Shahid was fighting with deadlines to complete the stitching of the heaps of cotton sheets spread before, when he got the news of violence.
Shahid was fighting with deadlines to complete the stitching of the heaps of cotton sheets spread before, when he got the news of violence. For Shahid, tailoring is both a passion and source of income. Due to his financial constraints, his shop was not big enough, but it provided him with the means to fill the bellies of his family members, who are largely dependent on him.
Shahid is a popular tailor in his locality, as he has been running his shop for a while now. He had earned a name in the neighborhood and he was extremely busy during the festive season. It was the time where he was able to earn more as compared to other months.
It was a normal day on 2nd April and Shahid was working hard to finish tailoring the clothes before the deadline. He was sitting among the heap of fabrics when he heard about the violence erupting in the city of Karauli. Under the garb of celebrating Nav Samvatsar or Hindu New Year, extremist mobs entered the Muslim-dominated locality, and started shouting religious slurs while playing objectionable music. They targeted many small-scale businesses and shops located in the area.
Shahid closed his shop to protect it from the attack of the mob. He went home early after hearing the news. However, it was futile. His livelihood became a victim of hate and his shop was burnt by the gang. Shahid’s tailoring machine, along with other clothes in the shop, was completely burned. Like canvas for a painter, piano to a pianist, and pen to a writer, Shahid’s tailoring machine was his tool to perform his art.
Miles2Smile went to Karauli, Rajasthan to talk to the victims of violence. When we met Shahid, he was filled with misery and despondency. While telling us that his means of income was set ablaze, Shahid could not hold back his tears. “How am I going to feed my family now,” he said while sobbing.
The meager income he accumulated with his hard work was not enough to establish his shop once again.
“Ab Khuda hi rasta nikaalega” (Now only God will find a way for me)
Shahid
When all doors appeared to be closed, Shahid still believed that God will open a door for him. Miles2Smile ran a fundraiser for Shahid and helped him buy new tailoring machine and renovate his shop by providing two lakhs. His smile, as he sat behind new tailoring machine to stitch new life afresh was a moving experience for us.
