The Kashmir Earthquake occurred two years ago on this day. It doesn’t seem like it has already been two years. It feels as if it wasn’t too long ago when people in my university in London were collecting money for those affected and vigils were subsequently held in the city to maintain the media interest in this great human tragedy. At the time many vowed that they would not forget the plight of those affected. I had plans of helping out as much as possible in my own little way. To be honest I have failed in fulfilling any of that. However, scores of others from all over the world have dedicated a great amount of time and effort to help out those that lost their homes, limbs, assets and families of those who lost their lives. Out of such tragedies spring up moving stories of human compassion and willpower.
We have all heard the story of how a 45 year old woman survived after being buried in the rubble for 60 plus days. There are many others that been told and are nothing short of miracles. Many people survived against all odds. I also have a story to tell. Maybe not as remarkable as the others, but it truly signifies the human desire to live, fight and, eventually, win.
Sher Khan used to work in my grandmother’s house as a chowkidaar. He is a tall, well-built Pathan man. He traveled to Mansehra (I am not sure, but I think it was Mansehra) a week before the earthquake and he was there when it happened. Everyone in his family survived. However, Sher Khan’s leg was badly crushed when one of the walls of his house fell on it. He was taken to a hospital in Rawalpindi and where he underwent surgery on his leg. There were strong chances that the doctors would have to amputate it, like thousands of other amputations that took place at the time. However, luckily for Sher Khan, they were able to save the leg and instead inserted a steed rod and screwed together the pieces of bone severely crushed by the impact. Ever since Sher Khan has been lying on the same bed in that hospital in Rawapindi. Imagine…a man who grew up climbing hills and mountains and may have good reason to be proud of his physique reduced to lying on the same bed and relying on nurses each time he would have to relieve himself.
While taking care of all the hospital expenses my uncle and his wife keep in touch with Sher Khan to find out about the progress of his recovery. Last night they told me that for the first time in two years Sher Khan has been able to stand for a couple of minutes. It will take a lot more time before he is able to walk. He may never recover fully. One might argue that Sher Khan had no real choice. He had to go through the surgery and the recovery period following it.
However, what is remarkable is what the man said soon after the surgery. He told my uncle that once he gets well he would come back to my grandmother’s place and continue his job regardless of his condition. Two years on when he is barely able to walk he is still in good spirits and the man echoes the same thought and I am certain that with his desire to fight and will to, literally, stand on his own two feet Sher Khan will be back in no time. What my uncle and his wife have done to assist him is also quite commendable.
Sher Khan’s tale fades in comparison to thousands of other tales where people lost their entire families, children lost their parents and then ended up without a home in the freezing winter months. However, this was the test that God had in store for Sher Khan and through his desire to fight, to survive, and his ability to be patient he has passed it with flying colours.
But Sher Khan had help. My uncle was supporting him financially and otherwise. He only suffered a broken leg and he is still recovering, imagine the 100,000 plus people who were also injured, many suffering much worse injuries. Have they survived the last two years? Have they been able to fight it out? Have they received our support? Or, have we forgotten them too soon? It may not be too late to help as a lot more needs to be done on top of all the good work that has already been done.
