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| Sarabjit's sister sending Rakhi to Pakistan President | | |
Amritsar: With her moist eyes reflecting a sister's longing for her brother's return, Dalbir Kaur, the sister of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian facing the gallows in a Pakistani jail, is sending a Rakhi to the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.
Rakhi, a scared thread tied around the brother's hand by sisters, is an affectionate gesture of a Hindu sister for her brother.
"I am sending Rakhi to my brother this year like every year. I have been sending Rakhi to Pakistan for years not only for Sarabjit but for all other Indian prisoners who are in Pakistani jail along with my brother. This year I am sending a Rakhi for President Musharraf as well so that he can understand my feelings and emotions and release my brother before the next Raksha-Bandhan," said Dalbir Kaur, sister of Sarabjit Singh imprisoned in Pakistani jail.
Sarabjit's daughter Poonam, who grew up watching the photograph of her father, has also urged Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf to release her father and other Indian prisoners in Pakistani jails.
"We are sending a Rakhi for all the Indian prisoners in the Pakistani jail. My Aunt is also sending a Rakhi for President Musharraf so that he can understand our feelings and release my father and all the Indians in Pakistani jail as soon as possible," said Poonam, daughter of Sarabjit Singh.
Sarabjit Singh, a resident of border town of Bhikhiwind in Punjab, had reportedly crossed over the border into Pakistan in inebriated condition on August 30, 1990 at the Kasur border and was arrested by Pakistani Rangers.
Pakistan police allegedly implicated him in a serial bomb blast case on the mistaken identity of one Manjit Singh.
An anti-terrorism court of Punjab, Pakistan in 1991 had awarded him death sentence on five counts, which was upheld by the Lahore High Court. He then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, which also upheld the death penalty.
At present Sarabjit's mercy petition is pending before the President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.
The oldest reference to the festival of Rakhi goes back to 300 B.C when Alexander invaded India. It is said that the great conqueror, King Alexander of Macedonia was shaken by the fury of the King Puru in his first attempt. Upset by this, Alexander's wife, who had heard of the Rakhi festival, approached King Puru. The King accepted her as his sister and when the opportunity came during the war, he refrained from attacking Alexander.
Another famous legend is about Karnawati and Emperor Humayun. When Rani Karnawati the widowed queen of the King of Chittor realised that she could in no way defend the invasion of the Sultan of Gujarat, Bahadur Shah, she sent a Rakhi to Emperor Humayun. The Emperor touched by the gesture started off with his troops to help her newly found sister in trouble.
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