Hafiza Bi's Cart

Hafiza Bi's Cart, originally uploaded by firoze shakir photographerno1.

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This is the narrow winding lane of Indiraji Nagar Bandra , and the cart belongs to Hafiza Bi the wife of blind Ismail Chacha, an ex army man, Ismail Chachas father worked as Khansama or cook for the Jinnah family before they moved to Pakistan to create history.His father worked for the Nizams family too, they are Karais Konkani Muslims settled in Mumbai.

Hafiza Bi does not really need to push this cart from here to Bandra Bazar Agha Khan Jamatkhana where she sells ladies and children s garments..she can conveniently retire , but she wont , it is this cart that has been her support base , she educated her children, and set them up for life.

He daughter stays in Manhattan New York, and her grandson in UK.

Much of Indira Nagar belonged to Ismail Chacha , but they lost it all giving out rooms to relatives and friends I am told , but they are a happy couple and are now rebuilding their house after 50 years,the earlier house was made out of wood, as Ismail Chacha worked at the docks along with Haji Mastan, in the early years , till he was given an opening with the Indian Army.
Ismail Chacha organizes the 15 August flag hoisting on Independence day singing our national anthem, he is a nationalist Indian, and being blind does not stop him from coming to my house to invite me for our country's celebrations..

He moves about with the aid of a stick, and the help of a local kid, he goes to town in a similar way , using the bus as transport.

Both of them love Marziya, but Hafiza bi has a very soft spot for my grand daughter , and was always inquiring about her when Marziya left for Lucknow.

So this cart basking in the scattered spectral light of life tells a human story..provided you have time enough to hear it.