Partition: Then & Now

Sometimes you wonder what was the outcome of an event?? Was the outcome of the event what was expected??? I've benn reading The Train to Pakistan by Kushwant Singh, which shows how the life of a little village, Mano Majra, was changed with the appearance of a train full of dead Sikhs from Lahore. Reading the book makes you wonder that was this what was intended when the country partitioned? Reading (and seeing the images) of all the looting, killing, raping, plundering, makes you wonder what were the benefits of partition. The lives of thousands were changed forever. They lost everything, their livelihood, their property, their families and even their lives. And why??? Bescause some people tried to incite the situation by giving a communal outlook. An eye for an eye, kill two or every person killed, rape and dishonour woman, all this does makes you sick. Your blood even boils when you read about people who took advantage of the situation and incited the mob to go on a killing spree. The Partition will always be a blot on both the countries' history, a barberic act that was committed.

The partition occurred in 1947, but you wonder if the situation has changed in present time??? There is still communal tension between these communities. This was seen in the Babri Masjid demolotion and the riots that occured after it and not forgeting the Mumbai blasts and the riots in Godra. Still thousands of people loose their lives, properties and woman their honour. And why does this happens because we still have people who incite people to riots. They are now politician and no longer some ordinary person, politician with a huge clout, who can get away with racial comments and even murder. They use their gathering to call for chasing a particular community from the country and bringing them to their knees. And not to forget attacking gathering of other communities. They use their gathering and newspapers to spread their propaganda. And what do we do, we elect them back to power.

Sometimes I wonder how many people more have to loose their lives, livelihood, properties, families and woman their honour, before we take some action against them???

Smaller Gestures

Today as I left my place for work, a small child, probably a year old, came running up to me and said "Uncle flower", placing a small flower that she may have plucked from the garden, in my hand. I couldn't help but smile and marvel at this gesture of this child. Not only did this child suceed in bringing a smile on my face, but it brightened up what could be decribed as a normal, mundane and sleepy morning. I know the flower may not make it through the day, leave alone a couple of hours, but this gesture is going to be embedded in my mind for eternity.I will always remember this small but mighty gesture of this child who brightened my day with a little flower.

My Own Little Miss Sunshine Road trip

I had my own Little Miss Sunshine Raod trip to Goa and back, a week ago (depending when you read this blog). Felt like little Olive getting a call for something I eagerly wanted, something that would change the course of life and shake it from all its mundane and monotonous ways. Had my own little adventure to get there. Instead of a van there was a Maruti Zen. Instead of an entire dysfunctional family trying to get you to your destined event, there was my elder sister, with her friend and her friend's brother. Preparing you for what could happen at the event. There were adventures on the way. Bright light of passing vehicles that seem to blind the poor driver (my sis for sometime), wrong turns landing us in wrong locations (again her), a badly shredded flat tyres, travelling through the ghats by night, never ending road signs that kept increasing kilometers as travelled on and not forgetting the scare of reveller of the carnival happening at the time. But then there were the scenic roads and the beauty of nature. The beauty of watching a sunrise from behind the mountains. The road that dipped and climbed and zig zagged and went round and round hills and Ghats. Tree forming tunnel over the roads. And not forgetting the tea stops along the way. Reading road signs and laughing at some funny messages. The excitement of changing a flat. And not forgetting the beauty and the old world charm of Goa and the cuisine (however couldn't have non-veg as it was the season of Lent). Going for a Saturday Bazaar (read flea market) full of foreigners buying what you could only term as junk. Sipping on their beers and drinks, and dancing to a live band (However couldn't understand what the band was singing). However the purpose why we travelled over 382 Kms to Goa was not successful. But did learn a lot about the thing I we gone there for.

Definitely never going to forget this short but interesting road trip. My own Little Sunshine adventure.