Santa’s helpers: ’Tis the season to spread some joy

Muslim men play Santa for the children of Essa Nagri by bringing gifts and cake

KARACHI: Santa Claus takes many forms around the globe. Fathers, brothers and friends dress up as the jolly fellow to spread the Christmas spirit, and toys, among children. At the Gospel Church of Living God in Essa Nagri on Thursday, he took the form of five Muslim men. They may have not been wearing his signature red and white clothes but they certainly embodied the Christmas spirit.

The men entered the church on Christmas Eve with a huge pile of colourfully-wrapped gifts, bringing smiles to the faces of around 165 children who were eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival.



The idea of giving gifts to the underprivileged children of the Christian community on Eid Miladun Nabi and Christmas Eve on Thursday was floated by Faysal Mustafa Soomro, the president of a non-governmental organisation, Go Green PK, on Tuesday via a Facebook status, which later ended up becoming a Whatsapp group filled with people ready to put the idea into action.

"It was just a raw idea," he said, explaining that he, along with his friends, launched a campaign, 'Karachi is Love', and this activity was part of the campaign.

Around 30 to 50 years ago, he said that Karachi was the most secular city in the country, with freedom and safety to practice your religion. Now, however, only negative things are being projected, due to which conflicts between societies have been escalated, according to Soomro. "We want to revive the old Karachi," he exclaimed, and for that purpose he said that he has decided to give the Christian community the respect they deserve. "We need to make them realise that they are an integral part of [our society]," he explained.



He said that they set a goal of raising Rs100,000 but only ended up collecting Rs70,000 from around the world. With that money, he said they purchased toys, stationary, lunch boxes and chocolates for the children and have also arranged a 20-pound cake.

Another young volunteer, Muhammad Mehdi, while talking to The Express Tribune said that Pakistan is a free state and has provided rights to all its citizens, which was the message of the father of the nation, Quaid-e-Azam. He said that it was his responsibility to help the underprivileged and those who were deprived of the very basic need, 'happiness'.

This community has suffered terrible incidents at our hands, he said, citing examples of the Youhanabad and Joseph Colony cases, where mobs set 150 Christian homes ablaze in Lahore. He added that Islam teaches us to love and spread humanity for all religions.

Excited children 

The children sat in a small room in the church, anxious to open their gifts, but undoubtedly grateful for the gesture. Nine-year-old John Miracle said that he was very excited. "I hardly get gifts on Christmas," he said adding that this could be one of his best Christmases ever.



Five-year-old, Zoya clutched her gift to her chest and said that she still needed to buy new clothes this Christmas. "At least I have got my gift for Christmas," she said happily.

Pastor Babar Habib said that he was very grateful to the young fellows who had brought gifts for the children. "These kids are very happy indeed," he said adding that love could be spread through gifts.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 25^th, 2015.