Stories of Our Wise: Alauddin Hemraj

Written By: Ainishah Hemraj and Alauddin Hemraj

On June 30, 1976, Karachi experienced extremely heavy rainfall and flooding resulting in the deaths of nearly 250 people. I am going to share my Dada’s recollection of this day - a story that has stuck with him for 44 years.

My Dada recalls leaving work and trying to walk towards the nearest bus stand. As he stepped outside, the water had accumulated to a point where my Dada, a man who is almost six-feet tall, found half his body submerged in the water.

He found his way to a nearby home and knocked on the door, where a kind Bohra Muslim man quickly invited him inside. He recalls the man providing him with a pair of pyjamas to change into while his own clothes dried. 

While the rain continued the entire night, my Dada sat with the man’s family, ate dinner with them, and slept in their home. The next morning they offered him breakfast, and once the rain subsided, he bid farewell to the kind family. 

Although my Dada was being taken care of that night by the stranger and his family, he had no way of communicating with his own family. He jokes about how the world has changed, as these were times before email and smartphones. Even telephones were rare and could only be found in a few public places or in wealthier homes. 

He later found out his family was very worried throughout the floods, as many people had drowned or gone missing. His family even went to the morgue in the morning to cover all possibilities. However, once my Dada arrived back home at noon, it was all smiles. 

My Dada will always remember this day as it is a reminder that anything may happen at any time. He says, “It is only the prayers and the kindness of others that can help us surmount all difficulties and calamities.” 

He is now 79 years old, but fondly remembers his time in Karachi, where people’s homes were always open and strangers often cared for one another. 

It is my wish that people around the world, particularly his Ismaili brothers and sisters, remember to pray and ask for help in times of need. God willing, there will always be a stranger to help make those times easier.

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Stories of Our Wise aims to capture the incredible stories and life journeys of our Canadian Ismaili seniors. Each week, we will be highlighting a new story. We encourage all individuals, particularly youth, to have these meaningful conversations with their loved ones, and contribute their stories to this collection. To submit a story, please use the Story Submission Form.