‘I’m a clown, but won’t become a criminal’

Karachi is a harsh city to live in. Its residents face a number of problems on a daily basis, from terrorism and a paucity of usable water to a lack of sufficient healthcare and education. Moreover, poverty and unemployment make things worse. It is not surprising that many people feel compelled to turn to crime such as murder, robbery, vehicle theft, and kidnapping for ransom.
However, there are some who choose to stay away from crime and to earn an honest livelihood. Hasnain Haider, 21, a resident of New Iqbalabad Drigh Road, is one such person who has decided to shun the option of becoming a criminal. Instead, he has chosen to become a clown to provide for his family of eight comprising five brothers and three sisters. His family includes nine-year-old Irfan who is a mechanic, 12-year-old Farhan who is a tailor, 15-year-old Wasim who is a barber and seven-year-old Shahrukh who is also working as a clown. Speaking to Pakistan Today, Hasnain has narrated his story, which serves as a worthy example of courage and perseverance in the face of diversity.
Hasnain started his career as a clown at an early age after the death of his father, when he was only eleven years old and was still in primary school. After his father’s demise, he left school and became a helper at a garment factory, where he earned Rs 1,500 a month. A few years ago, when he was the only one providing for his family, his younger sister six-year-old Armana became ill. The family was facing financial problems at that time and none of their relatives came forward to offer their support. However, a few of his neighbours who were involved in crime suggested that if he joined them, he could come out of the crisis in a matter of days.
He turned down the offer. He had faced many troubles in his life and suffered due to financial crises, but had never turned to crime. Soon, however, his younger brother Yasir was admitted in a hospital. Hasnain sold everything at home to pay for Yasir’s treatment. When this did not prove sufficient, he decided to turn to crime to collect money for his brother’s treatment.
He met a group which was involved in street crimes, obtained a gun and decided to steal motorbikes. However, he thought of something untoward happening to him and leaving his family without a provider made him reconsider his decision.
His cousin suggested that he should work part-time as a clown. This was tough for Hasnain, as it was very difficult for him to try to smile and make people laugh, given the troubles his family was facing. However, when he thought about their troubles, he decided to help them by working as a clown.
“I never told my neighbourhood friends or even my family and relatives that I was working as a clown. I wanted to join the national cricket team, but I never had time to play cricket”, he said. Furthermore, he said that he was working in a garment factory, while entertaining people during the evening as a clown. There he earned Rs 200 to Rs 300 every evening through tips and wages. “I get delicious food where am I hired, and I take that delicious food home for my family members,” he added. According to his cousin Sunny, who arranges programmes for Hasnain, the latter was a very different kind of boy. Sunny said that Hasnain remained quiet at home and near his relatives and friends. However, when he was disguised as a clown, he would make people – especially children, laugh and entertain them.
“Despite many financial problems he never thinks about committing crime to earn money for his family. He believes he can earn money by working hard and by making others happy,” said Sunny. Speaking to Pakistan Today, Hasnain also spoke about what it is like being a clown. He said that clowns have many things in their tricky minds. Many do slapstick, others do pie-throwing, falling down or stumbling. Some do pantomime; they don’t speak and just act out their skit or story instead.
“Others use magic or juggling and others tell jokes and still others, like myself, use puppets in their performance,” he said. He added that a clown had many decisions to make about his identity, which was not only in his name, but rather had a great deal to do with tradition, with costume and with make up. There are many kinds or types of clowns and they each create their own look. Each clown must create his very own face which reflects the clown’s character or personality. The clown’s character, his face, is created by the use of makeup, a costume and as well as developing his clown’s personality. “In other words, he has a certain look and he acts in his own special way. Once the clown establishes this face, it becomes his trademark, his personal property, and no other clown may dress or make-up exactly like him,” he said.