Wife of racial attack victim scared to go to US

AHMEDABAD: Shakuntala — wife of 57-year-old Suresh Patel who was hospitalized with partial paralysis after a racial attack by policemen in Madison City, Alabama — says she is feeling helpless in Kheda even as her husband battles for life in the US. Suresh Patel was accosted and thrown to ground by the Madison City police after someone reported a suspicious character in the neighborhood.
Shakuntala is a resident of Pij village in Kheda where almost every house has a son or daughter in the US. She was supposed to accompany Suresh on this trip but could not go as she was found to be medically unfit. She is supposed to leave after a month-and-half but is already feeling the jitters.
“If this is what awaits people like us, I am scared to go there. When did going out for an innocuous morning walk become a crime that people have started reporting this to the police? I have been able to speak to my son only once after the incident. I hope and pray that my husband’s condition stabilises,” said Shakuntala.
Her relatives say Suresh Patel had studied only till class 4 and, hence, was not fluent in English. Shakuntala is SSC pass. This is the second tragedy for Shakuntala who lost her younger son to illness.
The couple, who own one bigha land in the village, apparently had worked hard to be able to send their son Chirag to the US for higher studies. He had done his diploma engineering in Gujarat. Chirag later married a US citizen settled in Albama. They have a 17-month-old son.
Suresh’s nephew, Dakshesh Patel, said her aunt has been crying ever since she learnt of the attack on Suresh.
“Shakuntala aunty has been crying ever since the news broke on February 6. We have brought her with us to share her pain but the incident has left an adverse impression on the minds of all elderly people who look forward to going to the US to be able to spend some time with their children settled there. These elderly people are simple villagers who mean no harm. In fact, they are scared to go to US as they cannot speak English,” said Dakshesh.