The consistency of violence in India against Muslims has left no room for survival. Every day we encounter a new mob lynching case where brutality seems to have escalated compared to the previous one. Chand Miya Khan, a 23-year-old youth, fell prey to the same brutality earlier this year in June.
On an unfortunate day, Chand along with two of his companions drove a truck loaded with buffaloes when a mob allegedly belonging to cow vigilantes chased them. They reportedly pursued the truck for 54 km, assaulted them, and then killed them mercilessly.
While this cardinal sin blinded many people, making them act like ignorant readers of the newspapers, Miles2Smile travelled to Lakhnauti, Shamli, a place where Chand spent his life.
Tears flowed, hearts sank, and our voices trembled while exchanging dialogues with the family of Chand. He was not just a member of the family who left unexpectedly. He was the happiness of the house, the solace of the family, and the soul earner. He left behind a wife whom he married seven months ago and a child who is in the womb of his wife. The child who will never experience fatherly love.
Silent Suffering
On our visit to Sahahranpur, we met Chand’s widow, Henna (name changed). She was sitting on a bed with a rosary in her hand and tears in her eyes. We sparked a conversation with her to learn about her sufferings and provide her solace in all ways possible.
“I’m suffering a lot; I’m crying a lot; how long will I keep suffering? Henna said, placing her rosary on the table.
After that, she did not speak a word for several minutes and seemed under the weather.
Tears were rolling down her cheeks, and she didn’t care to wipe them, probably because she was tired of her pain.
After some time, she mumbled, “Will I get justice?”
“What was my Chand’s crime? …What did he do? Do we deserve this?” She added without blinking her eyes for seconds.
Henna kept staring at the wall that was right in front of her. She seemed broken emotionally and physically.
We had a deep emotional conversation with her and decided to take the onus of taking care of her emotional and physical needs.
Rebuilding Lives; Restoring Hope
After meeting Henna, we had a conversation with Chand’s parents. Chand was the sole breadwinner of her family.
With his death, poverty enveloped the house within a few days, and constant apprehension has booked a spot in the life of Chand’s family.
Amidst the horror of Chand’s death and the rubble of his family’s happiness, Miles2Smile sought to bring their lives back to normalcy. Miles2Smile, with the help of supportive donors, provided annual rent of a shop for Chand’s family and maintained annual stock.
This shop will provide them with a decent livelihood and will lessen their financial burden and has won the hearts of Chand’s family.
“Thank you for the shop rent; it has reduced our financial burden significantly” said Chand’s father on speaking to Milles2Smile. A wave of happiness was palpable on his face and that happiness could give us satisfaction.
