Tags:
Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, MAR 21: MH-02-Q-2073 is Hamanullah Abdul Malik Sheikh8217;s auto-rickshaw8217;s licence number. But people often identity his rickshaw by a much smaller message scribbled in Hindi on its rear: 8220;This rickshaw offers a Rs-15 concession to handicapped and ill.8221;
You must have heard of people who mix business with pleasure, but here is a man who mixes business with a mission. His goal is simple 8211; helping people in need. And the means even more basic: his rickshaw which earns him Rs 200 a day.
But the incident that inspired Abdul to take up this mission did not have such a happy ending. It was on the night of August 14, 1996 when Abdul8217;s father 8211; a heart patient suffered a kidney failure. 8220;I was not at home and my old mother had to run around in search of a rickshaw. She managed to find one and took my father to a hospital. However, she was short of money and could not pay the bill. The driver badly abused her. Paisa nahi hai to rickshaw mein kyo baithi?8217; he asked her and went on arguing for a long time. Precious minutes were lost before his father could be admitted. He passed away early the next morning. 8220;That day I decided I would never refuse anybody help,8221; says Abdul.
Ever since, Sheikh has helped several seriously ill people reach hospitals;has been always on the lookout for handicapped people whom he could offer a concessional ride; and has given up arguing over chutta paisa with passengers.
Always dressed in spotless white clothes and chappals, Abdul never sits at home even when autorikshaw unions announce a strike. 8220;The leaders, especially from the Shiv Sena unions know that I take patients to hospitals, they never stop my rickshaw,8221; he explains.
There are some problems. Like the blind not being able to read the message. But these are solved by Sheikh8217;s overwhelming desire to help them. 8220;Whenever I see one on the road, I offer him/her a ride on my own.8221;
