A Hindu family from Pakistan names its newborn ‘Bharat’

For this group of Hindu families that came to India from Pakistan a year ago, their dilapidated surroundings at their temporary shelter in an ashram at Majnu Ka Tila here, shortage of basic amenities including food and clean drinking water or even an uncertain future do not seem to dampen the joy and hope that little “Bharat”, born on August 15, has brought along.

“A home away from home”

Krishan Das, spokesperson for these Hindu families, says: “Little Bharat born to Gira and Panju Ram represents our hope for a better tomorrow. We have named the boy Bharat because he was born here and we want him to grow up knowing that India gave us a home and livelihood when we were virtually abandoned by our home country Pakistan. Also, he was born on August 15 so ‘Bharat’ seemed to be the obvious choice for a name.”

A chance at good life

Bharat’s father Panju Ram, who now works as a daily wager in Delhi, says: “Bharat is our fourth child and in India we hope for a better future for him. We are trying to settle down in the Capital and ensure that our children get a chance at living a decent and good life here. Leaving Pakistan was a painful decision, who wants to leave their home country? But people from the minority community don’t seem to be welcome there anymore so we decided to move out before it was too late.”

Forcible conversions

Speaking about the conditions back home in Pakistan, Mr. Das says: “This group of 30-odd people living here (Majnu Ka Tila) are from Sindh province in Pakistan where there is forcible conversion of those from the minority community. Workers from the minority community are not paid minimum wages and the rich Hindus have to endure extortion and live in the fear of being kidnapped for ransom. All of us who have crossed over to India are born and brought up in Pakistan and call it our home. We were educated in Pakistan, we have friends there and we love the country as our own, but now circumstances are such that we can’t assure our children of a safe and secure future there.”

The group staying at Majnu Ka Tila is surviving on the money earned from selling fruits, vegetable or cell phone covers. Of the 11 children in the group only a few have managed to secure a school admission. “Lack of proper identification proof for children is preventing us from enrolling them in schools, also money for school admission, book, fees and uniform is in short supply so that is another major hindrance as well.”

“Thank you, India”

Acknowledging the effort made by the Indian Government and some Hindu organisations in helping them settle down here, Mr. Das says: “We thank the Indian Government for allowing us to stay in India and the police for not harassing us. Some Hindu organisations gave us food and clothes when we initially came. However, now that this short-term help is over we have been virtually left to fend for ourselves. We want the Indian Government to look into giving us citizenship and a permanent place to stay. Most of us have the knowledge of working in agricultural sector and are sure that we can manage to feed and take care of our families with a little help from the Government.”