From deportee’s village, one-fourth population abroad

As people headed to the residence of a US deportee at Tahli village in Hoshiarpur, a neighbour was busy bursting crackers as his son’s name was cleared for the coveted Green Card by that country.

Despite the “handcuffed return” of a fellow resident, the villagers’ dream of still making it to foreign shores refuses to die down.

From Tahli village, at least 300 to 400 people have settled abroad. The village currently has a population of around 1,600.

Similarly, at Kapurthala’s Bhadas village, sprawling mansions bear testimony to the exodus abroad.

Bhadas village currently has 5,000 to 6,000 voters as per official records. Over 800 people from the village have settled abroad.

The village sarpanch said even by conservative estimates, no less than 1,000 people from the village have moved abroad over time.

A woman, whose husband is already abroad, and her 10-year-old son were among the US deportees.

The woman deportee’s husband is also in the US.

Tahli village panchayat member Lakhvir Singh said when one of the US deportees, Harwinder Singh, returned home, there was ironically a celebration at a villager’s house as his 18-year-old son had been cleared for the Green Card, which ensures permanent residency in the US.

“The youth had left three to four years ago. Another resident’s 15-year-old son is currently in a detention camp. He may or may not be deported. Many villagers have gone to various places. But the fad of going via the donkey route is the most disturbing,” he said.

Lakhvir, whose own son-in-law is a permanent resident in the US, said, “I sent my daughter and two grandsons to the US last year. But that’s because he’s (son-in-law) a permanent resident. We can’t imagine sending family or going myself through illegal means.”

The recent deportations have once again brought to the fore the perils of travelling abroad illegally. While many continue to try their luck, the deportations, will certainly dissuade many in future now,” he added.

Nishan Singh, sarpanch of Bhadas village, said, “We have seen the village change with the exodus of people. At least three-four families sold land to move abroad. They started incurring huge debts. However, several rags to riches stories have also been witnessed. Those who made it to a foreign country returned to build huge mansions. The recent deportations are heart-breaking and it’s evident they are going to cause much distress in coming times. It’s distressing for those sent back.”