Nowadays, the trend of going abroad among the youth of Punjab is increasing day by day, triggering a blind race for migration from lakhs of homes. In the pursuit of a better future and golden dreams today, many young people choose such illegal and dangerous paths where there is very little difference between life and death. A young man from Punjab, who reached America through the illegal method, i.e., the ‘Dunki’ (Donkey) route, shared the painful journey of his life and the ground reality, advising the youth to avoid this dangerous path.
A Dangerous Journey of Four Months
He shares that his journey started on December 16, 2022, and after struggling for about four months, he entered America in April 2023. According to him, there are many ‘Dunki’ routes, involving being taken to Mexico via Europe, Dubai, or other countries. He had to stay in Dubai for about a month and was then finally brought to Mexico after passing through countries like Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, and Brazil, from where they entered the American border by jumping the wall.
The Boat of Death and the Panama Jungle
Recalling the difficult moments of the journey, he shared that it started with airplanes, but later they had to travel continuously for eight hours at a stretch in buses and small vehicles without stopping. The most dangerous turn during this came when 20-25 people were made to sit in a small boat to cross a river at midnight. Because it was a border area, there was a constant threat of gunfire at every moment, alongside a strict ban on using phones, and pitch darkness spread all around.
After crossing the river, the dangerous jungle of Panama started. He says that people from different countries were walking together in the jungle. At 5 in the morning, they had to carry their tents on their shoulders and walk on foot. They faced food and drink shortages on the way. To protect themselves from wild insects and mosquitoes, they would rub ointments on their bodies and sleep in the tents. Due to continuous walking, they had to throw their clothes in the jungle to reduce their burden and eventually had to spend many days surviving only on roasted chickpeas, almonds, and biscuits.
Suffocating Under a Tarpaulin
After crossing the jungle, the journey through Mexico became even more unbearable. He shared that 5-10 people would be seated in the back of small pickup trucks and covered with a tarpaulin from above. In the terrible heat of Mexico, even breathing under the tarpaulin became difficult, and they would try to get fresh air just by lifting a corner of the tarp. He says that they never told their parents the truth about the hardships of the journey. To reduce their parents’ anxiety, they kept telling them on the phone that they were traveling on horses and everything was very comfortable.
Dunki: An Expense of Lakhs of Rupees
He mentioned that taking the Dunki route easily costs around 35 to 40 lakh rupees per person. Despite spending so much money and risking one’s life, there is no easy way to become legally permanent after reaching America. He himself is surviving on asylum, because of which he cannot even return to India by his own choice. He says that the initial period in America is very difficult. It is very hard to find work without documents. Often, people take advantage of their helplessness and pay them less or steal their money. He himself remained without work for the first three months and somehow managed to arrange employment later.
Social Media and the Truth of the ‘Sweet Prison’
Talking about the glitz and glamour of social media, he said that the life abroad shown on the internet is mostly a show-off. According to him, life abroad is like a “sweet prison,” where one gets comforts and a clean lifestyle, but in reality, a sense of belonging is completely missing.
Apart from this, he shared that every day there is only the worry of work and bills. One has to go to work despite being sick or tired and then come home and cook food oneself. Not only this, for those who do not have a car, half of their time is spent traveling in buses. On the other hand, in Punjab, there is the support of parents and the warmth of home, whereas here, one has to endure all kinds of mental stress entirely alone.
Valuing Family and Punjabiyat
Getting emotional, he said that he misses his village, friends, parents, and the moments spent in those streets every single day. In Punjab, if someone needs help, people immediately stand up for them, but abroad, everyone remains confined to their own interests. Heavy rent has to be paid for accommodation, and many people have to survive in tiny rooms. He believes that even though speaking English has become a compulsion on foreign soil, the peace of mind one gets by speaking their mother tongue Punjabi is unparalleled.
Special Advice for the Youth
He advises the youth of Punjab to never make the mistake of going abroad via the Dunki route. He says that if you must go abroad, go on a study visa or through legal means, so that when needed, you can return home to share in the joys and sorrows of your family. He further added that if the youth got good jobs or business opportunities within Punjab itself, no one would need to leave their home and suffer hardships in foreign countries. Finally, he states that Punjab is above all foreign lands, and its peace cannot be found in any other country in the world.
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