Singh, who was working with Maruti at the time, was asked to return to Punjab by his father after the riots broke out
Riots have always affected lives for the worse. Whether it's the 2002 riots, 1992 riots or the 1984 riots, people have lost family members, homes, and some still struggle to rebuild their lives.
Take the case of Devender Singh, a 62-year-old Sikh driver, who returned to New Delhi 33 years after the 1984 Sikh riots after the death of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Gandhi was shot dead by her Sikh bodyguards, soon after Operation Blue Star. The riots that ensued resulted in Sikhs being targeted in Delhi-allegedly by Congress leaders and workers.
Singh, who was working with Maruti at the time, was asked to return to Punjab by his father. After a hiatus of 23 long years, Singh returned to the capital only 10 days ago to earn some extra money for his family. While speaking to senior journalist Prashant Jha, who has shared the story on Facebook, Singh said he still had two daughters to marry, and his wife's medical bills to take care of.
Jha in his Facebook wrote that the conversation happened after Singh was sent to pick him up to drive from New Delhi to Noida. Singh informed Jha that he did not know the way and at one point got lost when Jha was distracted on his phone. The same thing happened on the return journey, when Jha lost his temper.
The elderly Sikh then shared his story. He said, "If I had not gone back, I would have been a middle level employee in some automobile company."
He was earning about 6000 a month, had four daughters, out of whom he had got three married but one had a troubled marriage and was now back home. But the money was not enough; opportunities had dried up as he began getting older. He still had two daughters to marry, and his wife's medical bills to take care of.
"At the age of 62, 10 days ago, he shifted to Delhi - and was starting a fresh career," writes Jha.
Singh added that he does not recognise the Delhi from 1984 and 2017. "84 main road aise nahin the, flyover nahin the, yeh tu nayi shahar hai ab. Isliye dikkat hai."
Singh's story is one of how futile riots are and how badly it affects the life of common citizens.
Read the heart breaking post here.
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