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.