Ludhiana migrant reaches UP home on bicycle; recounts examples of Hindu-Muslim unity on the way

Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 14

Witnessing religious brotherhood, a 40-year-old migrant reached his village Mandharpur, in district Basti of Uttar Pradesh, amid coronavirus crisis.

The migrant—Mahendra—started his journey on a bicycle from Ludhiana during the nation-wide lockdown.

When Mahendra was hungry, tired and had his feet badly swollen, Muslims arranged food and water for him. They also helped other migrants who were on their way to their respective villages.

“After cycling for four days, I had reached Saharanpur along with 21 other workers from Ludhiana. We then halted at an orchard located near village Chhutmalpur to take rest. I was fully tired while my foot had badly swollen. When villagers who were Muslims learned about us, they reached the orchard that belongs to a Muslim man”, Mahendra said.

He continued: “When we shared our story, they assured us for every possible help. The Muslim villagers provided food and water to us. They provided soaps for all of us for bathing”.

“The villagers provided meals to us at night as well as the next morning. They also assured to arrange vehicles to send us to our villages. Meanwhile, the district administration officials reached there that day and asked us to come with them to nearby Doon Ayurvedic Medical College. I am Hindu. I can’t forget the help provided by the Muslim people. I am very thankful to them”, he continued.

“After reaching Ayurvedic Medical College, we spent the night there. The Muslim people had brought food for us the next morning at the college too. We were happy that we can now go to our villages that day. But, the officials later told us that we will be quarantined for the next 14 days. Our medical screening was done there. We spent 14 days under quarantine at the college hostel”, he said.

He continued: “After the quarantine period, the administration arranged vehicles to send us to our respective villages located in different districts. I was asked to station my cycle there and come after lockdown to take it. Finally, I reached my village in district Basti by bus.”

Mahendra used to work in a textile firm at Ludhiana.

“Due to poor financial condition, I had come to Ludhiana in search of a job. Days after the lockdown was imposed, I had no money to eat that’s why I decided to go back village in UP on cycle. I had taken some amount of ‘Dhan Chura’ with me to eat on the way. For the first four days, I ate ‘Dhan Chura’ with water”, he said.

“Now, I am living with a family in my native village. I have not yet thought to return to Ludhiana. I can do labour work at my village too. It is better to stay in the village by eating ‘roti’ with salt. However, some of my belongings are in the room where I was staying in Ludhiana”, he concluded.