course he proved that when he won his council seat in 2003, almost single-handedly piling up a massive majority against all the odds in a seat which conventional wisdom said was unwinnable by the SNP.  And he would have proved it again in the coming Referendum campaign, where he would have been tireless in his search for votes that would help to turn Scotland at last into a normal nation.

“The heart’s aye the part aye….“  It is difficult to believe that such an indomitable heart could ever stop beating. Although he had a history of heart problems I thought that last week he looked better than ever - spritely and full of enthusiasm. Perhaps he had just given so much from that heart that it came to the end of what it could do. If so, then his family can take pride that Bashir in his sixty eight years had done more than most people to improve this world and to create joy and human progress.  His heart had changed the world. 

When I left him on Thursday we embraced as we always did.  It is painful for me to realise that I will never do so again. Scotland has lost a great patriot, the SNP has lost an inspirational activist, Glasgow has lost one of its keenest adopted sons and the Parliament has lost some of its much needed leven. 

We all share in those losses of course.  But some also have lost one of their dearest friends.  Certainly I feel that raw loss today with the force and edge of the sharp, frosty and, decimating wind which blew through Glasgow on the day of his funeral.

from Michael Russell, on 8th February 2009

When I think of Bashir I think of Sunday afternoons, canvassing with him in Govan. Bashir had a unique approach to canvassing – he completely ignored the script, just leapt right in and told people why they should vote SNP.  He definitely belonged to the evangelical wing of the party and bowled people over with his enthusiasm and sincerity.

We went to canvass a house one day where a couple had just arrived home and were unloading some flat pack furniture boxes. Bashir started helping them to unload the car and then offered our assistance assembling the furniture! They weren’t ready to put the furniture up but were glad of the help unloading and offered us a cup of tea. When they discovered Bashir was their councillor they were doubly impressed. He told them it was all part of the service. I don’t know what their voting intentions were before they met Bashir but when we went away they were definite SNP voters.

The story illustrates why Bashir had so many friends. He was a total gem. It’s hard to believe he will never pop in again, bearing gifts of pakora or mangos, always with a big smile on his face.  He will be very sadly missed. My condolences to Bashir’s family and also to his staff and to his many friends.  I hope the knowledge of how much he was loved will bring them some comfort in the days ahead.

from Mhairi Hunter, on 9th February 2009

A sad day and the passing of a great man. An inspiration to so many. Bashir gave it 110% for Scotland. RIP a great man, a great father, a great Scot.

from Marc Macrae, on 7th February 2009

A gentle man with a lovely smile. My condolences to his family.

from Loraine Henderson, on 9th February 2009

Bashir, Lily and I were canvassing together most recently in Glenrothes on a particularly dreich evening. As ever Bashir was in great spirits and his approach on the doors was quietly pleasant but very persuasive. 

Less than two weeks before he died we met in the Scottish Parliament corridors and had a long conversation, where we exchanged family news and views as well as political thoughts.

Bashir will be sorely missed, both in the Independence movement and as a friend to many.

Ian Hudghton MEP, SNP President

from Lily Hudghton, on 13th February 2009

Bashir and I often talked about 1947 and the Independence that was gained by Pakistan and India at that time. He said it was the single topic of conversation that dominated life and was discussed by everyone at from morning till night.

His legacy is that he fully played his part in bringing Independence closer for Scotland highlighting the simple logic of the proposition and the potential it had to make Scotland and all its people all that they can be.

I will never forget him.

from Jim Mather, on 8th February 2009

Bashir was one of the loveliest, sincere, and genuine men you could ever hope to meet. He has done an amazing service for our Party through his immense hard work building Scots Asians, campaigning for independence, and becoming Scotland’s first Asian MSP.

But despite all these achievements what I will remember him most for is food! During by-elections he would make sure staff were eating. Possibly the only highlight during the Paisley by-election was Bashir providing meals! He also regularly turned up at HQ with boxes of mangoes (“The best you will ever taste Jeanette.. you must have more than one”)

And no matter whether you hadn’t seen him for a month or had just seen him the day before, he always greeted you as though you were a long lost friend and with his beautiful smile.

We can be proud that such a great man chose to dedicate himself to the SNP and the cause of independence. He’s a loss to our nation but his mark will be long felt.

