Hafiz, 49, has lost both eyes in separate incidents, but he has still learned to fix auto rickshaws and take care of his family’s needs.
Posted on – Wed, 11/30/22 at 9:45pm
Md Hafeez repairs a motorized tricycle in Kashibugga, Warangal. Photo – Ch Shyam Sunder.
Warangal: In 2003, Mohammad Hafiz suffered a head injury in an accident and lost the sight in his left eye. Making a living as an auto electrician has affected his earnings. However, he managed to run the family with the support of a philanthropist who gave him an auto rickshaw. But tragedy struck again when another accident also injured his right eye, leaving him blind in both eyes.
Hafeez, 49, a resident of Warangal’s Kashibugga district, recalled that it was DSP B Sumathi who rushed to the scene after being alerted to the accident and transferred him to MGM Hospital in 2003. Fortunately, Mrs. Sumati helped in time. She was like an eternal goddess to me,” Hafiz said, recalling the 2003 accident.
It was after this that the then MLA Baswaraju Saraiah, Mayor Errabelli Swarna and collaborators donated an auto rickshaw to him. “I started my second career as a car driver. But then I was burned to my right eye in a firecracker accident in November 2005, and I was completely blind. Although I had surgery on my right eye, it failed, I couldn’t get my eyesight back,” Hafiz said.
However, Hafiz did not give up and started learning to repair motor vehicles. Now, without sight, he is able to detect engine malfunctions by examining vehicle components by sound and touch. “I studied maintenance work for almost a year and a half. I am happy to say that I am able to earn enough money to meet the needs of my family, including paying for the education of my two children. My wife is also very cooperative,” he said. His son was taking a course at ITI while his daughter was working a small job.
Salim, the motor-rickshaw driver, said Hafiz was a good mechanic and was able to correctly identify the problem and fix it. “People should be grateful for the commitment of the completely blind Hafiz because many lacked confidence and suffered failure,” Saleem said.
