With every facet of life disturbed for Arbaz, son of Junaid, he sat with Shaagird Foundation to unfold his agony. “Happiness has stopped,” he mumbled in pain upon being asked about life after father’s death.
His father, Junaid, was lynched on February 15, 2023, by self-acclaimed cow vigilantes. Junaid and his cousin Nasir were set ablaze on mere suspicion of carrying beef. Their charred car with their dead bodies inside was found in the Haryana-Rajasthan border. This hate crime lynching still gives shivers to Arbaz.
12 year-old Arbaz, who seemed unmoved, recollecting his time spent with his father, told Shaagird Foundation that isolation has become his best friend, but why? We thought to ask but could not gather the strength to do so. Maybe because of the fear of getting lynched to death like his father? We preferred to assume.
Shifting our conversation towards Sajida, Arbaz’s mother, we learned that she’s anxious about her children’s future. Sajida, now left with five children (four sons and a daughter) wishes to send Arbaz and his brother Kaif to school, but the financial constraints stop her.
On further conversation, she sobbed a little and told how their 15-year-old daughter could not bear the news of the brutality his father was put through, fell ill, and eventually lost his life in May 2024.
Simmering with stress, Sajida told Shaagird Foundation that after the death of Junaid, the storm of poverty struck her without warning. Controlling her tears, Sajida told us how passionately Junaid, the sole breadwinner, used to work hard to secure the future of their children. She said Junaid had dreams to educate them.
Hope Raised Again
After learning about Arbaz’s adversity, we decided to pave his way and facilitate his admission to Meer Public School, a boarding school in Rajasthan. Arbaz, who began to drift away from his childhood, got a new life. He now believes he can bring about a change deep within the fissures of our society.
Arbaz, who faced significant challenges, has started enjoying his grade 4 interactive learning activities. With our assistance, he has progressed remarkably. In our recent visit to Ghatmeeka, we asked Arbaz about school, and his happiness was palpable. He told Shaagird Foundation that he harbours dreams of becoming a doctor. We also facilitated the admission of his younger brother Kaif to Meer Public School. A student of grade 3, Kaif enjoys going school along with his brother.
The impact of school has been profound. Once shy, he now exhibits enthusiasm for learning. Arbaz, whose constant companion was dejection, has made new friends. With the help of Shaagird Foundation, his crumbled hopes were raised again, his shattered dreams were repaired, and his demolished life was given a new home.
His mother Sajida demonstrated a spirit to work for the family. Shaagird Foundation with the assistance of Miles2Smile stepped up, paving a way for her interests, accompanied her to source the cosmetics from Sadar Bazaar, Delhi and helped set up a cosmetic shop in their 2 room house.
Shaagird Foundation is aiming to lighten the adversity of Arbaz and is working to provide him happiness.
