Defying Physical Disability, Kashmiri Girl Teaches Quran to Kids
Suffering from Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disorder that gradually weakens the muscles, she has lost the ability to walk, sit upright or move her arms. Despite being physically challenged, her intellect and strength surpass even the severest obstacles.
Tabasum’s younger sister, Saima who was 23-years old, suffered from a similar muscular disorder and breathed her last on the first day of Ramadan after Friday prayers.
The sisters throughout these years have been more than an awakening inspiration for each other.
Residing at Yechipore Dangerpora at Narwara locality in Shaher-e-Khaas, Muhammad Ramzan Gugjoo feels pride to be father of “strong and inspiring daughters.”
Tabasum with limited means and physical ability, finished her senior secondary board exams from Sheikh-Ul-Alam School Yechipore. However, she decided to quit her studies as she could no longer bear the agony of her father— who had to carry her every day on his shoulders to school, while leaving behind his grocery shop. Not able to meet his two ends, Gugjoo had set up his shop after quitting his small scale one room carpet industry for the sake of his daughters. “I could tolerate any loss in business for the sake of my daughters,” said Ramzan.
Saima was dreaming of becoming a successful woman and grew beyond all her limitations. She was an inspiration for one and all. “ Life was going on smoothly for Saima till she woke up to find out that she had lost the ability to walk. It was a catastrophe for our family. Tabasum was shattered to see her sister go through the same ordeal,” Ramzan said as tears welled in his eyes.
Saima bravely faced every challenge life threw at her. “She was doing her Masters in Urdu through distance mode when she passed away,” he said. Both the sisters were teaching Holy Quran to the local kids. “Now I am carrying forward my beloved sister’s noble mission,” she said and broke down. Though Tabasum misses her beloved sister, her face depicts a true dedication to live life and never let it debacle her.
“I wonder why some youth resort to wrong means to destroy their lives. Life is beautiful and they must enjoy it. It is only when you lose something that you know its value. My appeal to Kashmiri youth is to set a noble mission in life and then employ every right means to serve people,” Tabasum said.
