Apprehending separation, he clings to his aunt and is distrustful of visitors. Mohammed Shoeb, the child who fell asleep next to his mother’s corpse, is yet to come to terms with his loss, but has received an outpouring of support in his moment of crisis.
The Hindu’s report on Shoeb’s plight moved readers, many of whom offered help to make him come to terms with his misfortune. As the story went viral and was reported by publications across the globe, fuelling more responses, Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), an NGO, set up a fundraiser to secure the child’s future. The NGO’s volunteers had spotted the boy at the hospital last Sunday and consoled him as they searched for his family.
Shoeb’s mother Sameena had come to Osmania General Hospital with chest pain and breathlessness, and had passed away there, after which the boy refused to leave his mother’s side.
A week later, the boy is with his maternal uncle Mushtaq Patel at Vattepally near Falaknuma. The Hindu visited the family and spoke with Mr. Patel.
“Shoeb’s mother had a heart problem as a teenager and was operated on for it. Her husband has left her and we do not know his whereabouts. A few months ago, she said she wants to make a living while working as a cook and left my home,” Mr. Patel said. While Mr. Patel, who ekes a living by driving and has eight dependent members in a two-room tenement, is not sure how well he can care for Shoeb, but he is determined to educate his nephew.
The eight-year-old, who does not look older than five, has not received formal education, says Mujtaba Hasan Askari of HHF. It was earlier reported that Shoeb was a five year old.
“He is smaller and undernourished compared to the children of his age, but seems sharp. We plan to have him enrolled in a school the next academic year. Before he goes to school, we plan to introduce him to learning and schooling,” he said. The HHF’s child counsellors had evaluated the boy immediately after his mother’s death.
The fundraiser has so far helped collect around ₹75,000 as on Saturday. Some of it would be spent on Shoeb’s upkeep, Mr. Askari said, while adding that rest would be used for his education. “Our volunteers are constantly in touch with the family and monitoring the boy. We are also providing updates through social media,” he added.
