Sabir now works as a private tutor.
"My teachers would tell me my brain can't work," says Sabir, who was born a Deendar Changar - Pakistan's version of the 'untouchables'.
From being told he would never be accepted to losing jobs because of his caste, Sabir is not a typical victim of the abject poverty and prejudice found in the city of Lahore today.
Sabir confesses he feels as if he is a Jew living in Nazi Germany.
"We are openly discriminated against. We don't even have access to clean drinking water," he says.
Sabir has, however, refused to live the life that his peers thought he would always be subjected to.
Despite suffering blatant discrimination throughout his academic and work life, he has forged a path for himself where he can safely say that he never stopped striving.
A student of cost management and finance at a private institution in Lahore, Sabir now works as a tutor and teaches local children in the slums in Lahore, where members of his community are usually made to live.
Sabir’s story shows how the human spirit and individual dignity can challenge the ancient and modern prejudices that exist in Pakistan today.
Producer and Reporter: Rabia Mehmood
This film is part of Pakistan Calling, www.thersa.org/pkcalling a UK and Pakistan project by www.thersa.org and thesamosa.co.uk please visit www.thersa.org/pkcalling for more films on Pakistani civil society organisations, social entrepreneurs and individualswww.thersa.org/pkcalling - The RSA and The Samosa launched www.thersa.org/pkcalling to promote constructive cross-cultural dialogue between Britain and Pakistan. Show your support by watching the film
COMMENTS (29)
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Dear Friends , I used to study with Sabir at our accounting course .He is a nice and hardworking person.Sometimes I used to sit next to him in class. He would help me in some accounting question where I got stuck . I never knew he was from a low caste . The only thing I remember from my time at the college , was that he had some financial issues . The only source of income he possessed was from teaching private tuition . The only way I found out Sabir belonged to a low caste when I came across this article on tribune .I was surprised and shocked at the same time when I learned this .but quite happy that there is still some hope in reality . I regret the difficulties Sabir had to faced due to the subcontinent culture towards people identities based on their caste . this is against the teaching of Islam and also against human rights .
inspiring... Gob bless him (Y)
My respect for you has doubled after watching this!
Sabir You are tha Man. I met sabir in person and he is really a great guy. I never knew that you struggled that much to reach where u r ,Sabir. Keep it up. We are all with you and ready to help you anytime anywhere. You are the Man............... Great great great :)
great work Sabir
great work Sabir bhai really impressive
@Iamkhan: Yup Sabir Arif is a Hindu!
Dear Sabir hats off to you, please contact me on itaz@hotmail.ca
This writing is a bit a bit over rated. Trust me we are far times better then the cast system in India. They have the real untouchables. Its just one case that cannnot reflect the whole nation. PLEASE! The actual cast system that needs to be put focus on is the Shia, sunni, wahabi etc etc thing.
Sabir Bhai ,this kind of discrimination is not in islam. its actually from the hindu culture which have reach us unfortunately. May Allah(swt) reward you and make it easier for you and your Family and others WHO are in same situation as you ameen
I never knew we have a somewhat a caste system here, never heard about "Deendar Changar". But nevertheless great effort!
Another bangladesh creation in balochistan....
Kudos to the Pak-UK NGO highlighting the progress by these incredible individuals.
Nazi Pakistan is right. The level of ingrained bigotry and prejudice to dish out such discrimination, just because of your background, and that too towards a child, is just incredible.
Hope people at his Lahore institution, and elsewhere in Pakistan, see this video and realize their cruel attitudes and change for the better, otherwise it'll get worse and worse.
keep it up bro. InshALLAH things will get better, there should be no concept of untouchables in Pakistan.
Untouchable Caste in Pakistan? heard it for the first time! Unless if Sabir hails from the hindu community, then I can understand.
@Hatf XX: "This is a shameful remnant of subcontinental barbaric pagan practices"
Even if it is true, why are Pakistani muslims so good at following only bad things from others?
@Zaid Hamid: Please go in your kitchen and drink clean water and say alhamdolillah.
You did a great job Sabir. Wish u best of luck.
This is a shameful remnant of subcontinental barbaric pagan practices
Sabir, You have done a great job by educating yourself. It will be an even greater thing to do, by educating your siblings. Keep it up. If you are following the article and comments, please contact me at bbilal786@gmail.com
@Zaid Hamid: I suppose, at least YOU can afford bottled water!!!!
Which caste??
@Zaid Hamid: There is no caste in islam so where did this come from?
@Zaid Hamid - Shame on you for ridiculing Sabir , you should thank Allah that he has bestowed so many blessings on us which this guy cant even dream about.
Kudos to Sabir for challenging the status quo and taking the initiative to improve his life , I am very happy to see him contributing back to his community. May Allah bless him and his community and help them out of their miseries. Ameen
U r a great guy dear. Keep it up.
Keep it up sabir.. you time will come one day don't give up.
We don’t even have access to clean drinking water,” he says.
Who has it??
Sabir, You are one true Pakistani, I am truly inspire by your spirit of education, ...