It was just another day, very hectic , the servant on leave, and two naughty boys 4 and 2 year old keeping me on my toes as usual. Ravi was on leave preparing for his promotion test and didn’t want to be disturbed. He wanted to get through and we wished to get a transfer back to Kerala.
This place, Dhar in Madhya Pradesh wasn’t that bad, but we always had a longing to get back to home town. The housing colony where we lived had 30 MIG houses, and people from all states of India lived there. We were all very friendly and we women spent the free time sharing our knowledge on knitting, stitching, cuisines and what not…..while children played outside.
Just behind our house there was a row of LIG houses which were still under construction. A few days before this incident a newly married Punjabi couple came to stay in the house just behind ours. As usual Anu was the first to make friends with the Sardarji. He was an engineer in the housing board. Anu would climb on the window and talk to him.
Arun was having slight fever since two days and Ravi was on leave, so we didn’t know what was happening outside our home. I finished off my work and had a nap with children in the afternoon. I woke up hearing a weak sound calling “Bhabhi” repeatedly. When I realized the sound was from the house at the back, I opened the window and looked out. The Sardarji too opened the window slightly and asked me in a low sound , “Bhabhi, can I send my wife to your house for some time?” I said, “Why not? Ofcourse you can send, without knowing the reason. Both of them jumped the wall and entered through the back door. He closed the door and I found them shivering in fear. They refused to come to the front room but sat on the floor in the corridor.
It was then that we came to know what was going on in the country. There was no television in those days and who had the time to listen to radio? Now we switched on the radio and the news of what was happening frightened us. On the previous day Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two Sikhs and there was a riot going on in the country. The description of the happenings in North India was terrifying. Indira Gandhi was shot dead by 2 Sikhs and in protest, people were killing many Sikh people. The houses and shops of Sikhs were looted and set on fire.
The Sardarji said people were after them, and they would be killed any time. I didn’t understand anything, but Ravi listened to him and assured nothing will happen to them. Ravi made them comfortable in the sitting room.
Not knowing what to do next, I opened the front door. A little away on the main road I saw fire and smoke and I thought the post office which stood there was on fire. But later we came to know that a truck driven by a Sardar was set to fire by people. As I stood outside I noticed with shock that the otherwise busy colony was deserted. Not a single human was seen outside. Just then I heard Meena’s sound calling me, “Aunty, go inside close all doors and windows, there is a curfew. “ I did as she said. Then we heard the announcement from the police jeep about the 24 hour curfew, and requesting all Sikh people to get shelter at the Police station.
Living in God’s own country, the peaceful Kerala, what could I know about communal riots and curfews? Even Ravi didn’t know. Sardarji begged us not to throw them out to be killed. Ravi promised him, they would be safe here. Little knowing of the dangers that could happen, I played the part of a good hostess, cooking a good dinner and trying to make them cheerful. All India Radio was giving elaborate description of the riots in Delhi. By midnight Sardarji told Ravi that he would find shelter somewhere else and begged us to take care of his wife until he returns. We promised, so he walked out into the dark & cold night, covering himself with a blanket.
We had no means of communication with the outside world, so we spent the next day quietly in the house. I started feeling something was wrong, though Ravi didn’t agree with me. Towards midnight the Sardarji returned to our house looking tired with hunger and fear. Ravi let him in, I gave him food and we asked them to sleep in the living room. We didn’t sleep that night.
We were getting short of things for food as we had postponed the grocery shopping to this week. I made tea in Lactogen instead of milk. It was 3rd November and there was a relaxation of curfew for half an hour that evening.
Ravi went out to get milk and other things. As he opened the door, children ran out and joined their friends. I met the women who were standing outside and got some fearsome news of happenings all over North India. Just then I saw Anu entering the house with his friend Bittu, though I ran after them, it was too late. Anu already showed his best friend the guests we had at home.
The over smart boy, Bittu ran out shouting, there is a Sardar hiding in Anu’s house!.That was the end!. The women asked me about it and I had to say. The police jeep came whistling and the crowd dispersed. Another night passed in fear and there was silence in our house which made us uneasy. Next morning there was an hour of relaxation on the curfew. All our friends gathered in a neighbor’s house and they asked Ravi & me to join. Then they explained to us how serious the problem is.
They said, “If people come armed with weapons, we won’t be able to help you. If someone set fire to your house at night, what will you do? Why are you hiding them in your house and risking your life? Ask the sardar & his wife to take shelter in police station. Or ask that man to cut his hair, as he is new here, no one knows him.” We had no answer to their questions. Hiding them was not done purposely. Things just happened and we were not so inhuman as to throw them out to die. Fear gripped me.
Our friends then met the sardar at our house and asked him to move from the colony to a safe place. But Ravi was adamant in his refusal to ask them to leave the house. The fifth day passed in silence and the food Meena brought remained untouched. In the evening a jeep filled with people was seen in the colony searching for the house where the Sardar stayed. Noone betrayed us, but called the police. Those people escaped before the police came. With the sight of the jeep I almost fainted.
Around 10PM there was a knock on the door and an elderly friend an Income Tax Officer, came in and told us he wanted to help us in this situation. He persuaded the sardar to go with him. The wife was to stay in our house. That gentleman had a large family staying in his 2 bed room house, but he asked the sardar to join them.
The sunrise of next day brought good news that the riots were under control and curfew was withdrawn. One more day the sardar and his wife stayed in that house and then returned to their home.
I can never forget those 5 days of my life.
WOW What an experience!!!!
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