Thanks Bashir, it was an honour and privilege to know you.

from jeanette campbell, on 12th February 2009

It was through my mum I met you, you were really supportive to help younger activists get involved with the Party and were really loved by all. The Scottish Parliament has lost one of its best MSPs and will be deeply missed by everyone. And a thank you, when I and my fellow students submitted a petition to the Parliamentary Petitions Committee, you were really nice and helped us get out of some tricky spots, when we were asked questions! A real inspiration to us younger ones.

from Janie Orr, on 8th February 2009

A neighbour and friend. Who was always there for us with kindness and humour.  I will never forget him and how he lived his life based on wanting to make life better for everyone.  Love to the family.

from Jan Howden, on 7th February 2009

Bashir was a warm, humble man of great inner strength who engaged kindly with everyone he encountered.

from James MacDonald Reid, on 7th February 2009

Words seem inadequate to describe the loss of Bashir, who was simply one of the kindest and gentlest people I ever met. I cannot recall a time when he ever had a bad word to say about anyone, and he was of course a splendid fighter for Scottish independence, as well as a fantastic colleague at the Scottish Parliament. His sudden death was a real shock, and he will be sadly missed by all in the SNP.

from James Hepburn, on 11th February 2009

Bashir was a true gentleman. I had spoken to him many times at conference and during by-elections. I was very sad to hear of his death.  He will be very much missed by the SNP and Scotland.

from Irene Anderson, on 8th February 2009

Bashir Ahmad was the most humble, sincere, caring and loving person I have ever met in my life. I saw him lost in his own world a few times, but never once did I see him in a bad mood. He was always smiling.

He was very good friend of mine like hunderds of other people.

I became the member of SNP because of him. Although Alex Salmond has been my role model for many years but it was Bashir Ahmad, who asked me so nicely, i could not refuse.

He was a true gentleman. To me he was just like my elder brother. I will miss him forever.

May ALLAH bless his soul.

Imtiaz Ali

from imtiazali, on 12th February 2009

Mr Bashir was a nice, decent and simple person. He had made remarkable progress from bus driver to MSP. May his soul rest in peace.

Imran Masood

from Imran Masood, on 10th February 2009

It may surprise people to learn that dealing with the vagaries of SNP members, councillors, parliamentarians etc. isn’t always a bundle of laughs. But no matter how bad a day in the office I might be having, there was always a few words that would instantly turn my mood around and put a smile back on my face. Picking up the phone to hear, “Mr McCann, it is I, Bashir” would do that job.  And over time that became “Cllr Bashir”, and latterly “Bashir, MSP” but no matter how many years I had known him, or how many times I had told him to call me Ian, he insisted on Mr McCann.  If only all our members held HQ staff in such high esteem!

As well as his kindness and humility, I think the thing that will stick in people’s minds was his enthusiasm.  When doing streetwork, he would never give up in trying to get someone to take a leaflet.  While most others would be put off by a grunt, or a wave of the hand, or a look in another direction, Bashir would just walk alongside the person insisting that they were doing themselves a disservice by not taking the vital information contained in the leaflet that he had, paying no regard to their disinterest or disinclination to the SNP cause.  And in most cases, the effusiveness, the charm, and the softly-spoken insistence would be enough to get them to stop, to take the leaflet, to chat, and for many, to accept an SNP sticker from the hand of the lovely gentleman who wouldn’t give up on them.  And for those who were vehemently opposed to the SNP beforehand, after a few moments with Bashir, I’m sure that the thought would be placed in their heads that if someone so genuine, so honest, and so mild-mannered as Bashir could be part of our cause, then maybe there was something in it after all, and their vehemence would be diluted by a man who had made Scotland his home and Scotland’s freedom his goal.

