Will relief be permanent? Kin in Kol keep their fingers crossed
Times of India | 11 May 2025
123 Kolkata: The announcement of a ceasefire between India and Pakistan on Saturday evening brought some relief to the city's Punjabi and Rajasthani diaspora. The people of these communities spent almost three sleepless nights in anxiety for their kith and kin living in close proximity to the war zone.Around 5 pm, foreign secretary Vikram Misri confirmed that India agreed to a ceasefire after Pakistan reached out to India.Both countries are set to talk on Monday (May 12), and until then, the military action on both sides of the border would remain suspended. Earlier, US President Donald Trump claimed that New Delhi and Islamabad agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire."This is a great relief given the present situation. My relatives living in Amritsar, Pathankot, and Jalandhar in Punjab literally went through a trauma-like situation because of the ensuing war between the two countries. I was constantly in touch with them ever since the war broke out. They were glued to the TV all the time to keep track of the situation. One of my relatives called me in the evening and informed me about the ceasefire. Till this morning, his voice reflected his panic, while his voice sounded ecstatic a bit. I rang my other relatives, who also heaved a sigh of relief, saying that they would sleep tension-free tonight. We are all looking forward to a permanent resolution," said Bhowanipore resident Saranjitt Singh."We welcome the ceasefire with an open heart. I've always stood for peace and harmony. But let us be clear, and Pakistan must honour it. No indirect or direct instigation for war should be there. Ceasefire only works with mutual respect," said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, a resident of New Alipore and general secretary of Behala Gurudwara, whose relatives live in Amritsar, Patiala, and Srinagar. "All my kin are free of tension and anxiety today, and we are all praying that talks between the two countries reach a resolution on Monday," he added.The ceasefire is a relief for the time being, and uncertainty looms large on the future until the countries come to an amicable agreement, feels Narinder Singh, a Bhowanipore resident whose family members live in Ludhiana and Jammu. "As soon as the news of the ceasefire went viral on social media, my family members expressed joy and relief. But the suspension of firing should continue even after Monday," he said.Similar ecstasy was found in the city's Marwari community after the announcement of the ceasefire in the evening. Sushil Poddar, president of the Confederation of West Bengal Trade Association, said, "My relatives are living at Charu in Rajasthan, and they were in shock and feeling unsafe with missiles flying every now and then, and their neighbour plunged into darkness during blackout. The ceasefire is a relief for them as well as for my family because we were on tenterhooks."Rahul Rungta, a resident of Lake Town, could not believe it when he came to know about the ceasefire. "My relatives live in Baggar, a small town in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. They felt at stake because of the war, having led a life of ‘prisoners' as they confined themselves indoors all the time and faced blackout after sunset. When I heard of the ceasefire, I felt a deep sense of relief. My family members are close to the border, and constant anxiety was also taking a toll on their health. Even if temporary, the suspension of war was needed, and we hope both sides honour the agreement. If they do, I believe de-escalation is possible, and lasting peace can finally take root," he said.