For decades Rina Varma will return to her home in Rawalpindi in her dreams. She will wander down narrow alley to the three-story house as well as walk the rooms where she lived with her five siblings, parents and aunt for in first 15 years of her life.
But for 75 years old, that was home located on a seemingly impassable national the border, one Varma could only visit as painful memory. This was until July year. Now 90 years old, but still cheerful, chance collide on Facebook group helped her find and visit family home she was forced to leave 75 years ago, located in what is now Pakistan.
“I thought, ‘This is reason I’m still alive so I might finally come back home” Varma said. of her emotional and joyful return. After so many years there was no one left in an alley that Varma had known since childhood, but a local people greeted her with enthusiastic reception, one of them.
Rina Verma – happiness on her face 💙 My video report: rice.twitter.com/NdWofgsTkr
— Shiraz Hassan (@ShirazHassan) July 20, 2022
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In 1947 a peaceful life of Varma family came to a sudden end with partition that divided the subcontinent down sectarian lines. Rawalpindi, noisy city in Punjab where they lived as a Hindu family one of cities that ended up in newly established Islamic republic of Pakistan after August 1947. State of Punjab became the center of terrible violence and Rawalpindi, where the Muslim majority population was engulfed in brutal massacres when Hindus and Sikhs were expelled from their homes and ran away over border with India.
Growing upVarma remembered a peaceful existence between her Hindu family and their Muslim and Sikh neighbors, who often came over to their house for cups of tea and holiday celebrations.
But by March 1947, Varna remembered the fear that gripped the Indians. people life in in area. Neighbors patrolled their alley and set alarms up in In this case, the Muslim attackers arrived at night. Eventually, in May 1947, Varma. parents decided to send them children in town of shimla, place in the foothills of the Himalayas where they will go on holiday. Varma was only 15 years old at the time. items assuming she will return in few weeks. Her parents followed them shortly thereafter. They had no idea they would never see their home again.
After 1947 he became clear it was unthinkable to return to Rawalpindi. “My parents It was left all behind and suffered greatly,” she said. “Over the years, my parents everyone thought that we would go back”.
stuck without home, with all their property and money left behindVarms family eventually moved to Pune, in Maharashtra. Over the years she began to dry for her house and often thought about finding way go back. But no connection left in Rawalpindi and with No way of knowing if she house even still standing, she got on with her life. She got married and gave birth to two children, although “always felt like something was missing.”
But Varma’s life was to change after joining Facebook group called “Indian-Pakistani Heritage Club”. She wrote a speculative post about her old house in Rawalpindi, describing in detail it location and nearby attractions, asking if there is anyone could help track it down. Other member in Rawalpindi took up task and sent her a message: he found her old house, which miraculously survived.
it took two rejected applications before Varma’s case reached her ears of foreign minister and they gave her a visa. She crossed the border in July for in first time in 75 years old.
Varma was not ready for the fanfare that greeted her arrival. Drums and singing accompanied her as she walked down her old lane and dozens of the inhabitants flocked to greet her, embracing her tightly. “I have no words to express how I felt it,” she said. “Everything was done very joyfully and I was greeted very warmly when I arrived there. And I couldn’t believe that house was in such an ideal state.
She is added: “People say that India and Pakistan are separated, but when you go there, you get such respect, such hospitality. Their hospitality is such that you will never forget.”
AT family now living in in house put it down up for night. However, there was sadness in her as she walked through the rooms and stood. on balcony. “I missed my family so much. I wished like everything they also could be there.”
It was also emotional trip for Imran Williams, who set up India & Pakistan Heritage Club Facebook page and was there to greet Varma when she arrived in Rawalpindi.
“It was like I was touring with my own grandmother. in her generic house”, Williams said. “I could never take my grandmother back to her ancestors home before she died and it squeezes my heart. I am trying to accomplish this duty helping others by showing them their home, their village and their roots.”
Varma said she hopes her trip will serve as an example for governments. of India and Pakistan of Importance of putting aside their political differences and allowing others to cross the border.
“My view is that after 75 years we should not continue to talk about division, we should forget about these divisions,” she said. “People are very, very fond of on both sides and on both sides people desperately want to meet each other.”
