E-Paper
Pak boy ‘Ramzan’ moves further away from motherland
Ramzan, who had slipped into India from Bangladesh to go back to his motherland Pakistan, doesn’t find himself as lucky as Geeta.
Ramzan, who had slipped into India from Bangladesh to go back to his motherland Pakistan, doesn’t find himself as lucky as Geeta.
Reason: He is being sent back to Bangladesh after his hopes to meet his mother crashed with the diplomatic optimism following Pathankot attack. Geeta was half lucky as she could at least return to her homeland (India) from Pakistan. It is a different matter that she is yet to find her family.
Ramzan,15, was separated from his mother Begum Razia when his father Mohammad Kazol took him to Bangladesh leaving their homeland Karachi and remarried. Harassed by his stepmother, he left home and sneaked into India in August 2013 after friends advised him to travel to Pakistan via India. But, he was caught by police in Bhopal and handed over to a shelter Umeed in October 2013. It is the same shelter where Geeta is staying now.
“My destiny is not as good as that of Geeta didi’s. I feel the pains of my mother who is waiting for me on the other side of the border. I can well remember her tearful eyes. But I can’t go there thanks to the complicated relationship between the two countries,” he said.
Ramzan’s dilemma is heart rending as after spending two-and-a-half years in Bhopal, he is bound for Kolkata from where he would be handed over to a shelter home of an NGO Sanlaap. He is accompanied by Aarambh director Archana Sahay and two other team members.
“I hope I would reach Pakistan soon from there,” he said, making it clear that he wouldn’t be staying with his father.
“Now, I understood very well that the ditch is very deep between the two countries. I don’t know why. I spent more than two years here but I never felt anything different,” he said.
He said, “I learnt a lot here especially about international relations. Many people have been involved in making efforts to send me back to Pakistan. I will not forget anything. I am feeling sad to leave my friends especially Rajul (name changed). Archana Mam and Vijay Bhaiya loved me a lot.”
…………………………………………
