| War Widow | | | | him so that he could get an order on that application. |
| My elder brother was in the Indian Army and when our | | | | But I did not agree. |
| forces were advancing Indo-Pak war of 1965 before | | | | After a few days I met the Director of Ayurveda |
| the start of India Pak war of 1965, my brother was | | | | Punjab at his house situated in Patiala city. He was |
| killed in an accident which occurred in the operation | | | | having a talk with some traders of the city. I did not |
| area of Jammu and Kashmir. The widow of my | | | | refer the happenings with the Chief Minister. But he too |
| brother was given some relief and also family pension | | | | was of the view, |
| and the state gave a job of trained -Dai to my Bhabi ji | | | | "She is war widow. We realized it. We have given her |
| too. The Family started going on once again. | | | | a job. Now we cannot assure her one station. She |
| With in the next two years, the Director of Ayurveda | | | | should go wherever we Post her." |
| Punjab passed orders of transfer of Bhabiji to some | | | | When I started talking philosophy on war widows, the |
| village in Ferozepur District. And actually the new | | | | three people sitting in that room also started |
| trained Dai joined the post and Bhabiji was relieved of | | | | participation. They were also supporting the version of |
| her duties. On enquiring we found that this new lady | | | | the Director. I stood up and started putting a volley of |
| was near to Director of Ayurveda Punjab and she | | | | question on them, |
| has been adjusted at the station by way of favour to | | | | "Have you ever sent a son of yours to army? Have |
| her. | | | | you ever seen one son dead in the army while fighting |
| Bhabiji jointed at the new station after availing of | | | | with the enemies? I am the real brother of that fauji |
| jointing time. But I was not accepting this transfer. She | | | | who has sacrificed for the country. This country is |
| had got three small children and it had become very | | | | bound to look after the children left by that fauji" And |
| difficult for her to run the family. So I started having | | | | before I could do something more, I left this room. |
| some approach. One day a man met me who offered | | | | Next day I again went to Chadigarh and approached |
| his help in taking me to the chief minister of Punjab. I | | | | the state minister of Health Punjab. He listened to me |
| should not name that fellow nor I would like to name | | | | and requested me to have a seat in the adjoining |
| the Chief Minister. But somehow we could reach the | | | | room. The peon came and offered me water and |
| chief Minister. I handed over the application to the chief | | | | then tea. within half an hour the Director was passing |
| Minister and also spoke some words saying that my | | | | through the doors of that room where I was sitting. |
| Bhabiji is war widow and she must be given some | | | | The Minister talked to him and then I was called to the |
| station near to Patiala or Patiala proper so that she | | | | minister's room. The Director beg my pardon and in my |
| could bring up three children. The chief Minister was | | | | presence the minister directed him. |
| holding the application and said, | | | | "Tomorrow you should send government jeep to bring |
| -"I am the Chief Minister of the State. I have got other | | | | her back. The lady who has been adjusted at her old |
| important works. I am not here to look into transfer | | | | place should be given some other station. She must |
| cases of Dais who are just class four employees of | | | | report tomorrow and after completing the work, |
| the state." Then the chief Minister had a look on the | | | | please do report to me. We must understand that her |
| man who had brought me to this room. Then the Chief | | | | husband sacrificed his life while serving the Indian |
| Minister was giving the application to the Private | | | | armed forces and thereafter, this family belongs to the |
| Secretary. But I took the application from the hand of | | | | country and this country must afford all help to this |
| Chief Minister and said, | | | | family." |
| - "I am sorry to trouble you. I simply thought that my | | | | I thanked the minister and was coming out. The peon |
| Bhabiji is a war widow and therefore, in spite of her | | | | was following me and said, |
| having a class four status in the administration, she | | | | "This minister is also an Ex-serviceman. I am also an |
| stands at a different footing." And without listening to | | | | Ex-serviceman. Only an Ex-serviceman could |
| further words from the mouth of the Chief Minister I | | | | understand the situation and wellbeing of the families |
| came back with the application. | | | | of faujis……." |
| The man supporting me was not happy and was | | | | I shook hands with him and came out of the Civil |
| insisting upon that I should hand over the application to | | | | Secretariat. |