He earns his living by selling pav, a well-known street snack in Maharashtra, but his true passion lies far beyond his food cart. Nazim, a modest vendor who operates a vada pav stall in Mumbai, lives a life of quiet courage. Beneath his simple exterior is a man with an extraordinary purpose—saving lives. Meet Nazim, a humble street food hawker who proves not all heroes wear capes. In an interview with the Humans of Bombay, Nazim shared his life story and how he came to be a lifeguard.
Nazim’s connection with water began at an early age. Even as a young boy, he was irresistibly drawn to swimming. By the age of 14, he had already become an expert swimmer. His natural affinity for water and his fearless nature eventually led him to train as a lifeguard. The day he wore the official lifeguard uniform for the first time was a moment of deep personal awakening. It was then that he recognized his true path in life—a calling he felt was divinely destined.
While he continues to serve hot, spicy vada pav to hungry customers to make ends meet and provide for his children, his greater role unfolds on the beaches and waterfronts of Mumbai. His profession as a food vendor is simply a means to sustain his family, but his heart beats for a more noble purpose—to prevent people from drowning and to step in when disaster strikes unexpectedly.
Nazim has managed to find balance between two worlds—the world of survival, where he sells snacks to support his home, and the world of service, where he acts as a vigilant guardian of lives near the sea. He considers each rescue a triumph, not for recognition, but because he believes each saved life is a small act of grace.
Although his stint as a lifeguard doesn't yield any money, the gratitude he is shown more than makes up for it. "I don’t earn a penny out of this work but when people come and say things like ‘ Nazim bhai, aapne aaj dusri zindagi di hai,’ that makes all of this worth it," he told HOB.
His story is a testament to the idea that heroism doesn’t always come in the form of fame or glory. Sometimes, it looks like a man behind a street stall, watching the horizon closely, ready to dive in when someone cries for help. Nazim embodies quiet valor, proving that true greatness often arises from the most unassuming lives.
Nazim’s connection with water began at an early age. Even as a young boy, he was irresistibly drawn to swimming. By the age of 14, he had already become an expert swimmer. His natural affinity for water and his fearless nature eventually led him to train as a lifeguard. The day he wore the official lifeguard uniform for the first time was a moment of deep personal awakening. It was then that he recognized his true path in life—a calling he felt was divinely destined.
While he continues to serve hot, spicy vada pav to hungry customers to make ends meet and provide for his children, his greater role unfolds on the beaches and waterfronts of Mumbai. His profession as a food vendor is simply a means to sustain his family, but his heart beats for a more noble purpose—to prevent people from drowning and to step in when disaster strikes unexpectedly.
Nazim has managed to find balance between two worlds—the world of survival, where he sells snacks to support his home, and the world of service, where he acts as a vigilant guardian of lives near the sea. He considers each rescue a triumph, not for recognition, but because he believes each saved life is a small act of grace.
Although his stint as a lifeguard doesn't yield any money, the gratitude he is shown more than makes up for it. "I don’t earn a penny out of this work but when people come and say things like ‘ Nazim bhai, aapne aaj dusri zindagi di hai,’ that makes all of this worth it," he told HOB.
His story is a testament to the idea that heroism doesn’t always come in the form of fame or glory. Sometimes, it looks like a man behind a street stall, watching the horizon closely, ready to dive in when someone cries for help. Nazim embodies quiet valor, proving that true greatness often arises from the most unassuming lives.
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