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Victims of Violence
a short story by Professor Paramjit Sharmasharmapjit@rediffmail.com Dedicated to Shri P K Aggarwal IASFormerly Director General of our Organisation
 
 
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Victims of Violence
It all started when we were taking tea after tenth show of our street play'
DRISHTIKON'
I got a pat on my back and noticed a person in his late forties with dark glasses, extendinghis hand warmly towards me.The feel of his fingers and hand was very heavy and his manners conveyed personalwarmth.He introduced himself as D.K. Khurana from Indian Administrative Services.Addressing me as ' Professor', he desired to have an urgent meeting.Due to involvement in the theatre, my availability timings were often quite odd.So, I promised to drop in at his office in couple of days.When I visited his office after a gap of few days, he got up from his chair, greeted meaffectionately and escorted me to an aesthetically placed sofa set in his room.I was all too appreciative of his pleasing manners and personal grace.After we finished our tea, he gave instructions to his assistant for no further disturbance.I was a bit perplexed at his style, but once he started the topic his intentions becamequite clear.He wanted our involvement in organizing a programme for the families who were victimsof terrorism in Punjab as a part of operation '
Healing Touch'
. He explained the need of my street play to be staged before an audience of 25-30 thousand people to be followed by folk dances performance by at least 5000 children who were victims of terrorism inthe age group of 7 to 10years.The group would also include children who have lost their parents due to their parent’sassociation with the terrorist groups.I looked at Mr. Kurana's face as I had never heard of such type of composition and thattoo by a group which had never participated in any performing art.It appeared to me
 
an unachievable idea but Mr. Khurana's commitment to the task forcedme to say yes.
A short story by Professor Paramjit Sharma
 
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 Mr. Khurana asked me to give final shape to this concept and we promised to meet again.I knew for Gidha and other folk dances there could not be a better choice than one of myold student at Batala, Brahamjot Kaur, who has been an exponent of this art., she hasrepresented India and Punjab in many National and International cultural events.I heard that after her post graduation she has been teaching in a girl’s college. Imentioned that to Mr. Khurana and we decided to meet her at Batala the next day.When we reached her college, we were directed towards her house which was locatedwithin the campus.We were asked to sit in the living room as I sent her maid servant, with my visiting card,to convey the message of our visit.The maid servant returned after five minutes, with a message personally written byBrahamjot.
Sir, Thanks for remembering me…I just started my class…would be with youshortly…Regards… Brahamjot .
I was touched with her sweet messageWe observed with eagerness score of trophies, shields, souvenirs aesthetically placed inthe living room and her photographs with eminent personalities of National andInternational repute.While glancing through, I felt quite proud of her accomplishments.I was lost in my thoughts when I noticed a tall girls entering into the room and greetingus.She bent down to touch my feet, but I stopped her in between to do that.For ages, that has been a common gesture of the artistes to convey their respects to their Gurus.My eyes got moist with tears when I introduced Brahamjot to Mr. Khurana with prideand our mission to Batala.'Bete' (my child) Mr. Khurana addressed Brahamjot affectionately that he was delightedto meet her and explained in details the objectives of our mission.While briefing his concept Mr. Khurana repeatedly used the word ' victims of terroristactivities'.'Sir, if you do not mind', Brahamjot interrupted.
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