Srinagar: Hakim Rizwan Illahi, a prominent social activist, entrepreneur, writer and an ace artist has decided to sell all of his paintings worth millions to help the destitute and the downtrodden people.
Illahi has decided to do away with all of his revered and invaluable work of years by selling out his profound paintings worth millions to generate funds for those left annihilated by the COVID 19.
In order to help the destitute, Illahi has decided to put all of his paintings on sale to contribute relief to the miseries and sufferings of his own people in Kashmir.
Deeply touched and disturbed by the plight and helplessness of Mankind due to devastation caused by the deadly Corona Virus, Illahi has made up his mind to join the fight against the miseries and sufferings of the destitute.
He believes that while the entire Administrative machinery across the World and nation is making tireless efforts in fighting COVID, the more dangerous threat that looms ahead of us is the damage that the persistent lockdowns and deadlocks have done to the lives of people all over.
Although the virus has certainly affected a few millions by infecting them, its consequences have caused more havoc to the majority of the population. He says that his interaction with some of those families who depend on their daily wage earners for even three meals a day. And the understanding of the alarming situation which may force some people to even die with hunger, has created a stir within him.
He has the intent to start supporting the affected people in Kashmir and he hopes many more to join hands for the cause. He is convinced that he would go to the extent of selling his car, clothes and is even ready to sell his house, if need arises.
“I don’t need a big house, when my people don’t even have a loaf of bread to eat. I can live without my paintings but people without food can’t, people without medicine can’t, patients without proper treatment can’t. It gives me nightmares. I don’t want to die in sleep, I want to die with awareness, with my conscience intact,” he said.
“The art has set me free from life, Death will set me free from the ineffable suffering of being my own muse” (he quotes from his upcoming book). He said this quote may define my feelings to a fair extent of what art means to him.
Illahi remained reluctant in the past to various international auction houses from USA, Dubai, UK and Turkey when approached previously to exhibit his art.
He says that these paintings are too close to his sentiments to be traded for money, but today he feels a deep sense of pride to put all of his paintings on auction for a greater Cause of humanity, especially in these tough times of turmoil.
Illahi has become a strong advocate of rendering help to the destitute and the downtrodden families who are severely hit by the pandemic, by the administration, by the poor policies of the government, by the poor social security & by the failed Healthcare system.
He also runs an organization “SAWAAL”. It is while working on ground for his organisation that he witnessed the massive harm that the pandemic has caused to the poorer people.
“I could see the number of needy and the destitutes are not in the hundreds or thousands but in lakhs, who desperately want help for their survival. The organization has drawn up a calendar to visit different areas for distribution of relief kits among the deserving on a day to day basis,” he said. Illahi is also running the campaign. #mostlovedforthecharity.
