The Hindu : National : `These walls, these rooms remind me of my childhood'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 09, 2005

National

National

`These walls, these rooms remind me of my childhood'

By Shujaat Bukhari

FLOWERY WELCOME: Villagers of Uri carrying flowers await passengers from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir near the Kaman Bridge on the Line of Control on Thursday. — Photo: Nissar Ahmad

SRINAGAR, APRIL 8 . After spending the first night in India as guests of the state, the 30 people who boarded the bus from Muzaffarabad to Srinagar today finally reunited with their families.

Eleven of the passengers were from the Jammu province. Officials confirmed that eight passengers who had their relatives in the Rajouri-Poonch districts of Jammu were seen off by the administration early on Friday morning while three were leaving in a couple of days. Those who had their roots in Kashmir valley were met by their relatives. The passengers are allowed to stay in Jammu and Kashmir for 15 days but cannot cross the state boundary.

The passengers were received with garlands and the traditional Kashmiri "wanwun" (welcome songs). Fareeda Gani, a former legislator in the PoK Assembly and her brother were among those who enjoyed their reunion under the media glare. As she stepped into the huge mansion of her father, Abdul Gani Rentu, in Jamalta, she wept bitterly. Her father, a barrister was forced to leave in 1949. "I used to play with dolls in this room," she said. Neighbours, relatives and strangers waited for hours, and showered Fareeda and her brother, Mehboob alias Pritam Giani, with flower petals and almonds as she drove home. They reached out to touch her; kissed her hands; wept with her; and hugged her.

Giani is a poet and has written many poems in the memory of his homeland. As she entered the 100-year-old wood and brick house, she said: "These walls, these rooms remind me of my childhood." She climbed a winding wooden stairway that led to go to her parents' room which has been preserved by her cousins in its original decor. "This bus is the biggest confidence-building measure and the people of Jammu and Kashmir should not face any problem in visiting their land," she said brushing aside militant threats.

In the ornate drawing room of her ancestral home, the celebrations were interrupted when her father's younger sister, 90-year-old Tathi, arrived. The three kissed and wept with joy as they held each other. She enquired about Fareeda's mother. "How is Birjees?" In a choked voice the charming woman replied, "She has passed away." And with this there was a grim silence as Tathi wept. "These are sad moments in life. We have missed so much and shared little of our joys and grief," said Fareeda. "I am delighted. After years of separation I have returned to my home and my country, where I was born. It is overwhelming for us. For almost a life-time we could not come home. Now we are here. Every man or woman should have the right to return to their home, a right to meet and live with their family and friends." Her younger brother said he hoped that "this newfound freedom is sustained. I hope this bus inspires bigger things and brings an end to Kashmir's pain."

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