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I always wanted to visit an old age home someday, but did not know even God was on my side. A couple of weeks ago, my long cherished dream was fulfilled and I got a chance to pay a visit to senior citizens’ home. It was a two storied building, well maintained and built in the suburbs of Jalandar. The gatekeeper began to question us what made us to visit that place, I told him that I am a writer and want to hunt for some real, tragic stories of people residing in that place. With paranoid smile, he directed us to go inside the building. We entered the building and had the first tet-e tete with the manager of the authority. He also posed the same question, “Mam, what brings you here”? I replied rather honestly that I was always interested in knowing the real stories of people, who had to leave there homes and live in a place like this! Satisfied by my answer, he agreed to fix a meeting with some inmates of the house. I was glad. We were taken to a room in the first story of the house, I entered the room and saw a man and guessed that he must be an octogenarian! I wished him and he directed me to sit. It was going to be the first live interview of my life, I was nervous, happy and excited! We began to question him politely. The first question that we put to him was,”sir, why are you staying here”? I expected the same old story of children jilting him and so and so, but his reply was rather interesting! He told us that he was unmarried, that is why he was there! Proving my imagination, he almost cleared all the hidden doubts with his answer! Then we questioned him about his story and he was very cooperative in sharing it with us. He started off with his name saying,” I am Dayaanand Bakshi, basically I am from Rawalpindi, Pakistan”, now this was something more interesting, on hearing this, I lost hold of my camera and looked at him pensively! With double interest and excitement, I questioned him,” then how come, you are in India, Sir”? “Partition”, was the abrupt reply! He told about his early education and how difficult it was in those days to receive education, when both the nations were burning! He spoke in length about his love for literature and said that he has a collection of almost 250 books! It heavily interested me and I also admired his neat learning habits. Then we talked about his relatives and the facilities that were provided to him in the house, from his answers, it appeared to me that he was happy and had no regrets so far! We spoke about twenty minutes and then bid him an adieu. He also made my day by saying that, “you seem to be a promising girl and will surely make it big someday”! It was good to hear the words of praise from a man of his caliber, so learned! And disciplined! Then, we were taken to the second inmate who was a lady, we entered the room and I saw a big picture of her dead husband on the table, I partially understood her story, and started a chat with her. I told her what about her family and she peevishly responded that she had none. There was anger and helplessness in her tone! She even told me that everybody wanted to know her story but nobody tells their story! I smiled and thought that I should respect her feelings and not pose any more questions to her. So, I stood up, bid her an adieu! She shook my hands and blessed me! It was soothing! We thanked the manager and left the place. But, the end is not here! We need to dig out the reasons that why these old age homes are seeing a mushrooming growth in our society! Why is it difficult for people to take care of their aged parents when they deserve their love and care? We need to dig out the reasons! It is time to think and act! |
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Azra Mufti is a freelance columnist and writes columns for newspapers like rising kashmir, kashmir times and kashmir observer. currently pursuing MBA in one of the leading institutes in chandigarh. |
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You know what you should have done Azra? You should have visited the Kashmiri Pandits instead and see how they live all by themselves in their homes while their children are out earning their daily bread. That way you would get to know of a species who were thrown out of their homes by your peers.
Added By BL Dhar
Hi Azra, Thanks for the article. I am sure you will build bridges that MR B L Dhar can walk on. Regards, Karthik
Added By Karthikeyan Chidambaram
Karthik talks about bridges when the Kashmiri Pandits talk about their homeland from where they were ousted 25 years ago. He has not lost a home and he will not feel the pain. But, hey, he can talk.
Added By BL Dhar
Mr Dhar, True, I can never feel the pain as intensely as the persecuted KPS, unless I were a KP myself. But I can also see that Azra is building bridges and coming closer to her roots. Am I wrong ? Regards, Karthik
Added By Karthikeyan Chidambaram
Karthik is stuck on some bridge, sadly, and it is only Azra who can rescue him now. For Kashmiri Pandits their homeland issue is important to them.
Added By BL Dhar
Hi Azra and Mr Dhar. My email id is karthik27061973@gmail.com for communicating with both of you. I am sorry that I am using this post to give my personal information, but looks like there was no way of getting through you both. I apologize to shehjar.com and request them to let the mail ids of writers and Comment posters to be made visible. Regards, Karthik.
Added By Karthikeyan Chidambaram
Interesting. It is obvious Karthikeyan fell for a pretty face and wanted to rescue her from an angry Kashmiri Pandit. But his anger is justified. Now he wants to make up and kiss both.
Added By MK Bhatnagar
Let Karthik apologize to all Kashmiri Pandits and stay out where he is not needed. No need to provide him my mail ID. I do not wish to speak with him. All I said was that Azra visit the KP's in refugee camps instead visiting old people in Punjab. Shehjar may send him my articles that mention the plight of Pandits in the valley and the turmoil faced by them.
Added By BL Dhar
Hi Mr Bhatnagar, Azra is a student. She is from a generation that has not had much contact with the KPs who are almost wiped out of her neighbourhood. Hence my sensibilities with Azra. Mr Dhar You say I am not needed, I still don't realize if I am so insignificant to your cause which I totally support. But it is strange that you call me unwanted, why this feeling for me? May be it is because I am just a lay reader. My apologies to Mr Dhar. Regards, Karthik.
Added By Karthikeyan Chidambaram
Karthik, You probably did not realize what hit you :-) Our sympathies! You forgot that an angry man is also building a bridge by his act of guiding the young lady to choose the right bridge to walk on...assuming she does want to build a bridge? Did Azra ever wonder who wiped out her KP neighbors? Your one sided support and knee-jerk reaction while paying mere lip service to KP’s makes you sound like a typical Congress(I) supporter. And perhaps the reason why your comments remain unsolicited.
Added By Sandeep Dhar
And Karthik, at least Mr. Dhar commented. Notice that no other KP did. To know why, you must take the time and go to Kashmir today, and feel the naked hatred people have for Indians. So let me spell it out for you - Dayaanand Bakshi did not have to be from Pakistan. He is from Kashmir and now living in Jammu. Let us all think about it. We need to dig out the reasons! It is time to think and act! Get it? Good luck.
Added By Sandeep Dhar
Hi Sandeep, Regards and Thanks for your comments. I am your co-religionist and compatriot and feel for you, but I was very happy to see Azra write in web magazine dedicated to Kashmiri Pandits. Such acts as hers, display hope. It is my presumption that she wants to build bridges and I just wanted to encourage and cherish it. Yours truly, Regards, Karthik.
Added By Karthikeyan Chidambaram
Hi Karthink, If a German wrote about the recent tragedy in Nepal in a Jewish community magazine, would you presume that to be an attempt to build a bridge? Please help us understand your logic?
Added By Sandeep Dhar
Listen guys. Let's stop here now. This guy is a fake and probably in the business of building bridges, may be a mason or a labor or even a metal fabricator looking out for some appreciation of his work.
Added By BL Dhar
Mr Sandeep, I was happy to see non-Pandit write in a Kashmiri Hindu web magazine. But my presumption may be too early or even wrong as suggested by you Mr B L Dhar, I apoligize. I am stopping now. Bye to one all. Long Live India. Wishing the best for Panun Kashmir. Regards, Karthik.
Added By Karthikeyan Chidambaram