StudentSample Feldman 13013

MynameisBirBahadurSinghandIamaSikhthatexperiencedthefulleffectsofthepartition. BeforethepartitionIlivedinahighlydiverseneighborhood,withpeopleofalldifferentreligions.There wasforthemostpartSikhs,likemyself,Muslims,andHindus.Ilivedwithmymother,father,andtwin brotherasahappyfamily.ButIwasdifferentfromtherestofmyfamily.Therestofmyfamilyhated everythingtodowithMuslimsbutpersonallyIneverunderstoodwhy.Nextdoortomewasafamilyof MuslimsnamedtheMumumsandtheywerethenicestfamilyIeverdidmeet.Butofcoursejust becauseoftheirreligiontherestofmyfamilyhatedthem. HeyBir,caretojoinusfordinnertonight?Wearecelebratingmybirthdayandwouldloveitif youcameover,thelittleboyMuhammadyelledovertome. YeahsureMuhammed,whattimeshouldIbeover?Ihavetodoitsecretlythough,myparents dontnecessarilywantmetobefriendswithyou. Justthenmyfatherburstedintotheroomwithsteampouringfromhisears.Heknewwhoitwas Iwastalkingtoandhedidnotapproveofitatall. Hestuckhisheadthroughmywindowandwithandinfuriatedtonescreamed,Whydontyou leavemysonalone!Hewillnevercomeoveryourhousebecauseyouarenotworthyofhispresence! Trash,youare! Muhammadhunghisheadandwonderedwhathedidtodeservethattypeoftreatment.Ialso wonderedthat.Whyisitthata10yearoldboycanbecalledtrashbysomeonewhodidnotevenknow

him?Howisitfairtoaccusesomeoneofbeingtrashjustbecausetheyfollowacertainreligion?Iknew inmyheartthatthiswasindeedwrongbutIwasnotgoingtogoagainstmyfatherinthatway.Our dealingswiththemweresolowthatIamashamedtosayit. ThatwasmylifebeforeIndiawaspartitioned.LateroninlifeIgrewupandhadafamilyofmy own.Afterthedivisionthewholeworldwasflippedupsidedown.Everythingwassochaoticthatitfelt likeIwaslivinginanightmare.Walkinghomefromworkwasbloodcurdlingandeerilyspinechilling.I spentcountlessnightsstaringattheceilingthinkingofhowIcankeepmyfamilysafe.Violencebecame anobstaclethatpeoplehadtocautiouslymaneuveraround.Itlurkedoneverycornerofeverystreet. Thisviolenceneverdeeplyaffectedmeuntilonedayitsmackedmestraightintheface.Iwas layingdownonmycouchwhenbreakingnewscameonthatthelocalbankhadbeenbombedbya groupofMuslimextremist.Oncethenameofthebankshoweduptobethesameonewheremy brotherworkedmyheartsunktothebottomofmystomach.Iracedtothebankonlytofindmybrother inabodybag.Heworkedasabankerandwasnexttotheterroristbeforehesetthebomboff.My mindwasblownwhenisawoneoftheMuslimbombersinhandcuffs.OnfirstglanceIknewexactly whoitwas.Muhammed.Howcouldthisbe?Thesametenyearoldkidthatinvitedmetohisbirthday partyhadkilledmybrotherinaterroristattack.Itthenoccurredtomethatwewerethesamefamily thatsparkedthehate.Mostlikely,Muhammadbecameangryandprovokedtodothisbecauseofhow wetreatedhisfamily. ThiswasexactlywhyIsupportedthepartition.Separatinguswastherightdecision.Wedidnt deservetoliveasoneunited,powerfulcountry.Whenweneededhelptheyarenothesitanttogiveit. Butiftheyeverneededanythingfromusitwasadifferentstory.Iamwillingtoputallofmy controversiesasideandadmitthatweweretheonesatfault.WeasSikhsdisobeyedourreligiousvalue

ofequalityandthisishowwewillpayfortheconsequencesbrings.