Someone I Care For…

A brave refugee, a widow at 38 and an amazing chef! These words describe a person that unquestionably inspires me and sticks in my mind…my grandmother, Dr Maneesha Patel. I have many fond memories of spending time with her, eating her mouth-watering food, laughing and sharing stories about her very colourful life.

One night when she came to say goodnight to me, as she often does, she sat beside me and shared a story that I will never forget. It was her story of being a refugee, a story of how she escaped from a horrible dictator named Idi Amin. It was quite an elaborate story, but here is a brief summation of it:

My grandparents both worked as doctors in Uganda helping the African community.

In 1972, Idi Amin demanded that all Asians, Europeans and Indians leave the country otherwise they would be killed. As my grandmother recalled the memories her hand that was resting on my arm started to tremble. She had a slight quiver in her voice when she explained how she had to hide under the table when Idi Amin’s soldiers burst into her surgery, shooting everyone in sight.

(I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It sounded like a Bollywood movie.)

My grandparents had to flee the country immediately. No time to get their belongings. Just leave with the clothes on their backs and their four young children. One of whom was my mother.

On the way to the airport the Ugandan soldiers stopped them. I was excited to hear more of her story yet I was petrified of what was to come next. My mother’s family was taken to a holding cell. I was astounded at what I was hearing, my mother had been in a cell! After much negotiating and pleading from my grandparents the soldiers came to an agreement. My grandparents had to help some injured soldiers in exchange for their lives. They didn’t know if the soldiers would hold up to their end of the deal but what choice did they have? My grandmother was holding back her tears as she continued. To my relief they were released after a few days. They fled Uganda. My grandparents wanted to get far away as possible from Idi Amin. They landed up in Australia, in a small country town where my grandmother worked as a general practitioner for 33 years.

This is just one of very dynamic life stories my grandmother has shared with me, but I’m sure you would agree this one is unforgettable.

After hearing such an emotive story, it really made me think about the world around me and the struggles people have to go through. It made me appreciate the life I have.

Adi Apana – Year 6B