In a heartwarming event at the Kartarpur corridor, a Pakistani woman was finally reunited with her Indian brother after an emotional separation of 74 years, transcending the historical partition. The touching reunion took place between Sakina Bi, a 74-year-old resident of Gurdas village in Pakistan’s Sheikhupura, and her brother Gurmail Singh Grewal, amidst tears of joy and an overwhelming sense of long-lost kinship.
Sakina Bi had embarked on a lifelong quest to locate her brother after discovering a poignant letter he had written to their mother in 1961. The reunion, facilitated by Nasir Dhillon, a Pakistani YouTuber with a mission to bridge the gap among families divided by Partition, was made possible through his “Punjabi Lehar” project. Dhillon’s efforts came to fruition when he shared Sakina’s emotional plea for her lost brother in a video last year. This video caught the attention of Jagtar Singh, the sarpanch of Jassowal Sudan village in Ludhiana, who confirmed Gurmail Singh’s presence in his village.
The story of separation traces its origins to the Partition era, when Sakina’s mother, Karmate Bi, was abducted from Ludhiana’s Nurpur village while the rest of the family migrated to Pakistan. The governments of both nations later agreed to aid in reuniting the families torn apart by this tumultuous period. According to Sakina, her father was taken to India by the police in an attempt to bring back her mother, only to discover that she had remarried a Sikh man. During the journey, Karmate Bi mentioned that her son, Gurmail, was playing outside and was inadvertently left behind when the police returned with her. This heart-wrenching incident was revealed to Sakina by her father, who preserved her brother’s photograph and the letter he had sent to their mother, scribed by someone in the village.
After reaching out to Punjabi Lehar, Sakina’s story was documented and shared online, paving the way for their long-awaited reunion. When the momentous occasion arrived, emotions overwhelmed Gurmail as he met his sister after all those years. Their embrace was an outpouring of joy and tears, symbolizing the profound bond of family. Gurmail, displaying a wisdom that comes with age, encouraged his sister to celebrate and rejoice in this newfound togetherness.
The reunion was not only marked by their emotional connection but also by an exchange of thoughtful gifts, embodying the essence of their sibling bond. Gurmail had brought special biscuits from his village as a gesture of affection, while Sakina gifted her brother a watch and a silver rakhi, representing the everlasting tie of siblinghood.
Sakina arrived at the Kartarpur corridor with a warm reception party of 16 family members, including her children and their families. Nasir Dhillon, who played a pivotal role in this heartening reunion, highlighted that he covered the corridor fee of Rs 400 for Sakina’s family. This event serves as a testament to the enduring power of love, hope, and the unbreakable spirit of kinship, transcending the barriers of time and borders.
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