My Friendship with Faruqi.

Written By Dr. Sanat Trivedi

His name was Faruqi. I first time met him at John Hopkins school of public health, Baltimore. In 1976 I was awarded W.H.O. fellowship to study compressive health planning at John Hopkins school of public health. That was my first trip to U.S.A. Number of my doctor friends had settled in U.S.A. I had heard numerous exciting stories of the culture and luxurious life of U.S.A. so I was very much excited with the idea of visiting U.S.A. My study was to start from third week of January, so started my journey on 17 th of January. I reached Washington on next day, and stayed at my friends house at north verginia for two days. There was heavy snow fall during my stay at verginia. On third day my friend dropped me at Washington in his car. From there I started my journey in grey-hound bus, and reached Baltimore around 2.00pm. I was allotted single room in the reeds international hostel on ninth floor. By the time I adjusted my luggage it was 4.00 pm. The room was small. There was one single bed, writing table, chair and small cupboard for keeping my books and clothes. There was no bed sheet, no pillow, no blanket, and no curtains for the window. Those accessories were not provided. It means I had to purchase it from the market. I had no lunch so I was feeling hungry. I thought of taking lunch, but I did not know the place from where I could get some food. I went to the ground floor. There were some automatic machines having certain food items, but I did not know how to operate those machines. I thought of going outside to get my food. I left the hostel building and went out side. Being complete stranger I could not find any restaurant or food shop. I returned to the hostel without eating anything. There was nobody in the building with whom I could share my problems. So my first night was without food. I could not get good sleep because of hunger and existing problems. I got early in the morning. I went to toilet for finishing my morning routine. It was common toilet for inhabitants of that floor. Some of the students were brushing their teeth, while some were taking bath. To my surprise those who were taking bath were totally naked. I had no experience of taking bath in public without clothes. Some how I manage to finish my daily morning routine.

I was physically and mentally tired and exhausted. I had not taken any food for last 24 hours. I had not slept well. First time in my life I was away from my relatives. The room was not comfortable. There were lots of problems for settling in that new surroundings and new culture. My sweet dreams regarding rosy picture of U.S.A. was crushed. At 9.00 am I thought for going to main school building to attend my lectures. I locked my room and entered in the lift for going to ground floor. Lift stopped at eighth floor, and one Asian entered in the lift. He was of medium height, and moderately built. He looked at me and asked me, Are you from India? I said yes, but how do you know that I am from India?. I read the information on the notice board and knew that some Indian doctors are going to join the institution in this semester he replied. I am Faruqi and I am here for my doctorate study in health statistics. He introduce himself. I am Dr. Sanat Trivedi, and came here to study compressive health planning. I formerly introduced myself. From which country you have come? I inquired. From Karachi-Pakistan he replied. I was little disappointed to know that he was from Pakistan. India and Pakistan had no friendly relationship. As such there was war between India and Pakistan in 1971. As a common citizen of India I was not having good feeling for Pakistan. By the time we reached to the ground floor, he casually asked me. Have you settled comfortably in this new surrounding? I could not reply. He realized that some thing was wrong. He took me to the coffee shop and ordered good hot coffee for both of us. On coffee table I told him everything regarding my problems and troubles. I also told him that I have come to U.S.A with great hopes and expectations. But I am totally disappointed. I am worried that how I will spend my next six months over here? He realized and did understand my problems and my mental attitude. He told me that there was nothing to worry. It usually happened with each foreigner who first time visits new country. The person gets accustomed to new environment within short time. And every thing gets settled. He was silent for some time and then he said, Let us go to the market, I will help you shopping the articles for you, which you required for your routine use.

