For Mehnaaz, helping the needy, irrespective of caste or religion is a way of life. And that is Islam. And it is this that Muslims need to introspect about.
By Nigar Ataulla,
The clouds were gathering over the Bangalore sky and my mind and heart, too… Over the week, I had encountered too many preachers- (who talk more, do less or even nothing at all!) and promise-makers (who promise to do many things for the community, but never do it!) I wanted to break free from them, but kept wondering how to.
It was on a cloudy afternoon that I met Mehnaaz Nadiadwala. Petite and pretty, Mehnaaz hails from Mumbai, where she was born and brought up. Now, she lives in Bangalore with her son and daughter. Her parents have imbibed in her since childhood the values of helping the needy, irrespective of caste, class, religion or creed. Life has not been roses all the way for Mehnaaz. She has been through very tough times, but yet has retained her smile and an exceedingly positive approach to life.
Mehnaaz with Mahalaxmi
Today, Mehnaaz volunteers with Freedom Foundation, an NGO which is a pioneer in the fields of Substance Abuse and HIV/AIDS Intervention in India. At a a time when HIV meant shame and silence, Freedom Foundation began work in the area of de-addiction and opened its doors to people infected with HIV. The Foundation has specialized facilities at Bangalore that cares for HIV-positive abandoned orphans. It is here that Mehnaaz has dedicated her efforts to bring joy to infants condemned to die. “I regularly visit the centre, home to 13 boys and 11 girls, aged between 3 and 16. I spent my birthday with kids here this year. My friends asked me if I had a big party to celebrate, and when I said, yes I had a party, but with the HIV Positive kids, they were disgusted. “How sick, eeks!” said a friend’, she tells me.
She goes on. ‘I want to scream out and tell not just the Muslims but everybody else that these kids should not be looked down upon or shooed away. They are innocent and need our love and care. I am shocked by the attitude of people, including Muslims, who fear theAIDS affected children. Let me tell you, my children love these kids! They hold them and carry them. Do research and you will find out that AIDS is not passed on by touching the person. I also wish to say that there is only one Muslim child among the 24 kids here. I am pained by the fact that Muslims assume they need to help only Muslims. They have closed their eyes towards non-Muslims. Why cannot Muslims give their charity in the name of humanity, instead of in the name of religion?’
Mehnaaz continues, and I can’t help but agreeing with her entirely, ‘I wish Muslims could open their hearts to non-Muslims, too. When I look at these orphaned kids, I see them as human beings, not Muslims or non-Muslims.’
Mehnaaz tells me that she plans to sponsor one of the children at the Centre, a three year-old girl called Mahalakshmi. Athough the child will continue to stay in the Centre, Mehnaaz will take care of her education and other expenses. ‘Muslims think they should, if at all, help Muslim children only, but God does not say that! He wants us to help the humanity,’ she explains in exasperation.
Among her other future plans, Mehnaaz wants to set up a website on Islam and Muslims and also do her bit for the cause of cancer patients—she had lost her best friend to cancer.
Mehnaaz is not a religious scholar from any seminary, and that is probably what drives her to open her heart to humanity. For her, helping the needy, irrespective of caste or religion is a way of life. And that is Islam. And it is this that Muslims need to introspect about.
Mehnaaz with the kids
I count myself too as part of the “educated ignorant” among Muslims who cannot shed their personal and communal egos, and emotional, religious or organisational crutches and lend a helping hand to the rest of the society. Meeting Mehnaaz has, therefore, been an inspiration in transforming my own thinking.
As I took leave of Mehnaaz, I wished her success in her efforts and looked up at the sky. The clouds had cleared and so were the clouds in my heart and mind.
With a silent prayer, hoping that her efforts serve as a guiding light to the dark tunnel that the community is trapped in, I recalled Phil Collins’ classic song:
She calls out to the man on the street
“Sir, can you help me?
It’s cold and I’ve nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?”
He walks on, doesn’t look back
He pretends he can’t hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there
Oh think twice, it’s another day for
You and me in paradise
Oh think twice, it’s just another day for you,
You and me in paradise
(Mehnaaz can be reached at [email protected])