So my advice to all SNP activists is this.  Next time you are standing in the drizzle in some High Street trying to engage with disinterested shoppers, then don’t give up on those who may appear to be a lost cause.  Just think WWBD?  What Would Bashir Do?  And that should make you put a smile on your face and pursue every passing elector with the grace and respect that he showed to everyone.  And when that enthusiasm leads us to the day that Scotland votes ‘yes’, then I’ll raise a glass of mango lassi to the man who always made me smile, and maybe made me just that wee bit less cynical.

from Ian McCann, on 10th February 2009

So sorry to hear the sad news of Bashir. My thoughts are with his family and friends. God Bless.

from Helen Coffey, on 7th February 2009

Ali Khan, Chair of Roshni, would like to pass on our condolences to the family and friends, of a much loved and respected member of the community.

from hamira khan, on 9th February 2009

I had the honour of driving Bashir to the conference last October and dressing him in the fabulous kilt outfit which you have probably seen a great deal of since he passed away. 

He gave me his amazing life story during the journey to Perth and that left quite an impression on me. It is hard to believe he is no longer with us.

Brian Halley
Slanj Kiltmaker

from HALLEY, on 19th February 2009

I can only add my feelings of sadness at hearing the news on Friday night. I was through in Parliament on Thursday afternoon and he was looking great, it made the news of his passing all the more sudden.

The hundreds of people who turned out from every community to pay their respects at his funeral was but a fraction of those who would have been there if there had been more time. Alas, we respect traditions in all faiths and I now feel more enlightened about the ‘what and why’ of Islamic customs at this time. So, even in his death, he is helping me broaden my understanding of others, and how we live and die.

He was the complete gentleman.

from Grant Thoms, on 9th February 2009

I first met Bashir Ahmad when I went to campaign for John Mason. I was standing about on my first day by myself, never done political campaigning in my life looking lost.

Bashir saw me standing about and came straight over to me and introduced himself.

He was a person who naturally hit it off with people and put them at ease. Every time he saw me during the next three weeks of that hectic campaign; he always regardless of who he was with made a point coming over to say hello to me.

He certainly made an impression on me and I will never forget him.

My sincere condolences to his family for their loss at this difficult time; he was a genuinely nice man.

from George Laird, on 10th February 2009

A true gentlemen who enbodied everything that Scottish Nationalism stands for.  He will be remembered for his kindness, his passion for Scotland and his respect for others.

He joins a long list of patriots who may have left us but who will never be forgotten.

from Gareth Finn, on 10th February 2009

My fondest memory of Bashir was sitting in the sunshine in Perth, outside the conference hall, just enjoying the day, and talking about life - with all it’s strange twists. What an amazing man he was, he will be such a miss to his family, his friends, and to the world. It was a privilege to have known him.

from Fiona Mcrae, on 10th February 2009

I only met Bashir once or twice, at Conference and in Dumfries, but I was struck by his honesty and integrity. He will be missed.

from Douglas Snell, on 9th February 2009

Bashir truly was the kindest man I’ve ever met and I will miss him dearly. I had the privilege of spending a lot of time campaigning with Bashir during the Glasgow East by-election in the summer of 2008. 

I was always aware Bashir was much older than me and I would be careful about how long we stayed out campaigning. Looking back now I realise it was always Bashir keeping me out late just wanting to chat to one more constituent!  His desire to help Scotland regain its independence and passion for our country was something that I always admired and will never forget. 

I met Bashir only on Wednesday during a visit to Holyrood and he insisted on taking me for a coffee in the garden lobby (I’ve lost count of the amount of ice cream and coffee I owe him!).

Bashir will be sorely missed.  The energy and commitment Bashir had is something we should all carry on to win our independence.

It was a great privilege to know Bashir and my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.

from David Linden, on 8th February 2009

It was a deep sense of sadness and loss that when I heard of the death of my long time friend Bashir Ahmad, to me he was a true friend, and one from whom I learnt a lot. His social skills, his passion, his warmth, his energy, his enthusiasm, and his humour were inspirational, to me and all who were lucky enough to know him.

I saw his love for his fellow human being and his love for Scotland, his adopted country, Bashir will be a huge loss to the people of Glasgow, who knew him and saw what he sought for, peace and unity , he was there whenever you needed him without any fuss. I will miss him dearly and I cannot believe that he will no longer walk into my restaurant with that beaming smile of his. He has left a void but he will always be in my heart.

I smile as I imagine Bashir , where is he now, reunited with old dearly friends and still campaigning for the SNP.

Rest in peace my friend, and may Allah bless you and give you a place in Jannah (heaven). Ameen.

