Normal life in Kashmir has now been stalled. Shops remain closed and people don’t venture out of their homes, fearing for their lives. Terror sweeps across every street amidst the protests following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander, Burhan Wani. And the death toll is increasing everyday. But, none of this keeps Firdausa Rashid, a nurse in Srinagar’s general specialty SMHS Hospital, from tending to the sick and injured.
Every day, Firdausa walks for 40 kilometers in curfew-hit Srinagar, to reach the hospital and look after patients who clearly need her help.
Clashes in Srinagar between security personnel and protesters have led to heavy casualties. And because of this chaos, Firdausa realised that there are many lives out there that she could save. Such is her sense of duty that despite her family’s insistence to stay at home, she risks her life and braves the dangerous walk to the hospital. In an interview with Greater Kashmir, she said:
What is the use of ICU if there is no nurse there? I knew there was less staff in the hospital. Duty was important as my job involves saving lives in Surgical ICU of the SMHS hospital.
As she took steady steps towards her destination, she was faced with questions from protesters who asked her what she was doing out on the road? But she ignored them all because the only thing that was on in her mind was to relieve the nurses who had been working relentlessly for the past two days.
Like Firdausa, there are many other doctors and nursing staff, who risk their lives to report for duty to save the lives of others. These selfless men and women deserved to be praised and emulated.
