Portrait of a citizen.

[Text and photo by Mayank Austen Soofi]

It is a soothingly warm sunny afternoon, and she is walking along the city roadside, simultaneously knitting an ear warmer for herself. Continuing to walk and knit, Shahnaz, who works as a street recycler, graciously agrees to become a part of our Proust Questionnaire series, in which citizens are nudged to make “Parisian parlour confessions”, all to explore our distinct experiences.

The principal aspect of your personality.
I always speak truth. I’m honest. I don’t fight with anyone. Our lives last just for two days. If we spend it in fighting others, we would leave behind, I think, nothing in the world but resentments.

Your favourite qualities in a man.
The ability to not give mansik tanav (mental tension) to womenfolk.

Your favourite qualities in a woman.
A woman is like a dhaga (cord) in a necklace, while the beads strung along the cord are her children, her husband, and his parents, and siblings. She should strive to keep this necklace intact.

What do you appreciate the most in your friends?
I have never found a sachha (true) friend among humans, so I try to make friends with animals. They are rarely selfish, and show no arrogance. Sometimes I try to talk to them, but they don’t understand my language, and I don’t understand theirs.

Your idea of misery.
To be ignored by somebody whom I have always supported in their times of need.

If not yourself, who would you be?
I would have liked to be a tree, or a cheenti (ant).

Your favourite names
The names of my children—Yameen, Raju, Akbar, Najo, and Muskan. Akbar have been missing since 2004. I’m still searching for him. I think he joined a toli of Sufi fakeers. I have a feeling he will come back.

What is your present state of mind?
I’m thinking of my jhuggi in Bawana, it is a shabby jhuggi. I want my children to inherit a pucca makaan (house) from me.

Your motto in life.
Beech raaste Kabeera mange sabki khair,
Na kahu se dosti, na kahu se bair.
(Stopping midway, Kabeera asks for everybody’s well-being,
Bearing neither friendship, nor enmity, towards anyone.)