24 اگست، 2015

MEMOIR

STORY OF DESTRUCTION, DEMOLITION, RECONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION:
This is the story of the people living close to the border between India and Pakistan, particularly along the Line of Control (LOC) between Pakistani and Indian Kashmir and Working Boundary between Pakistan and Indian occupied Kashmir. This is my story. This is story of my parents and grand-parents. This started in 1947 and repeated many times afterwards particularly in 1965, 1971 and 1987 and yet continuing. This is a different experience.

1947: My mother's village "Naikowal" went on Indian side of the Working Boundary. I remember during my childhood my mother used to take me along to the new border. She used to recite "Fateha" for her parents (My Nana and Nani) while facing towards the graveyard of her native village and pray for independence of Jammu and Kashmir so that she could go to the graves of her parents. I remember, I used to say Ameen Sum Ameen. I used to remain emotional for years and years and wanted my mother's desire to be fulfilled. I remember I used to raise the slogan "Kashmir Hamara Hai Aur Saray Ka Saraa Hai).
1965: Our village "Raja Harpal" along with many other villages and towns of Sialkot District were occupied by India. They remained under Indian Occupation for more than Six Months. During the occupation the villages had been looted, demolished and burnt. We have to take a new start for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
1971: Another war broke up between India and Pakistan. Our area was got vacated by the Army and we were displaced. After short time we returned and rehabilitated our villages and agricultural lands. This war also resulted into creation of Bangladesh.
1987: Another war was about to start. Our villages were got vacated and once again we were displaced. However, this war was postponed and we resettled in our villages.
The tension between both sides still continues, cross firing starts, people are killed and some times displaced temporarily.
This is our experience of sufferings, agonies and rehabilitation. On the other hand this was a useful experience and taught many meaningful lessons. It made us strong and confident.

1996: I was at the UET Lahore living in House D-5, close to Gate No: 6. A heavy storm water during the rainy season suddenly entered into the eastern part of the UET. Many houses including my house were damaged. My house was most hit as it was first in the way of storm water. A lot of households were damaged and destroyed. The affected people started applying for the grant of Funds for the rehabilitation and buying the new households. I did not apply. One day a high official came to me and asked why I had not applied. I told him this was not a new thing for me. Our properties had been destroyed many times and we had rehabilitated ourselves as first Human on this planet had settled. We were never beggars and my mother had taught me that "beggars are liars". And I can not go against the principles of my mother. However, I thanked him for his concern but he was surprised. I could not understand why he was surprised.

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