Around 1,500 residents, who migrated from the Sindh province over the last decade on long-term visas (LTVs) seeking safety and stability in India, have been praying that nothing takes away the modest but peaceful lives they have built for themselves here.
These families reside in localities such as Indiranagar, Sainnagar, Sanskarnagar and nearby areas that fall under the Lakhwad panchayat.
Most of them belong to the Thakor and Thakkar Lohana communities and place a lot of faith in their adopted country’s capacity for compassion.
Ramsinh Thakor, 67, a daily wage farm labourer, lives in Indiranagar with his family of seven. Originally from Tando Allahyar in Sindh, he says the decision to move to India was driven by threats and discrimination. “We were minorities and that too from the socially and economically weaker sections. We had no protection. Any disagreement would bring harm to our families. When we heard about others who had found safety in India after the 1971 war, we decided to come here,” said Ramsinh.
He said they arrived in Gujarat in 2018 on long-term visas, optimistic that they would eventually get Indian citizenship. “We were promised citizenship but are still waiting for it. We are optimistic that the Indian govt will continue to see our situation with kindness and let us live in what has become our true home.”
Another resident, Manoj Thakor from Tharparkar, said, “We left Pakistan for a better life in India. Here, we have found community and peace. We earn our living through honest labour and have the highest regard for the law of the land. We trust the Indian govt will continue to treat us with compassion.”
The faith of the community appears not to be misplaced as the police authorities, while following govt directives, have reassured them that no immediate action will be taken against those with valid documentation. A senior Mehsana police official said, “We do understand their situation. No coercive action will be taken against them.”