Dadri lynching: Mohamad Akhlaq's family remembers the man they knew

Before becoming the man who was killed by an angry mob on suspicions of him having beef, Mohamad Akhlaq wore many hats - a son, a husband and a father. These are the names that his family members would like to remember him and not as only Mohamad Akhlaq, who on the fateful night was brutally murdered while his family begged for his life.

Akhlaq's 80-year-old mother, Asgara Begum, had four sons. Her year is divided in four parts and Asgara was supposed to spend three months with each one of her child. But she would always end up staying back more than her allotted three months at Akhlaq's home in Bisara village.

"Every mother in this world will tell you that she loves all her children alike. I had four sons and I love all of them but I would be lying if I told you that Akhlaq did not hold a special place in my heart. My other sons always used to joke about how I loved Akhlaq more and I used to tell them that it was not the case. But now with him gone, I don't think they will complain anymore," said Asgara. On the night when a mob dragged her son onto the road, Asgara had tried to intervene only to be punched and hit in her face.

Akhalaq's elder brother Jameel, has been busy all week talking to the police, media and politicians who showed up to offer their condolences. Amid the commotion at his brother's residence, Jameel remembers the last conversation he had with Akhlaq. "When Akhlaq was little I had already started to work as so that I could provide for the family. I used to come back home late, at around 5-6 pm, and Akhlaq would wait for me to so that we could have lunch together. That day too I was supposed to come to his home in the afternoon but couldn't make. He told me he would wait for me to come, like always," Jameel said. 

Akhalaq's children, told dna that he had a fond relationship with his wife. Shaista, his daughter along and his wife, both used to stitch clothes by machines gifted to them by Akhlaq. "He had gifted the machines to my mother and when I grew old I used to help with the household," said Shaista. Akhlaq, had humble beginnings and spent most of his life struggling to make ends meet. This is where his wife had supported him all along lately the family had just begin to do well even though they owe money to their relatives that Akhlaq had borrowed for his children's education.

His elder son Sartaj is a technician in the Indian Air Force while his younger son Danish, who now is battling for survival, was an IAF aspirant. Shaista couldn't continue with her studies due to the 'unsafe environment', the family said adding that Akhlaq always regretted being unable to let his daughter pursue further education. 

Sartaj meanwhile topped 11th, 12th grade and even passed the entrance examination to pursue engineering before choosing to work in order to support his family. There is one story however which he said will remember always. " I remember I had failed in 10th grade. That night I was scared to get a beating from my father. But we had dinner together and then he told me to sit on the charpoy with him. He kept his hand on my shoulder and explained why I needed to study and work hard. He told me the struggles he had to endure and that how he did not want his children to go through the same things. I cried and he kept on telling me not to cry. But when I saw his eyes that night, he had tears in them too," Sartaj said, as he waited for his brother to recover. "He was the best man I knew," he added.

Also read: Political conspiracy angle in Mohamad Akhlaq's killing to be probed, says police