Muhammad Mursal Riaz
Asif Ahmad, a young man with thousands of aspirations and dreams of becoming someone who could bring change to society, saw his life change at once while he was packing clothes in his garment shop.
Imagine the pain of having your eyes open but being unable to see anything.
The colours he once cherished, the smile of his wife, and the ageing faces of his parents—these were things that Asif would no longer be able to see.
Asif lost his sight in 2023. He went to many doctors, hoping to find a cure for what had suddenly become his uncalled nightmare, but he could not find one.
One doctor asked him whether he knew how to recite the Quran and indirectly told him to give up. It is difficult to understand how someone can give such advice to a person who has already lost so much hope.
The word humanity comes from the word human, but unfortunately, not everyone acts with humanity anymore.
As we say in Kashmiri:
“Shakli chus insaan magar insaniyat nish chus bekhabar.”
By face, I may look like a human, but I am unaware of humanity.
But Asif’s story did not end there.
Asif joined Voluntary Medicare Society (VMS), the NGO I am currently working with. He was not referred there by doctors. Instead, an acquaintance—someone who understood the meaning of humanity—guided him towards VMS.
He completed a course at the Visually Impaired Rehabilitation Centre of VMS. After completing his course, he spoke with me and shared his journey. Despite losing his sight, he has learned how to use a computer independently.
Today, Asif is looking for a job so that he can support his family.
Listening to his story took my curiosity and desire to contribute to society to another level.
This is Asif—the person I encountered today. But who knows how many more people like him are out there? How many are struggling silently? How many do not know that losing hope is not the only option, and that there are still opportunities and people willing to help?
Asif’s story is not just about losing sight. It is about finding a way forward despite the darkness.
VMS is a well-known NGO that has been working for society since 1970. For many years, it has been helping people and giving them opportunities to live their lives independently.
Behind this organisation is Professor Dr Mir Mohammad Maqbool, who founded VMS and dedicated a major part of his life to this organisation. Because of the work started by people like him, many people who may have lost hope have found another opportunity in life.
VMS has become an important part of the journey of people like Asif.
(The author is currently studying in DPS Srinagar. He can be reached at: [email protected])
