Ibrahim from Khulna: a dilemma and an inspiration

Very rarely I meet someone when I don't know what to think and how to behave. Ibrahim from Khulna is such a person.

I was hailing a rickshaw on Friday to meet a friend for lunch, and Ibrahim showed up with his rickshaw. I hesitated, because he had one functional eye, the other looked damage from a chemical burn from a long time ago (perhaps childhood scar). I hopped on because I was late. Then I noticed the other part.

Ibrahim's both hands are deformed due to birth defect, the left hand has the fingers fused to the forearm, the right hand do not have fingers. He uses the bent part of the right hand to pull the brakes.

As he was driving, I debated whether to talk to him. He obviously was struggling to maintain control of the rickshaw, a car almost ran into us in Gulshan 1 intersection, because he didn't stop. I did not want to distract him further. Once we got to the lake drive on Banani 11, and traffic was lighter, I asked him about his family.

His father, mother and sister lives in Khulna, father is a farmer. He pays 100 taka daily rent for the rickshaw, and sends money home. He was sent by the family to Dhaka to earn money. Initially, he stayed with a phupu (father's sister/cousin), but she moved back home, and now he lives alone.

All this conversation was done in a matter of fact way. He didn't ask for more money, he was just responding to my questions. I asked if he was saving enough money, and he said it was enough.

As I was talking to him, I felt a wave of emotions.

First, shame, for jumping to conclusion and for pitying him. He obviously did not need pity from any of us.

Second, guilt, for how our society failed him. And I am obviously not doing nowhere near enough to support the downtrodden.

Third, admiration for someone so dedicated. Physical limitations pale in comparison to the mental strength this guy has.

I wanted to keep talking. I wanted to do something for him. I wanted to take a photo, but I felt that would be exploitative.

In the end, we parted ways. I paid him his due and then some. I asked if anyone will steal from him, since he has no control over what's in his pocket. He replied, why would anyone do that?

I nodded in shame, and kept my head down until he drove away.