Kamani
You are nice and kind hearted person, sometimes you remind me of my daughter.Your dad must be proud to have a daughter like you.
You know why I told you about my life story?
It is for you and others to understand that people are not the same everywhere and each person have their own experinces in life and that makes them speciall.
I have never experinced any war not even the civil war that taking place in Sri lanka. I had a peaceful mind when
I left Sri lanka to India to go overland all theway to Europe, My goal was to reach there and eventually I did that, but I had to suffer a lot through my jorney.I never took any direct flights to Europe to the other continents, All I could do is to take a a direct flight to Madras by Air Ceylon From the Katunayake International Airport.
I still remember the air craft, which was the one and only little Trident passanger Jet Air Ceylon had at that time,Captained by Ravi Jayawardene( Former President J.R's son).
I had only 50 US dollars in my pocket which I bought in black market at Baily street, Fort. I took some beetle leaves and Sri lankan Tea ( which had a high demand in Pakistan)with me to sell in Pakistan to get little extra money.
When I left the Indian-Pakistan boarder in Lahore, the Pakistani soldiers stoped me. I was warned by the Indian boarder guards that Pakistani army would stop me because I had a hindu name, Pakistanis hated other relegeions especillay hindus.I told the Indian army that I am a Sri lankan and we are not in war with the Pakistanis, but you Indians.
Indian army said it does'nt matter for the Pakistani if you are a Sri lankan or any other nationality as long as you are not a muslim, they only let Muslims to pass through.
But I took my chances and reached the Paksitani boarder in Lahore(Punjab distikt). Pakistani army harrased me for being hindu and they even said that the Buddists in Sri lanka are iltreating the Muslims of Sri lanka.
All I said was that I am not in to any politics or relegeion issues, for me any relegeion or any ethnic group is the same, I treat equally like my brothers and sisters so please let me pass through Pakistan to reach Europe.They wanted money, I said I have some sri lankan Beetle leaves and Sri lankan Tea with this I had to bribe them to let me in to Pakistan,I stayed in Lahore for 2 days and took the bus to reach the Afgan boarder, I had some difficulties in Afganistan too. After 2 days of stay moved to Iran, I never had any difficulties in Iran. 10 days in Iran then to Ankara, and Isatnbul.7 dyas in Istanbul to get visa to Bulgaria,Yugoslavia, Austria,.
From Austria hitch hiked to Germany, those days Sri lankan not needed any visa to enter Germany,we were granted 3 months visa at the boarder. I stayed in Germany for more than 2 months and proceeded to Switzerland stayed a month in Switzerland and went to Italy and France. I have hitch hiked all through in Europe and eventually I ended up in Sweden.I suffered a lot in my life,I suffered a lot in my life, there were times I did not have anything to eat, I have slept in Parks under the bridges to avoid been seen by the police. I used to cry in my sleepless nights thinking about my parents, brother and sisters whom I left behind in Sri Lanka. But I was stubborn to fulfil my only goal to reach Europe to achieve that I have been in dreaming in my youth days. My children are aware of sufferings, I used to tell them the stories about my long journey, and they have even cried thinking their father has suffered a lot. I wanted to give my children everything that I did not have when I was in Sri lanka.
My children admire my courage and stubbornness, they always said Dad we would not let you down, you will be proud of us one day, this they said to me 17years ago. And they kept their word by making me proud of what they are today.
Well, Kamani I could tell you more of me, but I am not going to bore you out.
I wish all the best in what ever you want to achieve, do not give up!
Love & regards
Thilagam |
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