Chico Qureshi, Alishan Tandoori

from Mr Qureshi, on 12th February 2009

So sorry to hear of the death of Mr Ahmad and wish to offer my condolences to his family and friends.

from Catriona Watt, on 7th February 2009

If you were a strange face at a meeting he’d come straight over not to introduce himself but to welcome YOU with a beaming smile. His heart was as warm as his handshake. He’ll be a legend in the Scots’ and Asian communities.

from Bob Paterson, on 13th February 2009

In Bashir I shall miss a patriot, gentleman and friend, a rare and wonderful combination.

from Bill Wilson, on 10th February 2009

I am very sad that I never had the opportunity to meet you. Your legacy is inspiring. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for everything you gave to this world, for your optimism and for loving this country.

from Ben Macpherson, on 15th February 2009

Sikhs in Scotland and the Mel-Milaap Community Centre are deeply saddened by the sudden death of Bashir Ahmad MSP. He was always the gentleman and maintained his humility and respectfulness towards others.

Bashir, on the initiative of Anoop Wallia, made particular efforts to engage with the Sikh community both in Glasgow and Scotland wide.

The most recent occasions where he demonstrated his willingness to work with the Sikh community include him presenting English Language Citizenship Awards to the successful candidates who had undertaken this first ever course at the Mel-Milaap Centre and hosting a Sikhs in Scotland Achievement Award Ceremony at the Scottish Parliament last year. 

Bashir will be sorely missed by the Sikh community who greatly appreciated his efforts to improve community relations between the minority communities.

Our heartfelt condolences go to his wife and family.

from Anoop Wallia, on 9th February 2009

Very sad news.  Scotland has lost a true patriot. My condolences to his family. Rest in peace.

from Annie, on 7th February 2009

Maybe I shouldn’t have read everyone else’s contributions here before I started writing because here I am in tears again. I mention it because the fact that I’ll admit to crying says more about Bashir than it does about me. And the fact that so many people have come on to this website (many of whom I know to be incredibly private when it comes to expressing their emotions) and said how much they loved Bashir and how much they’ll miss him, says everything about who he was.

I’ll not repeat what they’ve said and instead I’ll share my experience last Tuesday night with you - something I think that sums up Bashir Ahmad. But first - no tribute would be complete without a funny story or two!

You’ll read a lot about Bashir and his mangoes and his oranges. In fact the subject of food will be mentioned a fair bit. My story is about olives. The day before he passed away, was a Thursday, and as such we were all in parliament. I didn’t want to stop for lunch so I popped down to the canteen to pick up a cup of soup and a sandwich. I spotted Bashir sitting opposite Bob Doris in the canteen so I sat down to say hello for a few minutes.

Bob had rather a lot of olives on his plate and knowing I love olives, he offered me one which I accepted. As we were chatting Bob had had enough so Bashir said “have another one” which I did. “You have one” I said to Bashir. So he did. “Have another one” he repeated but I explained that I had something to do. “OK just one more then” he said. So I had one more and got up to go. “Have another one,“ Bashir said, “they’re good for you”. I resisted quite strongly at this point but Bashir was VERY persuasive.

And so it went on. I would say no and stand up to leave, Bashir would say how good they were for me, I would say I didn’t have time, Bashir would use the line “just one more then”, I would fall for it, sit down, eat an olve and it would start all over again.

I’m not kidding, this pattern continued until I must have eaten 20 olives!! I could hardly eat them for laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. When I protested “you can’t force feed me olives Bashir” he just giggled with that mischievious look in his eyes and ate one himself which apparently meant I then had to eat two!!

With anyone else I’m quite certain I would have stopped at a few olives but Bashir, because he was such a gentleman, because you KNEW he was looking after you, was almost impossible to say no to.
So, last Tuesday night.

I would have visited Bashir’s family regardless, but I knew I had to see them before I was sworn in. I wanted to tell them in person but my main reason for going to the house was to do, as everyone else was doing, and try to comfort them - having lost my own dad some years ago, I know that it really can help to hear how much other people cared.

However, I left that house feeling that I was the one who’d been comforted. I sat in a large upstairs room with the women including Bashir’s wife and some of his 5 daughters. We talked about how they were coping, what they would miss about him and we shared some funny stories. I told them about the olives, they were not surprised.

