Shahtaj Khan/Pune

For Manzoor Bashir Rather, January 1, 2020 was the second most memorable day of his life. On that day he had opened his dance academy in Pune,

However, as he seemed to be joyous and in the thrill of seeing his dream come true, Manzoor was also haunted by the sad memories of yet another unforgettable day – 3 October 1998 - of his life.

The day had brought his whole small world of a happy childhood and a loving family crashingdown for this two-and-a-half-year-old.On the night of October 3, 1998, his family was having dinner in their house in Norrabad village of Bandipore in North Kashmir, when suddenly two or three terrorists barged into his house.

One fellow entered the room and directly fired at Manzoor Bashir's father. He had pumped three bullets into his body and fled. The two-and-a-half-year-old Manzoor was sitting on his father's lap.

Bashir being felicitated at a dance show in Pune

Talking to Awaz-the Voice, Manzoor says “If my father didn’t bend over me and given me a cover from the bullets, I probably would not be alive today to talk to you.” 

Manzoor Bashir's father was in the Jammu and Kashmir Police Force and he had been serving since 1983.After his father’s tragic death, Manzoor Bashir spent some time at his grandparents' house, where he was educated till the second grade. His mother was unable to raise five children and send one of them away.

In June 2005, Sarhad Foundation, a Pune-based NGO run by Sanjay Nahar and his wife Sushma Nahar, brought him along with 150 other children, who had lost their parent in terrorism-related violence in Kashmir, to Pune.

Manzoor was sad to be away from his mother and the family yet happy at having landed in a new city where he was not confronting fear every day. However, though Pune’s weather is pleasant, it was nowhere close to his native place's balmy weather and that bothered Manzoor initially.

However, this was hardly a challenge, for the life had already put him in a more difficult situation. Soon, he immersed himself in studies and music that he started enjoying.

Growing up in the hostel of Sarhad, Manzoor Bashir joined the Naz Dance Academy in 2007. He was 12-year-old and in seventh grade. The NGO had seen Manzoor’s interest in dance and enrolled him for training at the Academy. 

Manzoor with his mother and wife in Kashmir

Besides doing Masters in English Literature, he also mastered Bollywood, Salsa, Hip hop, freestyle and other dance forms.Manzoor Bashir came to Pune as a scattered and unhappy child who was trying to make sense of his life; after getting the opportunity in a place that was miles away from his home and family, he knew he has to make the best of it.He admits at times he used to miss his family and home and feel frustrated at Sarhad but Sanjay and Sushma Nahar would encourage him to look forward and work hard to a good life.

The couple helped Manzoor Bashir to adopt Pune as his second home. His birthplace gave him pain while Pune was benevolent and helped him to stand on his own and become a confident person.

Manzoor has not forgotten anything even today and does not want to forget. He says that all the difficult situations of the past give me encouragement and strength. He is thankful that he has left his past behind and has not embarked on the wrong path.

However, as it should be, his village and Kashmir remains special on earth for him. 

Manzoor and other inmates of Sarhad with Sanjay Nahar

Manzoor Bashir was very happy on January 1, 2020. His dream was turning into reality but a sudden nationwide lockdown put him in trouble once again. But the academy's online classes are continuing.

Today, Manzoor is not alone; his life partner Komal Shinde is there to support him in all his endeavours. Manzoor Bashir and Komal Shinde got married on November 18, 2019.

 He never tires of thanking Sanjay Nahar, President of Sarhad Foundation and his wife Sushma Nahar, whose guidance, love and sincerity helped him to become a better human being.

He says he has two mothers; one in Kashmir who gave him birth and the other who raised him. "Sushma Nahar is my Yashoda Maa." Manzoor says