In the bucolic scenes of Reasi, Jammu, lives a child silently building a world of his own, dreaming of a future where he can help his mother move out of poverty. He holds the weary hands of his mother and promises her that he will walk on the path of purity and honesty. Arshad, a Class 7 student, has seen his mother working round the clock to earn their bread. After losing her husband, Arshad’s mother took up odd jobs as a labourer, hoping to become both a father and a mother to her son.
Life too had been merciful to her. Sunny days were more than rainy ones. Mornings were merry and nights were calm. In the lush green surroundings of Reasi, Arshad was learning the beauty of his Lord’s words, the beauty of the Quran. Tranquillity was his companion, and dreams were the driving force for his future. He wanted to become a Molvi, to learn more about his faith and to guide others with the knowledge he gained. He also dreamed of becoming someone who could ease the struggles of his mother. But life took a tragic turn, and the fury of nature was unleashed upon his world. A cloudburst and landslides struck Reasi, taking away his tranquillity, his dreams and his education.
The place he called home was suddenly surrounded by destruction. His aspiration of becoming a Molvi was shattered. His hopes of helping his mother were snatched away in a matter of moments. The cloudburst in Reasi was accompanied by intense rainfall, triggering flash floods, landslides and mudflows in several parts of the region. Landslides swallowed houses, blocked roads and cut villages off from the outside world. The familiar paths became dangerous, and homes that once held memories were left damaged or destroyed.
Amid the devastation, Arshad sat with his mother, holding her hands with listless tears and crestfallen words. The dreams he had carefully built seemed to be slipping away. His books and education were no longer his immediate concern. Survival had taken their place.
But relief was already weaving its way through the devastation. As news of the destruction travelled and reached Shaagird, the foundation made its way towards the landslide-hit areas. The team crossed broken roads, walked through difficult terrains and reached Reasi to understand the extent of the loss. The first step was to conduct a survey of the affected families and provide immediate relief.
Efforts were also made to help children return to education, because for them, education was not merely about books but about rebuilding a future that the disaster had interrupted,and for Arshad, future began to take shape again. With the assistance of the Shaagird, Arshad was enrolled in a madrassa, allowing him to continue his spiritual journey alongside his school curriculum. The madrassa became a place where his dreams could breathe again. Along with learning the words of his Lord, Arshad continued learning mathematics, English and science.
The landslide had taken away much from him, but it could not take away everything. His books returned. His lessons resumed. And slowly, the dream that had once seemed shattered began to rise again. Arshad still holds his mother’s hands. But now, he holds them with a little more hope. The road ahead may still be difficult, but he is walking again, carrying his education, his faith and the promise he once made to his mother.
