The Ungrateful

The partition of Hindustan into India and Pakistan in 1947 was such a tragic incident that even after over six decades its pain is felt in various Mushaiyaras, Kavi Sammelans and occasional meetings of people from both sides of the border.

The exodus of people to either side of the border was biggest ever recorded in history books. Millions of people migrated to India from that side through Punjab borders. A large group of these migrants were Punjabi families, which suffered attacks on their way to India by their long time friends, neighbours, and well-wishers as part of mob violence.

Most of these Punjabis somehow managed to reach to Indian side leaving behind their ancestral properties. But even today many of these people develop goose bums on their body if they were to recall those terrible days of migration, the consistent fear of being slaughtered or looted or even physically molested.

It is said that an uncounted number of women preferred diving into the wells while running to save their modest from being outraged or save their girl children from suffering similar treatment from a chasing mad-mob that also included blood thirsty and savage individuals.

The lucky ones, who could reach the Indian borders, with or without families devoid of any belonging were offered shelter in the refugee camps, especially set up for their help. But due to limited resources the government wasn’t in a condition to arrange for their two square meal, clothes to wear or other basic amenities.

The then Jansangh or the present-day Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh, a Hindu cultural organistion, came forward to help these refugee families in such a desperate time, irrespective of religion.

The women, the children, the elderly and the injured all were helpless and urgently required help to survive. And, at this moment, the RSS volunteers served them with a dedicated spirit and enabled them to feel actually sheltered at this pious land.

With the passage of time, the kids of that time are now aged; in their seventies or above. But they still recall the timely help extended to them from the RSS swayamsewaks at that time.

However, it shocks when one comes across the grown up children of those children of Partition days. It is wished they were narrated properly about those desperate days of Partition and families’ plight. Today these new-age children of those refugee families consider themselves quite 'modern' while condemning or making fun of RSS with other ignorants.

They call RSS as a fundamentalist or Hindu militant group! They consider that savious organisation as soemthing that aims to disturb communal harmony in India or the most cruel face of fundamentalism.

It is well-known that the political wing of RSS is today known as Bharatiya Janata Party and religious wing as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad. But RSS as the mother of these two wings remains dedicated to the cause of protecting the right to life and respect of all Indians, without allowing discrimination against the Hindus in their own country and also without being oppose to the same right available to member of non-Hindu communities in the country.

But it looks galvanising to see such new-age kids speak ill of the very organisation which actually saved their mothers, aunts, and loved ones from dying or getting their modesty by not any Muslim but a mad mob which belonged to no religion or caste but should always be remembered or mentioned by its madness and savagery.