The best thing I heard was from one of Bashir’s girls who said to me “you know how some men are charming and helpful outside the family but use up all that energy and then come home grumpy? Our dad wasn’t like that, he was as wonderful to us as he was to everyone out there”. Apparently he would come home from a long day in parliament and start chopping up fruit for his wife and whichever of his children were around. His girls say they never once saw him frown.

After we’d chatted for a while, I asked them if they knew what would happen next and they said yes, they understood that someone would enter parliament “in place” of Bashir. Before I had the chance to tell them, one of the girls asked if it was me. When I said yes, they all held my hand, hugged me and said how happy they were and how they knew I’d do a great job. They told me never to feel guilty about it and just to do my very best. Bashir’s wife was the same, they were all genuinely thrilled and I’ve never felt so humble in all my life. They had only met me half an hour before and they could not have been kinder to me. I hope it doesn’t sound corny to say this but I really felt Bashir’s spirit in all of them. And just to show how me that they really meant it, three of them came through to watch the swearing in ceremony.

That story, I believe, sums up Bashir Ahmad. His beautiful nature and his incredible generosity of spirit wasn’t something he kept to himself - he passed it on to his children and I hope all those of us who are missing him so badly will reflect and allow some of it to rub off on us too. It’s not something that’s prevalent or admired in politics but it should be. If we all allow our natural compassion and humanity to be a factor in how we behave as politicians, perhaps that will be a fitting tribute to Bashir Ahmad.

from Anne McLaughlin, on 15th February 2009

In the Islamic funeral rites it is common for the Imam to ask forgiveness on behalf of the deceased to the assembled congregation for any wrongs or injuries done by that person.

That is how it should be, because in all great religions forgiveness, like self-sacrifice, is at the centre of the order of things.

And so it was on Saturday at the funeral prayers for Bashir Ahmad in the Central Mosque in Glasgow.

Appropriate though the appeal may be, I have never known anyone less in need of it than Bashir.

For the 15 years it has been my privilege to know Bashir, he did no one knowingly any injury, harm or hurt, but rather left everyone who met him feeling that bit better about themselves and about life.

That is a major quality for any human being to have – in a politician it is priceless.

Or, as Burns put it: “The heart aye’s the part aye. That makes us right or wrang”.

Born in Amrisar in pre-independence India, Bashir came to Scotland as a young man with no English and few prospects.

Through hard work and dedication, he worked his way through a career on the buses to become a successful businessman, five times chair of the Pakistan Welfare Trust, elected to Glasgow City Council and then to make history as the first Asian member of the Scottish Parliament.

All of this would be a matter for pride, and Bashir was a proud man – but not a pride in himself. Bashir’s pride was for family, community and for country.

He was fiercely proud of his family – his wife Naseem Ahmad to whom we send our condolences – and his seven children who are with us today in the gallery – Sajid, Atif, Uzma, Rosie, Saima, Sumbla and Bushra – as well as his 11 grandchildren.

This family was Bashir’s pride and joy. He was also proud of his faith and community.

All of us in entering this Parliament embrace a duty of care to our constituents. Bashir had such a duty all of his life.

At the burial service on Saturday I met a man whose younger sister had tragically died last month leaving behind a young family. Not only had Bashir visited the family as their MSP, but he had already visited the graveside on no less than three times.

When someone is the first to make a mark in a job or profession or sit in a parliament, the character of that person becomes hugely important.

The Muslim community, indeed the community of Scotland, were hugely fortunate in the character of our first Asian MSP.

Finally, Bashir had great pride in his adopted country. He was probably the most patriotic Scot that I have ever met.

Since he came to Scotland in 1961, he embarked on a near half century campaign to repay a debt of kindness offered by a Glasgow bus driver to that young, penniless immigrant by taking him to a place of refuge and safety.

The attempt to repay that debt in so many ways could lead Bashir into the occasional scrape.

