Hindu mother unites with Muslim daughter after 57 yrs

Jammu, June 24: In a celluloid like reunion, a Hindu woman of Jammu and Kashmir has been reunited with her Muslim daughter, living in PoK, who was separated from her during partition.

Giving a new twist to the tale which has its origins in the tragedy of partition, a Hindu family of Inderjeet Kumari, 80, came to know about her blood relations, including her daughter Bi Behum (58 years) living across the Line of Control (LoC) in Kotli district of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

In the backdrop of Indo-Pak peace process, the Pakistan government allowed Yuv Raj Gupta, a retired Central government employee, to travel across the border to visit his native place in PoK.

During his stay in PoK, Mr Gupta was contacted by Behum and was requested to trace her mother living in Jammu city. On returning from PoK, Mr Gupta not only traced out Inderjeet Kumari but was also able to pass the message across the LoC leading to the first ever establishment of contact between the two. He told Inderjeet about her Muslim daughter living in Kotli.

Inderjeet's story is a unique case and only emphasises the multi-dimensional tragedy. She was also separated from her parents in November, 1947, who migrated to Jammu and Kashmir.

Inderjeet was left alone in PoK ravaged by violence. She married a Muslim youth who knew the family and within a year, she gave birth to a girl.

Things took a new turn when her brother along with several volunteers of the state machinery arrived in PoK in December 1948 and brought her to this side of the state as part of the agreement between India and Pakistan to facilitate the return of women to their families in each other's territory.

Inderjeet managed to unite with her parents but was separated from her one-year-old baby. She could do little as the links between the two families were severed.

With the first ever contact established now, the two families on either side of the divide are anxious to meet each other to heal the wounds of the past.

Talking to sources, Mr Gupta said nothing has changed in the face of the city even after 58 years of partition in his native place.

Inderjeet, who met her daughter, said, ''I have been waiting for this moment for the last 57 years. I cannot express the pain I have suffered for so many years.'' Both, Mr Gupta and Inderjeet Kumari thanked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf.

They said it was only possible as governments of both the countries relaxed travel restrictions imposed on the divided families.

Mr Gupta said the incident has built up hope for several families living on both sides of the divide that one day even their wounds would be healed.

UNI