HELPING HANDS Profile by Syed Ahmed Raza

            HELPING HANDS

Profile by Syed Ahmed Raza

"You have not lived today unless you have done something for someone who can never repay you." These are the words of an eminent English writer and social worker John Bunyan. Contrary to the idea quoted above, we are observed to live a selfish and self-serving life. People are so busy to keep up with the pace of this hectic world, that, at times, they even neglect their very close relatives, how come they may think of helping others?

Though, the cruel world gives us a hundred reasons to worry about, yet, there exist thousands of people who conceive a million ways to smile. Abdul Sattar Edhi and Bilqees Edhi are the brightest stars of this sky. The nation would stay indebted to those who sacrificed their today for our better tomorrow!

Jabbar Ahmed is its valiant example. He is seventy two years old, yet an active man and a barber by profession who works 15 hours a day. Unlike other modern hairdressers, he does not own a shop, but, sits on the corner of a government school situated in one of the many Kachi abadis of Latifabad. There, he has witnessed more than fifty springs of his life.

Jabbar is famous as Joru Chacha, lost his family during the separation of 1947. He was merely six year old boy who fortunately escaped his life by lying still under the heap of dead bodies, massacred by (ballwaayi). In his professional life of fifty-two years, all he could earn himself a single-room, wooden- hut-shape house, where he lives like a true king.

Joru chacha did not marry, thus he treats the children like his own, and he does not charge from these school-going kids and often buy them pencils, notebooks and even course books when required! He is pretty professional yet very kind nature, that, he treats many (mast people) for free. On Mondays, when other barbers take leave, he dedicates his day for poverty-stricken people of his abadi.

Joru chacha is a simple and graceful character; besides these qualities he is also very patriotic. In the response of a question he stated that," It is not about money at all, it’s about what you can do for your country mates. When these children would grow up, they would serve for my homeland. In this way, I am actually serving my motherland, and I feel really good doing that."

Apart from this egocentric world, it is a sign of fortune that our society has not completely taken the colors of selfishness. We should feel proud that people like Mr Jabbar Ahmed duel among us, who has dedicated his life for others. This selfless man may not have earned a lot of money, but, he has earned people's love, he may not have a big house to live, but, he lives in the hearts of people!

2013

Syed Ahmed Raza Roll # 09 ,  BS part 3

Juma Bazar: Poor's paradise Syed Ahmed Raza

Juma Bazar: Poor's paradise

 Syed Ahmed Raza

Un-edited

Spiraling inflation of Pakistan has made it difficult for a common person to survive in this country. For an average middle class man, it is no longer financially feasible to keep up with pace of the rapidly growing prices of household goods. Thus, they are often compelled to shop at different bachat bazars.

For the convenience of lower and middle class people of Hyderabad, a juma bazar is been hosted at Khuda Hafiz board of Latifabad for last thirty years. Initially, it was a personal effort of few local scrap dealers, who on their wheel carts, kept electronic and other reconditioned items for sale. Clicked the idea.. And now, this bazar is a main source of livelihood for more than three hundred houses. Another interesting fact is that the whole bazar consists of wheel carts only. It is a kind of social mobile market, which is staged with the sunrise of every Friday and ends with sunset.

 Stretching from Khuda Hafiz Board to Raja Ki Kothi, this bazar lengthens over a half kilo meter area. A large variety of things including electronic and electrical items, pots and crockery, bad sheets and carpets, Jeans, T-shirts and shoes, wooden domestic and office furniture, tools and spare parts, bicycles and wheel chairs, stoves and ovens, wall clocks and wall paintings, wrist watches and many other reconditioned stuff is sold at reasonable prices.

 Apart from this, many Limca, Limu Pani and Gola-Ganda sellers are also an important part of this bazar who keeps the bazar alive with their interesting chants. Lower prices and fair quality, pulls in the crowd that even scorching beams of hot sunny day do not affect the continual bustle of this bazar. Throughout the day, people remain busy in getting a bargain and eventually return home with a gratifying smile on their faces.

Due to increasing complaints of traffic jam in 2006-07, this bazar was shifted to Kanch mil (glass factory), which not only became a cause of great suffer for these vendors, but also brought a deprivation for lower class buyers. As a result of continuous efforts of vendor's committee and with the permission of municipal officials, it returned to its original venue.

The revamped juma bazar welcomes people when many markets of the city have their shutters down. From a needle to used iron-made articles, you can get all that you need and a lot more in this market. Buyers can get their required articles from this bazar on low prices, generally of average quality. Beware! One who is new to the bazar has to observe the nature of the market first; a good quality product may only be picked by closer inspection. 

2013

Feature- Syed Ahmed Raza - Roll # MC-2k11/09, BS -III 
Practical work done under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi