After leaving India during the Partition in 1947 to settle in Pakistan, Khursheed Ahmed’s return to his ancestral village in India brought tears to his eyes. This was undoubtedly a deeply emotional and memorable moment in his life as he stepped into his ancestral village, Macharwan (Gurdaspur), after 77 years.
On Tuesday, Khursheed Ahmed traveled from Baler village in Pakistan’s Nankana Sahib district to India. His host, Gurpreet Singh, welcomed him with a glass of water. Smiling, Khursheed remarked, “This is not just water; it’s better than milk.”
Expressing his thoughts, Khursheed said he was delighted to see the immense progress India has made, the country where he was born, while Pakistan, where he spent his entire life, still lags behind.
Although age has taken a toll on his health, Khursheed vividly recalled his childhood memories. He shared how he used to play in the village pond and graze cattle in the fields. His visit to India became possible after Gurpreet Singh’s brother, Karamjit Singh Numberdar, met Khursheed during a pilgrimage in Nankana Sahib. They reminisced about their shared past, which inspired Khursheed to return to his ancestral village.
When news of his visit spread, the entire village gathered to welcome him. Villagers garlanded him and received him with great respect. The joy on Khursheed’s face upon his return was evident.
Khursheed, accompanied by his grandson, reunited with him at the India-Pakistan Attari border. Although he is on a 45-day visa, his health might require him to return to Pakistan within a week. The fields where Khursheed once grazed cattle as a child are now owned by Gurpreet Singh’s family. Despite this, Khursheed expressed happiness and satisfaction as he reminisced about old times.
For Khursheed, this journey wasn’t merely a visit to his village but a chance to relive memories of the Partition’s pain and his childhood. His return left not just his family but the entire village emotional.
Many like Khursheed Ahmed, born in India, were forced to move to Pakistan due to Partition. Similarly, many in India were born in what is now Pakistan but lost everything to settle in India. Even today, recalling the pain of those times brings sadness, but reconnecting with childhood companions after so many years also brings immeasurable joy.
This reunion also highlights that while borders may have divided people, the hearts of the common citizens in both countries still remain connected.