An Indian woman in her 90s recently made a trip back to Rawalpindi, where she grew up but had to leave when she was only 15 years old because of division. Reena Verma finally arrived at the Wagah-Attari border on Saturday after waiting for 75 years (July 16).
Verma left for Rawalpindi as soon as she got in Pakistan, driving with tears in her eyes to go see her home in Prem Nivas.
“I am beyond thrilled. All my life I dreamed of this. I wanted to return to my home, the street,” she said while talking to an Indian news media outlet.
“Ever since I received the visa, or since I applied for the visa, those memories are returning of my family…of everyone,” she added.
In early 2022, she joined a Facebook group called the India-Pakistan Heritage Club and wrote a post declaring her desire to find her ancestral home.
“Mr Sajaad Husaain from the group told me that if I tell him where my house used to be, he will find it. And finding my house was not difficult at all because it is surrounded by a lot of landmark buildings. I explained to him clearly and he located my house and sent me pictures.”
She quickly submitted an application, but it was rejected in March 2022. But she didn’t give up.
In May of this year, the 90-year-old was granted a three-month visa by the Pakistani High Commission.
[…] 90-year-old Indian woman visits her home in Pakistan after 75 years […]