Read on Twitter
#Pakistan
My father's family migrated from Azamgarh, U.P in 1947 to the cherished land of Pakistan. (1)
My father's family migrated from Azamgarh, U.P in 1947 to the cherished land of Pakistan. (1)
He lost his mother the next year because of inability to buy medicines for her as she lay struggling to breathe. (2)
Abba faced great difficulties in his new life after he left home, hearth, sisters, friends, relatives behind to begin life anew in Pakistan. (3)
He was a self made with a far sighted vision for Pakistan. In later years, he would complain about corruption, ghundagardi, lack of critical thinking & thinking outside the box. (4)
At such times when he was disheartened, I wondered whether he regretted coming to Pakistan. It was not turning out as he had expected despite so many sacrifices that he had made. (5)
He never met again his two older sisters who were married and whose husbands chose to stay back. One day I saw him reading a letter. He had tears in his eyes. (6)
His older sister had passed away. My stoic father sat silently with moist eyes, the letter in his hand. I tip toed away from his brimming grief. (7)
Abba worked tirelessly his whole life and faced many obstacles but he never gave up. He always felt that Pakistan would do well and prosper because it had so much going for it. (7)
But when he was upset about the lack of justice, the inequality, the waste of resources, the lies, the skewed priorities, the bribes.. (9)
I would ask him: "Abba, do you regret coming to Pakistan in 1947?" (10)
He would look at me in surprise and say, "Never!" I said, "... but you lost so much.. don't you have any regrets?" (11)
And he said, "Bilkul naheen." I asked him the same question over time and his answer was always the same. (12)
He could not visit his family in Gorakhpur and Azamgarh because he was a CSS officer & his visit to India would have caused problems for them. They asked him not to visit. So he never saw them again. (13)
Despite the heartbreak and difficulties, Abba loved Pakistan dearly and always remained hopeful. (14)
He always said we are blessed to have our own country. Jaisa bhi hai, apna hay. You children don't realise how blessed you are. (14)
Once I asked him, "Abba, kuch log kehtain hain Pakistan ko bannay ki kiya zaroorat thi? Saath rehtay tau behtar hota. Aap kiya samajhtain hain? (16)
Abba did not take even a second to reply. "Ghalat kehtain hain. Hum yahaan ziyada khush hain." (17)
In other words, despite all the sacrifices that Abba & his generation made, their love for Pakistan never dimmed. Even when their ideals were not realised, they did not become bitter. (18)
This is the first Independence Day without my father who passed away last September. I am trying to live up to his legacy of courage, truth, hard work honour and empathy. (19)
In memory of all those silent warriors like Abba who sacrificed so so much during Partition. May their hard work not have been in vain & may we carry their legacy forward. (20)
