Rooh

So, this story revolves around the time when India was partitioned and a new country was being made i.e., Pakistan. With the partition of India, two more states were being partitioned i.e., Punjab and Bengal. This story is related to Punjab and to every Punjabi. I am a Punjabi, so I can better relate this story as far as my imagination is concerned. I hope that one day I get to read the same kind of story in Bengali version from my Bengali friend.

One morning, which was a bright one like a sunny day, was perfect as it could be. There was a clam environment in Multan(Pakistan). Uttam Kaur was preparing for the meals of the day. While her husband, Ujagar Singh was in India to meet his brother. Utaam Kaur was preparing the Tadka for the lentils for the next meal, when there was a sudden chaos in the village. People were seen shouting, ‘Musale aah gaye, bhajo jaan bacha ke’. For a moment she couldn’t understand what was happening. She stood still, until one of her neighbor forcefully shaked her to regain her consciousness and told her collect all the valuables she can and run for her life.

She collected few things, but still some valuables were left there. More importantly, the tadka for the dal (lentil), which she loved the most to eat. When few people of the village went to a safe place, they decided to go to India, through the hilly areas as going through the plains was not a good idea. As going by the plains, one could see someone from a good distance. Anyhow, she reached Pathankot and managed to take a train for Patiala. At Patiala, she met her husband and started crying. She was relieved that he was safe. But when he told her that his younger brother was killed in the riots, she couldn’t believe it.

Rawel Singh was Ujagar Singh’s younger brother. Like every married Indian woman, Uttam was having a different bonding with her younger brother in law. She used to treat him like her younger brother. She was cherishing the memories, when Ujagar and Rawel would fight and she would take side of Rawel each and every time. But nothing could be done now!

After few years of struggle the shifted to Nabha and then back to Patiala. They had five children namely: Harcharan, Harjeet, Jagdish, Nirmal and Harvinder. They all lived happily and they were very close to each other.

On 17/4/1990, it was the 50th marriage anniversary for both of them. Years passed on and they spent time which was worth of living for each other. But as they say, nothing is permanent in the world, so were they.

On 25/09/2016, Ujagar died leaving Utaam alone crying and missing him. We can't overcome the destiny!. On 24/09/2016, Ujagar’s two grandsons i.e., Indermeet and Jagampal were there at the hospital. There was something that was saying to Jagam that you need to be there that night. Jagam didn’t knew what was in his mind, but he went there. He thought that this might be the last night with his grandfather. Jagam loved his grandparents more than his parents. His grandfather died the next morning. He couldn’t believe what happened. Days passed on and he consoled himself.

Years have been passed down and Jagam still tries to maintain and carry forward the legacy of his grandfather Ujagar Singh. He has a dream that one day he will visit Multan(Pakistan) and visit that place where his grandparents lived before the partition.

Before going to Pakistan he needs to learn something about the culture of the other Punjab (West Punjab). Though, the culture is same, but still there is a difference. The difference is that of the international border which separates, the holy place where Guru Nanak Dev Ji spent the last years of his life. With the hope of getting The Kartarpur Sahib corridor completed, many people who had their ancestors in Pakistan, will be able to connect to the ROOH (soul) of their ancestors once again.

He also thinks that somebody would be thinking the same form that side too. Who knows that there is someone, whose grandparents lived in India before migrating to Pakistan and that person wants to come to India.

There is some connection between both the Punjabs. Everytime when he watches a Punjabi movie based on partition or the early years like 50s, 60s, or 70s, he gets inspired to do something for Punjab, something for the Punjabiyat, which growing again among the people of Punjab through the Punjabi movies and novels. The credit goes to the all those people who live and die for Punjab and its Punjabiyat, irrespective of which Punjab it is.

He wishes that if Punjab was not divided or rather India was not divided. The whole subcontinent could be the best country in the world. Economy, peace, culture, brotherhood etc, you name it and it would be the best in the world. He will forever remain indebted to Punjab, which has given him so much in the past and will do so to give it in future too!

I as the writer of this story which is fiction to some extent and non fiction to the other, by ‘JO PUNJAB SANJHA SADA KHAWAAB SANJHA’