Selling toys helps man cope with loss of daughters

Dragging drum car maker recalls daughters’ death by typhoid

LODHRAN:

Abid Bhatti’s two daughters were afflicted by typhoid fever and died at an early age due to lack of better health facilities and resources.

Bhatti entertains children in the streets and makes rattle drums, dragging drum cars and other toys to earn a livelihood for himself and his wife.

He recalls, “Allah blessed me with two daughters named Asiya and Sameera Bibi but this mercy did not last long in this mortal world. Both my daughters died at an early age. Asiya Bibi was four years old and Sameera Bibi was three years old.”

“I had no choice but to make and sell dragging drum cars to eat food,” the resident of Marwat area said while speaking to The Express Tribune.

Bhatti also explained that his ancestors had been making the pellet drums for more than 50 years.

“We are ‘Pakhiwas’ (nomad) people, therefore, we never stay at one place. We travel to different parts of Pakistan to make ends meet. In this age of inflation, where children’s desires are increasing, parents are also facing a lot of difficulties. But despite the high prices, we nomads are still making a unique two-wheeled musical toy for only Rs10 and giving it to children,” Bhatti elaborated.

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This unique car is made with wood, old cement bags, bicycle tube rubber and thread, which runs without petrol, battery or charging.

It doesn’t even require any special skills to run it. Even today, people buy it with great enthusiasm in the streets and they consider it a big part of children’s entertainment

For the poor children, it is no less entertaining than the costly toy cars.

These nomads are able to sell up to 100 cars and save Rs300 to Rs500 after wandering in the streets all day.

“Sometimes people in the market buy our car to decorate their drawing rooms as a cultural symbol to relive their childhood.”

“By working hard and earning a livelihood with honesty, one gets peace of mind and satisfaction,” Bhatti said.

In the meanwhile he forgets the grief of his children for a while. “Innocent little children are found in the streets all day long and we are providing them with this simple but unique car on the doorstep.”

These children do not have to go to any shopping plaza or market. That is why the toy is easily accessible to them.

“I want the government to provide better healthcare to children so that no other children of poor people leave this mortal world like my children. If possible, the government should set up a good livelihood programme for poor working people like us so that we can pass our lives like other citizens. We also wish to be able to develop this art in a better way and bring happiness to the children.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2021.