Indian citizenship is all they want

Jalandhar, August 17

Fed up with alleged harassment in Pakistan, a number of Hindu families have of late been leaving the neighbouring nation for good, migrating across the border in pursuit of a better life. A similar step was taken by 67 families living in Jalandhar over the past 15 years. They just crossed over, thinking they will live a protected life by being part of a majority community (Hindus are in a minority in Pakistan). A decade and a half down the line, they regret their move. For, they are yet to be granted Indian citizenship and are "tired" of extending their Pakistani visas time and again.

Settled in 3 localities

The Hindu families which migrated from Pakistan —comprising 300 members in all — are primarily settled in Basti Bawa Khel, Basti Danishmandan and Gandhi Camp in the city.

One thing they feel contended about is nobody calls them a 'kafir' (a derogatory religious remark) here. But, they say their sufferings are larger in extent to eclipse this sense of pride.

Landing in menial jobs

Kale Ram, who lives in Basti Bawa Khel area, says after migrating from Pakistan, his son never returned to school. The reason: he did not possess an Indian identity proof. He had studied in a 'madarsa' (religious school) in Pakistan up to Class X. Similar is the fate of other children. A majority of them have been forced to do menial jobs just because they could not pursue their education due to lack of an identity proof. Ashok Kumar of Gandhi Camp says a few of his relatives came to India some time back with a dream they would settle here. But, visa problems forced them to return with a heavy heart, he says. His relatives were not the only ones, as around 400 families had to go back due to the same reason. "About 150 of these families were forcibly converted to Islam. Another problem is getting a visa for Punjab (India) is next to impossible. Pakistani migrants are allowed to live only either in Ambala or in Delhi," he says, appearing apprehensive about the fate of his relatives.

Recalling the atrocities they had to bear in Pakistan brings tears to their eyes. "We were a very small population of Hindu families in Pakistan. In our village in Sialkot, there were no Hindu shrines or temples. They called us 'kafir'. We couldn't sit shoulder to shoulder with a Muslim and share a meal. Our utensils too were kept separately," says Kale Ram, who came in 2006 on a 30-day visa and has been extending it ever since.

Passport problem

The bigger problem that the family has been facing now is that their passports have expired and the Pakistan Embassy has been telling them to return back to the neighbouring nation to get new ones made.

Another migrant, Prem Nath, used to work at a factory in Pakistan and migrated 15 years ago. "We could not be a part of their (Muslims') ceremonies but they walked into ours. Our functions would have more Muslim spectators than Hindu guests. We used to be cursed and abused for not burying our dead…. Some just hated my name," he says.

Even the concept of a long-term visa, as announced by India, does not appeal much to them. "So far, we used to extend our visas for six months, a year or two years. Now, it will be extended for seven years. But, that is not our demand. All we want is Indian citizenship. May be, we will get it one day," says an optimistic Prem Nath.