“God never created another man like Kaifi saab” – Shaukat Azmi

"Today, May 10, will be ten years since Kaifi Saab left us. Just thinking about Kaifi Saab makes me teary-eyed. It will take us all day and then the night to talk about him. I don't have enough words to talk of all my husband's virtues. It's hard to believe that any human being could be so incredibly goodhearted and patient. In the 55 years that I was with him, he never got angry about anything. He didn't raise his voice even once at me. I'd get angry at him but not the other way around. I find it hard to believe that a man so noble existed. He gave me whatever I desired four times over. At a time when women didn't step out of their homes, I went out and on stage to do theatre plays. He encouraged me to go out and act. And though he hated my role in Mira Nair's Salaam Bombay (I played a Madame in a brothel) he never stopped me. Although it was beyond his will-power to restrain himself from seeing me in such a role, not once did he tell me not to do it. He never stopped me from anything. He always encouraged me in my interests. Though we went through early years of poverty we enjoyed those times together. …He did all he could to bring reforms in his native village Mijwan. Now my daughter Shabana continues his good work. She will push her way anywhere and ask for anything for her father's village."