Lawyer and rights activist Shakil Ahmed has always fought for causes and an ideology he believes in. And on Tuesday, he filed his nomination for Assembly polls from Sion-Koliwada, saying he hopes to bring about “simple and practical changes for a better sense of living for the people”.

The new constituency—formed after delimitation — is also where Ahmed, born to a domestic help, has spent a lifetime “making small but significant changes”. And it was here where he saw his home being burnt down in the 1992-’93 riots, led a life full of struggles as he finished his law graduation and later emerged as an activist with initiatives like Parivartan Shikshan Sanstha — a non-profit institute that provides education to slumchildren and legal battles for the victims of Ramabai Nagar case or Hari Masjid firing.

For all those who reached the New Municipal School in Sion to act as guarantors for Ahmed, it was way of showing their gratitude. There was one Barai Ravindra Laxman (60), a former mill worker and now a security guard, who had taken the trouble to call Ahmed “since 8 in the morning and wanting to come as my guarantor”. Ahmed had helped Laxman find his 15-year-old missing son. “Today morning when Laxman called me, I sensed that gratitude.”

There were also representatives of NGOs like Messiah who ensured that they reach the nomination centre even before Ahmed did. Noor Ansari from Messiah had only one point to make: “When someone fights for your rights, with the sole intention of getting the other side convinced that there is a problem and it needs a hearing, an urgent redressal, then it’s not just about winning. It’s about fighting for what one believes in. We have come here to support that spirit.”

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