Change is Another Name for Human Life

Submitted by SK

I was 19 years old. Lived in a beautiful house in Karachi where I had my own room and bathroom. Every morning I woke up at 3:30 am and went to the Gurudwara. Although I was a girl, my grandfather sent me to an all-boys school since the education in an all-boys school was better. I played cricket with the boys in the neighborhood and was ready to go to medical school. I had participated in the freedom fight movement against the British, heavily influenced by my dad who was the chief editor of a major newspaper. Finally, we were going to get independence from the British and I was going to be a physician.

Summer of 1947: I am not able to go to school. I cannot leave my house. I am unable to go to my Gurudwara. The beautiful neighborhood that I grew up in is burning. I am told that we have to leave our house and go to Bombay, a place I have only heard about, never to come back again EVER. My mother is pregnant. My grandfather and grandmother are imprisoned under false allegations. There are shoot at sight orders against my dad. A few good neighbors come to our help. My grandparents were freed by a Muslim brother. We packed quickly to catch a ship. We are not sure if my dad will be able to make it. The ship takes off. I have not seen my dad. 10 minutes into the voyage, I see my dad. He had made it.

Bombay, 1947: We are in a refugee camp. I did not use the bathroom on the ship for days since the bathrooms were extremely dirty. The bathrooms in the refugee camp are worse. There is limited food and water. People are very different. They are using a language that I am not very fluent in. I am told that I have to give up my studies. I got married and had 6 beautiful children. I became comfortable with the new language. I have a new Gurudwara that I go to and have a small community that I am a part of.

California, 2021: I am 92 now. I moved to the US in 1986. I was able to provide a good education for my 6 children because of this country. My kids are well-settled in this country. I have built my own small community. I have a new Gurudwara that I go to. I learned a new language. This is my new home