That day was not holiday. Going to the market on the working day means loosing some important lectures. One can not afford to loose some important lectures, especially when the person is studying for his degree of PHD. I told same thing to Faruqi. He told me not to worry about his loosing lectures. I agreed, and we both went to the down town. He took me to various shopping places. He helped me to purchase necessary items. He also took me to some Indian restaurant, where I had good and satisfactory meal. For whole day we moved together. He showed me various important places. He also showed me some good and reasonable food shops, from where I could purchase food and drink for my daily meals. By tha end of the day, I was totally relieved from my worries. On that day I had sound sleep. Now I had settled in new environment. Mentally and physically I was conditioned to coop with new culture and surrounding. Faruqi was my first friend in John Hopkins institution. Days passed. During my stay at that school, I had more friends and contacts. Some of them were Indians; some were Americans, some from Egypt and two from Bangladesh. It was my routine to meet Faruqi every day in the evening. We used to discuss various subjects, but we had never discussed politics or subject on Indo-Pak relation. In the weekend together we used to go to the city down town, used to visit various places, and used to spend over weekend together. One fine day I was in room, reading my books. Those two doctors from Bangladesh came to my room. We had our coffee. They had come to room for discussing certain points related to public health. I was narrating them my field experience. From that point some how the subject of talk drifted to 1971 Indo-Pak war. Then suddenly one of the doctors told me, you are good friend of Faruqi, but do you know that he had been to Indian jail for more than one year?. I was surprised and shocked to have such information. I was not ready to believe that statement. It is hardly believable that a nice person like Faruqi can be in Indian jail. I refused to believe that information. But those two doctors told me that it was fact. The information created turmoil in my mind. I was disturbed. Number of queries had irrupted on my mental screen. I was puzzled. I decided to talk with Faruqi to know real fact. Next day in the evening I went to Faruqis room. As usual we had coffee. Then I asked him directly, Faruqi, were you in Indian jail?

I was hopping to hear no from his mouth. But surprisingly he said yes. How come, you were prisoner in India? I asked . I was prisoner of war. He replied. Were you Prisoner of war? Were you in the army of Pakistan?. I was getting more and more surprises. As such he had never informed me that he served Pakistan army. No, I was not in the army any time in my life. That was his reply. I was very curious to know the facts about the past life of Faruqi. Finally he told me his real story. Let us listen his story in his own words. I was working as statistician. I was sent to Dhaka [capital of Bangla desh] to collect certain important data regarding community health. I stayed in one of the hotel of Dhaka. But unfortunately war broke during that time between India and Pakistan.I tried to return to Karachi, but I could not get the flight, because all the civil air services were suspended because of war. At the end of the war, Indian army entered Dhaka. I was arrested along with other Pakistani visitors. We were taken to army prison. I stayed there for more than year. And at the end along with other prisoners of war, I was relieved. I was relieved. But shocked to listen his story. As such he was not at fault; he was the victim of unfavorable circumstances. That incidence had happened, just after his marriage. I could imagine the mental turmoil and frustration of the person, who has to live in the jail, just after his marriage, without his fault. I tried to put myself in the same circumstances. I realized that if I would have been in the enemy jail, how much hatred I would have created for that nation. I asked him. Faruqi, tell me very frankly, did such incidence created any feeling of hatred for India, and each Indian? In spite of such awful incidence, in spite your personal harassment by my nation, you helped me on my first day in Baltimore. Not only that you have maintained very good friendly relationship with one Indian, whose country has put you in jail without any fault, and kept you away from your family? I added Sanat, were you responsible for that war.? He asked me. No, as such I hate wars. I replied. Then he told me, Sanat, war between two nations are mostly the outcome of the strained political relationship. Wars are declared and fought for various reasons. Most of the time, it is for the purpose of getting power. It is very strange

that one, who takes the decision of the war, never goes to the battle field to fight. He is always in the safe and much secured place. The person, who fights, is the paid soldier. His duty is to fight like machine. In this game the killer does not know who is killed. It may happen that two soldiers of two nations, may go together to enjoy dinner, drink and dance during peace time. But the same two soldiers, at the time of war will ferociously fight with each other. And will try to kill each other. In this game killing other unknown human being is considered as sign of patriotism. Sufferer during the war is common man. This common man suffers as soldier or as a civilian, without any fault of him. He is either killed on the battle ground as a soldier, or as a civilian is deprived of vital necessities of life. In the war losers are common man, and beneficiaries are leaders. Let us not waste our time in discussing the philosophy of war. If I had been jailed, it was my misfortune. So stop thinking about the same. Let us go to some caf and have nice dinner I was astounded with his reaction. I could perceive enormity of his heart. I perceived deep understanding of noble person. We remain good friend till I was in Baltimore. The day I left Baltimore, I felt deeply in my heart, that I was departing from one of my very good friend. I left my friend on that day, but not the friendship.