TRAIN TO PAKISTAN - Another day, Another time..!!

There’s almost a pattern to it. Every time we get too cushy about the peace in our lives and that of our neighbours, we are rudely awakened to the reality of terror. Terror that is basically aimed at derailing the peace talks between India and Pakistan but ends up shattering the lives of hapless victims of such tragedies. This is exactly what happened on the fateful night of February 18th when two powerful bombs ripped through the boggies of the Samjhauta Express. The tragedy left 68 people, including women and children dead (charred beyond recognition) and several grievously injured, all this two days before the arrival of the Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri who is in India on a three-day official visit to take the peace talks "hopefully" to the next level. The perpetrators of the crime couldn’t have picked a better timing and an even better target, the “Peace Train” that runs between Delhi and Attari before proceeding to Lahore in Pakistan. Till last year (when another rail link was established between the two countries connecting Munabao in Rajasthan to Khokrapar in Sind by the Thar Express), the Samjhauta Express was the singular hope for people with friends and families on both sides of the border (torn apart by the infamous partition that in its wake rendered millions homeless and as many dead), to actually meet and, in however a small measure, carry on being a part of each others lives. It is this sentiment that has been the driving force of this train for the past thirty years.

When the ill fated train left platform number 18 of the Old Delhi Railway Station last Sunday, it too was carrying Pakistani passengers back to their “watan” after blessed reunions and the possibilities of more. Now, all that stands obliterated. Yet, life moves on for the rest, including those who planned, funded and executed this ghastly tragedy. Whether these remorseless blots on humanity are ever caught and made to pay for their crimes is something only time will tell. Till then all we can hope for is that the peace process, in spite of all irritating hiccups, keeps chugging along like this train. For therein lies our victory. Like a former driver of the train has to say “Eh mohabbat di gaddi hain. Is nu band nah hone dena” or “This is the train of love. Don’t ever let it stop."

It's been said that there is always a silver lining, no matter how dark the cloud. Similarly, the miracle of such tragedies are the sub stories of human compassion that emerge from it. This one saw the valiant villagers of a hereby unknown tiny hamlet of Siwah near Panipat (where the train had come to a halt after the blasts) come out in full force and try and save as many people as they could. Water was brought in buckets from a close by pond as they tried to extinguish the blaze. However, it being winters, the doors of the compartments were locked from the inside and the inferno too huge to contain. Nevertheless, they kept their efforts alive, providing tea, water, medicines and clothes to the survivors of this tragedy until fire tenders arrived. And all along, passengers of the other coaches stood listless on the sidetracks, clutching on to their brood and belongings, happy not to be hurt and too stunned to help. Unaware that the train was predominantly carrying Pakistani citizens, the villagers of Siwah went on with the rescue work with unrelenting determination. On being later told of the nationality of the people they had tried so desperately to save, the villagers of Siwah merely shrugged in indifference saying even if they had been privy to the fact, it wouldn’t have changed a thing. As Virendra Sharma of the village put it, “Helping the needy is a matter of humanity.” I only wish people who believe in bloodshed were smart enough to get this.