Plight of refugees

When I read about the plight of refugees from Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan, I am reminded about the sad story of my own parents. They came to India as refugees, after the partitioning of British India in 1947. They were escorted by the Indian army and brought to the newly founded India at night.

They spent their first night in India on a street in Amritsar. Next day, they found their way to a refugee camp. Then they could at least get some food to eat. From then onwards, it was a struggle for my parents to make a living, find a job and do well in life. Like the lives of millions of other refugees, their life was a saga of hard work, struggle, and sacrifice. All that they had earned and built before partition was gone. They had to start life from scratch, without a home or money.

It is not easy to complete one’s education, find a job, make a home and educate the children, without any money in a new country. When I look back in my life, I visualise all the struggles and sacrifices of my parents. Moreover, refugees have to abandon their properties and belongings, when they move to a new country. The memory of what is gone or what could have been, is painful indeed. The life of a refugee is tough.

So, when I read about the refugees in various global conflicts, my heart goes out to them. I can only imagine the efforts they will have to put in to rebuild their own lives and impart education to their children. I also know that we can prevent wars and refugees, if we handle global conflicts diplomatically and sensitively. Unfortunately, we are becoming dehumanised societies, in many parts of the world.

Rajendra Aneja,

Mumbai, India