I always thought, what is the difference, whether my surname reads 'Sharma', 'Verma', 'Thakur', 'Kaundal' or 'Kohli'. As, I was also born with one such surname, today I realize that this is the only thing that distances, distinguishes, creates boundaries in the minds of people. In the whole history of India it has been by far the single largest obstacle to equality, love, brotherhood and togetherness of Indian society. Even today it still comes back to haunt us. Today, question to be asked from young generations, is it worth fighting that your name bears one such surname.
A few days ago, I met my school time buddy named Bhawna on net, and social networking group Orkut became the media to search each-other. After finding that somebody named 'Bhawana........' has visited my profile, I visited her's profile. Later I found that she had scrapped me asking whether i have visited Arki, a small town in Himachal Pradesh. I replied that I had been to Arki a few months ago, that too after a long time, but I have studied at Doomehar a nearby town during my childhood.
This was same place where we both (me and Bhawana) have spend our early childhood, studing in class (standard) Ist and IInd. This information acted as a password that I had entered, in her scrapbook, in my reply to her question, whether I had visited Arki or not? She confirmed it with asking that whether I am the same 'Chunnu', obviously my nick name. I asked her whether she is same 'billi ki jaisi aanko wali (cat eyed) Bhanu', both answers replied in affirmative.
Today, I feel that how wonderful it would be if we were the same 'Chunnu' and 'Bhanu'. For whom it doesn't mattered what our last name reads. But what was important to us was to study, play and enjoy our childhood togather, But now a lot waters has passed below the bridges. Now, unlike that childhood memories both of us have our surnames, whether 'Sharma' or 'Verma'.
