When terror struck
His tormented, bandaged face, pleading for his life and those of his near and dear ones made the front pages of most newspapers across the globe. Gujarat riot victim, Qutubuddin Ansari (29), who was in Pune recently with his family tells us his horror story in his own words.
(Times of India, August 12, 2002)
(As told to Rahul Chandawarkar)
I can never forget that fateful Friday evening in February when frenzied
mobs came to kill us in Rehmatnagar, Ahmedabad.
A large mob carrying swords, knives, sticks and lathis came charging at our basti. They first set the shops surrounding our basti on fire. Their intention was to invade our homes and kill us.
Expecting certain death, you can imagine the trauma, the 1000 odd men, women and children living inside our basti experienced. I just held my wife Taherabanu and little daughter Rukayabanu close to me, not knowing what else to do.
Just when everything seemed lost, the shops that had been lit on fire came to our rescue. The imposing flames prevented the mob from entering our basti. Bachane wala bhi bada hota hain. (The saviour is always great).
I could not fathom why former friends had suddenly turned fanatical and over-powered with hate. Logon ne insaniyat ko mar diya tha. Ek pal mein insaan, haivan, ho gaya tha. (People had killed humanity. In a single moment, man had become a monster).
It took another 24 hours before help came our way. The next day, we were once again in the process of being attacked by the mob, when the army intervened and beat back the killers. I was so much at wits end by this time, that I just stood outside the basti, folded my hands and wept, asking the security forces to rescue us. This is when the Reuters photographer shot my picture, which has now become famous across the globe.
It was our valiant army men, who actually saved our lives. They swooped into the basti and took over the entire locality preventing any violence. Many of our jawans had tears in their eyes, as they helped us. The Army was in Rehmatnagar for ten days.
We shifted to the relief camp in Sundaram Nagar. Life in the relief camp was tough. My little four-year-old daughter fell ill and there was gloom and despair all around. However, not everybody had lost sight of their senses. Many of my Hindu friends, who had seen my photographs in the papers, came to meet me and inquire about the health of my family. They brought biscuits and food to the relief camp. Many broken down after meeting me.
Today, Ahmedabad is a deeply wounded city. It is a city which has been stripped off all hope. I do not know what to expect of the future. However, I will continue to live there.
Qutubuddin who is a tailor by profession, has lost his home and equipment in the riots. Those desirous of helping Qutubuddin and his family, can contact him at the following address: c/o S A Ansari, Dewdrop Creations, FP, 124/1 Mistry Chambers, Vidyagauri, Nilkant Marg, Khanpur, Ahmedabad: 380001.