SOUL OF MUSA

His name is Masood. He is a Muslim. Both his hands and legs are crippled and he cannot bend his elbows and knees. He is nicely shaved with a neat hair cut. He is wearing clean clothes. He is an artist. His sailor father passed away. His mother is working as a servant. His one sister is married. He is living in Thoppumpady and comes to Fort Kochi by auto since he can’t walk and sit in a bus.

The one most remarkable feature about this man is his love for life. He talks very interestingly, he laughs easily, comfortable with himself, he is very friendly, he knows some English, Spanish and Italian and he has a gift for drawing.

This is how he draws.


These are his lovely drawings.

He told me very cheerfully that he is not begging like many other handicapped people. He sells his drawings to people and they pay him generously. He says he is better than many other handicapped people who don’t even have hands and feet. He has seen such people drawing with their teeth. He thanks God profusely for giving him hands and legs although he can’t use them like normal people.

He has acted in bit roles in Malayalam movies like Hollywood and Big B. He laughs and says that he was not paid much for acting.

I did not buy his drawing but gave him RS.50 which he accepted with a big smile and thanked me.

This is how he holds the Rs.50 note.

Here we are, completely normal people, moaning and groaning about small things in life. If it rains now he will not be able to run for cover since he needs someone to help him. Yet he is cheerful, not complaining, grateful to God, self supporting and taking pride in his appearance. I was completely bowled over. I sweat over small stuff and this terribly handicapped man is full of life and bubbling with enthusiasm.

His friends call him SOUL OF MUSA which means according to him SOUL OF FRIENDSHIP. From my own experience, I can confidently say that he has the wonderful capacity to put some cheer and happiness in to the most disheartened, dispirited, down cast, disappointed, dull person.