“Shalu Appi”, that’s how i have known her and that’s how some of us in our ‘little’ friend circle have known her. I have known her as a guide, mentor, a great friend and as an awesome cook in telephonic conversations with my friend Rajil when he used to cook for all of us almost every night and in every party. Man… those were the days.

We use to jump in and out, break things apart, argue, get into fights, crack jokes and cry with loud music in the background and we would be the most decent and adorable lads for two minutes when neighbors came to complain. And when we got hungry?, everyone in the room knew that it was the time to call our master chef “Shalu Appi” for her magical recipe, Mutton Korma. We would behave like good kids, wouldn’t make noise and would listen to her instructions carefully on speakerphone. We all would try and contribute as much as we could to cook it as soon as possible and would get slapped with “patience” through that speakerphone. Yupp, patience along with it’s ingredients and ‘khada masala’ is the key to Shalu Appi’s deliciously finger licking Mutton Korma. …and i guess you know rest of the story.

Appi..ek problem ho gayi hai….Appi yaar kuch paise chahiye.. Appi…zara der ke liye aapki gaadi le ja raha hu…Iss ek problem ka matlab kisi bhi tareh ki chhoti ya badi musibat hua karti thi..un kuch paise ka matlab kitne hi rupye mang liye jaate thae aur kuch der ka matlab kayi din bhi ho sakte thae…..Shalu Appi..bachpan se ye lafz mere liye ek behisab taqat …ek behad mazboot sahara raha hai….kal se khud ko iss baat ka yaqin dinlane ki koshish kar raha hu ki ab zindagi me na kabhi koi problem ayegi aur na hi paise ya gaadi ki zaroorat hogi…Appi ye kaise ho sakta hai ki ab ke baar me jab aapko pukarunga..koi jawab nahi ayega…….Shalu appi ne hamesha logo ki madad kari..logo ke liye ladti rahi..corrupt logo aur system ke khilaf…aur aksar hi aise logo ko jab rokna mushkil hota hai..to khamosh kar diya jata hai…dosto kal meri badi behen RIP shehla Masood ki awaaz hamesha ke liye band kar di gayi..unke liye duya karein..allah unhe maghfirat de… via Rajil Zaidy

That’s how i have known shalu Appi, brings smile on my face and takes me back in times.

In every friend circle there is always one that rest of us or most of us like to adore and admire, being it’s a girl or boy, brother or sister. …So what’s the point?

The point is, we don’t really realize the fact that how strongly we want to BE with that person or how much we love and care unless we miss that person, unless we don’t get to see enough of that person. The point is when you get to know that you will not be able to see that person for rest of your life, the person you wanted to BE with now rests in our memories, few photos in some photo albums and in a photo frame hung up on a wall.

AND the point is when that person is none other than “SHEHLA MASOOD”, who devoted her life for social causes. she was an activist working on primarily on wildlife conservation, and also supported other causes like good governance, [RTI Act], Police reforms, environment, women’s rights & issues, transparency and sexual minorities rights. She had recently sat on a fast in support of Anna Hazare’sIndia Against Corruption campaign. She was actively involved in raising issues related to the deaths of tigers in the various sanctuaries of Madhya Pradesh.

And the point is, she was shot dead from point blank on August 16, 2011 in her car, in front of her house in Bhopal and the irony is no one heard anything and on one saw nothing.

Candle Lite at India Gate, September 4, 2011 – Remembering Shehla Masood

We ran all roads, all day to seek police permission to lite candles at India Gate to pay our tribute and to remember Shalu Appi. People gathered at India Gate to lite a candle and to pray for her.

Everyone got together, made a human shield against wind and rain to keep the candles glowing.

References
Rajil Zaidy – http://www.facebook.com/rajilzaidy
Wikipedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shehla_Masood
Photography – Parveen Verma 

Join the Shehla Masood Memorial
http://www.facebook.com/Shehla.Masood.Memorial

One person has definitely read it

1. ayn says:

   December 24, 2011 at 10:38 am

   a woman that i never be forget

   Reply