TAJA’S SEARCH CONTINUES, FOR SON AND JUSTICE

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

As children of this village prepare to go to school, fifteen-year-old Nazir Ahmad Sofi gets ready to go to work.

Nazir, a little adult from Wanigam, Bandipore, goes to school for three days of the week and on other days he works as a manual labourer to pay school fees for his brother and himself. He is now the sole bread earner of the family.

Tragedy struck Nazir’s family 13 years ago. The trauma his brother Javaid Ahmad Sofi and mother Taja Begum had to go through had the little boy turned into a man.

After returning from a hard-days work in their field, they didn’t find Bashir Ahmad, the eldest son, at home. Neighbours informed that he was picked up during a search operation. And since then, there has been no trace. “He (Bashir) was a carpet weaver,” says Taja Begum, her eyes moist. “We searched for him in every village, in every camp, but in vain. The army too denied their involvement.”

Seven years later tragedy struck yet again, compounding the miseries of the family. Taja’s husband, Mohammad Subhan Sofi died as he couldn’t bear the disappearance of his son.

Failed to track his lost son, Subhan went into depression, killing himself day-by-day.

Nazir, then only 8, didn’t lose courage. He shouldered the burden of his family. Now, on the one hand while he is studying in Class 9 on the other he is earning the livelihood for his family.

“Nazir is a child but he has taken up the responsibility of his father,” says mother Taja.

In February last year, Taja slipped and injured her back. “When I fell, I was only thinking of my sons,” she says. “What will happen to them after me?”

Despite all odds, Taja is still clinging on to hope. It has been 13 years since Bashir has disappeared but she is hopeful of his return. “One day I will hear him. He will be back,” she says keeping her eyes on the door.

Nazir has, however, accepted the truth. He knows the future ahead of him. “Life is like this,” he says. “Somebody has to take the responsibility of the family and who else can do it without me.”