Home is where the heart is. Reema Varma left her home in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi as a 15-year old in 1947 amid the fear of communal riots. Reena and her siblings were off to Himachal’s Solan for an extended summer vacation. Their mother joined them later. The family hoped to return to Rawalpindi soon; however, the India-Pakistan partition changed everything. Reena, now a 90-year-old, will finally be able to visit her old home in Pakistan, Rawalpindi’s Prem Gali, named after her father, as reported by TOI.
Reena’s Home in Pakistan – Rawalpindi’s Prem Gali
Reena dreams of seeing her childhood home and visiting Prem Gali, where everyone addressed her as Toshi (nickname). Reena posted pictures of her Pakistan home two years ago during the pandemic. Following this, a Sajjad Bhai from Pakistan’s Rawalpindi searched for her place and finally tracked it down for her. He even took pictures of the home and sent her a video.
Reena’s daughter, Sonali, who lives in Gurgaon, tried helping her mom by applying for her Pakistan visa so that she could visit the place. But, Reena’s visa did not get approved. Finally, however, Reena decided to give it another shot on the advice of a Pakistan journalist who suggested she make a video. As a result, her case came to the notice of Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hina Rabbani Khar.
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She Recieved A 90-Day Visa
Reena finally was issued a 90-day visa so that she could visit her home in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi. She plans to visit her home in July and wonders if she can see her home. She expressed her excitement to visit her other online connections of the India Pakistan Heritage Club. Her memories of Prem Gali sit vividly in her memories.
The partition gave her parents a hard time, who had to leave their property in Pakistan and settle down in Delhi. Her parents could not get land and lived on rent their entire lives. Despite these significant changes in her life, Reena holds no grudges and only feels love and nostalgia for what she had to leave behind in Pakistan.
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Reena’s Solo Trip To Pakistan’s Rawalpindi
Reena also shares pictures of what they got from Rawalpindi, an urn for storing pickles and a brass pitcher. She speaks of how life, losing her husband due to paralysis and all the changes that came long. Reena is excited about her solo trip and feels safe. After all, Rawalpindi is her home.
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