1971: Prisoners of War Page #2

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'We tolerated this pain, so we are alive.'

'Those who couldn't tolerate it, they went to barrack No.7.'

'They are labeled as insane.'

Why did India forget us? We don't know.

Why does Pakistan want to forget us? We don't know.

'Well, there is no better support than hope to stay alive.'

'I too am surviving on hope.'

Sometimes... we meet our kin.

'But hope does not mean to remain idle.'

'I will be waiting for tomorrow, once again.'

Greetings brother! - Greetings!

I am Ahmed. Subedar Ahmed. I was just strolling...

...saw you and thought I should talk to you.

It nothing. Just like that. - It's ok.

Have a meat roll - No, thank you.

Have it! Have at least one! - Hey, they are hot.

Where did you get them from?

From Mansira. - You must be tired. 49 hours journey...

No, it took just took 9 hours.

Sir, yes! Chess!

What did you know? - Mansira, 9 hours from here, sir!

And the jeep belongs to Islamabad, sir.

There no big station out here. Does anyone know? - I

remember, sir.

There is a small area, here. - Sure. - Yes, sir!

Mansira was here. - Right sir!

If we start north from Islamabad, then...

...where do we reach. Mansira is here and we are here!

Right in the east of Abudabad. - Right sir!

We cannot be to the west of Abudabad...

...because there are mountains all around. - You are right.

If you go towards east from here after about 40-45 kms...

...we are at Muzafarabad. And after about 100 kms to the

east...

...we have Baramulla and then Puri, which is our India!

Oh! We are so close to the border!

Absolute nonsense!

You are talking of the impossible!

Ajob is possible only if it is attempted.

This thing does not fall in that category.

You want to cross the border by deceiving...

...a country's whole military and their intelligence?

That too without a passport and without documents.

First of all the question is of escaping from here, sir.

I am not thinking of that question at all, major.

Because there is no solution to it.

Solutions are found if you search for them, sir.

We will not get such a chance to stay together near the

border.

Nor a chance to die together!

But sir, what is the guarantee that we will reach India alive.

When officers are talking don't interrupt!

Sorry sir!

Captain! - Sir!

There is a difference to stay close to the border...

...and to cross the border.

This is not a movie scene which is going on.

Then what should we do? Should we sit idle?

Why? We can wait for the repatriation.

We have been waiting for the past 6 years, sir.

The repatriation has not happened as yet.

Repatriation is a big thing, Captain.

To return so many prisoners is not a small thing. It takes

time.

And that time should make us insane.

Major, everyone knows that we are here.

Every newspaper has this news.

Red Cross Society and all the international agencies...

...know this news that according to the Geneva Convention...

...it is an international law...

...to return all the prisoners after the war ends.

And no country breaks this law easily!

What will you say about...

...the 6 years which we spent...

...according to the Geneva Convention?

Yes. So. The change is before your eyes.

Seeing this camp don't you think that they have realized it.

This is exactly my question, sir...

...that isn't this sudden realization in itself a shocking

matter?

Bringing us from different jails and keeping us together...

...and that too near the border, don't you smell a plan in this?

This was the last jail to be examined.

Now what do you say? - You speak, Anuradha.

But the letter was sent from Pakistan, isn't it?

It is clearly written in it that we are alive...

...and are held captive in jails of Pakistan

And I can very well recognize my husband's handwriting.

Look you have taken pains to come here from Delhi.

Even the Red Cross has come so far on your insistence.

Every jail has been examined before you.

As the head of the Pakistan Human Rights Commission...

...I assure you that no Indian soldier of the 1971 war...

...are here.

Now what should we do!?

Thank you colonel. You took lot of trouble.

It is not the question of trouble. This was my duty.

There are some formalities to be completed.

Just sign these papers. - What is written in them?

It is written that you are satisfied with your inspection...

...and that after inspection you have found...

...that there is no prisoner of the 1971 war.

What do you say, sir?

Alright.

This cannot happen! He is alive!

He is alive! I will not believe!

What has happened?

This cannot happen!

Sir, your idea was successful! We sent the entire PoW's...

...from different jails together to Chaklala.

Or else even if a single one would have been seen...

...by the Red Cross...

...then it would be very shameful for the country.

They have signed the papers.

But we have to be careful that until the Red Cross...

...is in Pakistan there should not be any chaos...

...in the Chaklala camp, sir.

I will take care of that.

You start preparing to proceed to the Chaklala camp.

Very well sir.

I prepared the Kashmir's steamed potato many times.

Where is your partner? - Sir, he is inside teaching how to

cook.

Should I call him? Just wait! Hey, pal! - Yes!

Come!

What was going on inside? - Nothing sir.

I was teaching them how to prepare Kashmir's steamed

potato.

Now you will feed the Pakistani's with the Kashmir's

steamed potato?

Where am I feeding them, sir? There is only one place,

where...

...my cooking is accepted.

Come sir. Sir, this is the signal room, sir.

All the electricity in the camp is conducted from here.

Even the spare battery is recharged here, sir. - Ok.

Sir, I have purposely fitted it in my office.

So that nobody has any access to it sir.

Good. - Sir, since tonight all the fans will start functioning.

Siren will also be operative, sir.

I mean full proof security, sir.

Very good. - Thank you, sir.

Come colonel, sit. There is a bad news for you.

You are being handed over to India.

What!? - Yes, the procedure has been completed.

Major. - Yes, sir.

This is copy of the repatriation.

And this is the copy for the Red Cross.

Congratulations Colonel! - Thank you, sir!

I had just come to give this news.

And as for the stay at the camp.

Until you are here, be our guest.

But... how did this happen so suddenly?

Look, this does not happen suddenly.

These matters take some time.

Process is going on since many months.

It may take... 2... to 3... months still.

There is a big buffet for you on behalf of Colonel.

And along with it... sir will you say it.

You must have not seen a movie for a long time.

These days there has been a very popular movie.

So we will screen it in the open ground.

I... I cant believe it! - You better believe it, Colonel.

Our nation is not that bad as you think it to be.

Good luck!

Thank you, sir! - No, you keep this with you.

Inform others too. - Alright.

"Lots of happiness has been bestowed."

"That girl is blushing inside her veil."

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