A few years ago, when we stopped at Harthill service station, we came across a young Polish worker who had encamped there for a few hours with no English and only a scrap of paper with the name of an Edinburgh lodging house. Seizing the opportunity to take the young man to Edinburgh, in what seemed clearly an exact replica of the circumstances which Bashir came to Scotland, we took the Polish lad to Leith. Unfortunately, we found out that he actually had a good reason for not wanting to return to the hotel, and the last we saw of him was hightailing it up Leith Walk!

However, the intention and the thought was there.

Bashir could see no wrong in Scotland. To Bashir, our manifest faults were incidental to the essential goodness he had witnessed and experienced.

I think through his life and work that he repaid his debt to Scotland in full.

When Bashir launched Scots Asians for Independence at the SNP conference in 1995, he developed a phrase which he was so fond of that he worked it into every available speech. He said that “it isn’t important where you come from, what matters is where we are going together as a nation”.

Let that stand as his epitaph. Inshallah.

from Alex Salmond, on 11th February 2009

While visiting the Scottish Parliament on Thursday this week, I was introduced to Bashir by Bruce Crawford. You could tell you were in the presence of a man of real compassion and natural warmth.

Our movement has lot a real patriot.

Cllr Alasdair MacPherson, Bannockburn

from Alasdair MacPherson, on 7th February 2009

I first met Bashir Ahmad in 1995. At the time I was in the then Pollok North Branch, which mutated into Govan South Branch at around that time. One evening at a branch meeting the Convener, Peter Kearney, announced that some local Asians had asked for Branch membership. There was a real feeling of delight. Very soon we met Bashir. Somehow, after you had spoken to him you felt just a little bigger and more important. That was the effect he had on you.
Not long after that the Branch decided to nominate Nicola Sturgeon for Govan PPC and he was all for it. She was still a young lassie in her early twenties and some members wondered whether she was experienced enough to take on the Labour heavies, but Bashir had no such doubts. He unassumingly and quietly put quite a bit of funds our way to help finance the campaign.
He loved to tell and tell again the story of the Glasgow Corporation Transport bus driver who had gone off his route to run the 21 year old lost youth to his uncle’s house in Pollokshields. His parents back in Pakistan had paid someone to come and meet him at Glasgow Airport, but the someone had taken the money and bolted, leaving him stranded and lost. To Bashir that bus driver represented in every sense Scotland and her people. He never ever did find him again, although he would have loved to have done so.

Over the next few years Bashir, like so many Glasgow Asians, ended up a Glasgow Corporation Transport bus driver himself for a while. I drove GCT buses at about the same time. We used to share quite a few jokes from time to time about the unadulterated awfulness of driving for Glasgow Corporation Transport in the 1960s.
The conditions reflected those still experienced by thousands of working people. Tiny drivers’ cabs were freezing in the winter. In one type of bus, an AEC I think it was, the clutch pedal could kick right back up and break your leg. This was not because of a design fault of course, but was due to ‘poor driving’. Not one driver ever got a penny in compensation or even lost wages for the months in hospital. We dreaded when we are allocated one of these vehicles.
Then there were the absurdly long hours of a seven day week and split shifts, the pathetically low wages, the semi-military discipline and the ridiculous brass-buttoned uniforms that looked like they had been designed for the Admiral of the Fleet. Bashir once recalled to me how one day an inspector had shouted at him, ‘put your hat on properly, driver’.
Corpi inspectors always managed to get a considerable connotation of contempt into the word ‘driver’ or ‘conductor’. They made it quite clear you understood you were an inferior species. Even Bashir conceded that on that day he had been on the verge of telling the inspector what to do with the hat. However, like most Asians he differed from we homeborn Scots in that he did not head for the boozer after his shift, but tucked the money away for the future. And within a few years Bashir had managed to start a business and purchase his lovely big house in Pollokshields, the one that is always almost buried under SNP election posters at every election.

Islam was part of Bashir Ahmad’s very being. He never ever talked about it, but how the nutters who used Islam as an excuse for violence must have distressed him. Yet he understood all too well the manifest injustices of western imperialism which had brought this about. To all of us who are Moslem, or Christian or Jew, we are proud to share the God of Abraham, of Issac and of Jacob with you Bashir. We are proud also to have shared with you that tiny microsecond of eternity, which is our life on earth.

Au revoir, dear friend.

from Alan Clayton, on 8th February 2009