Dhiirrane: The Veteran Who Lost His Mind!!

Authored By: Abdishakur Ali Mohumed (Good Lawyer) and Translated into English by: Rhoda Rageh.

It is midday and the sun is very hot. It is summer and most of the people have gone home to rest.  Sweaty and under severe wear and tear, he came to climb the incline toward Xero Awr and Jigjiga yar provinces in the city of Hargeisa. Sweat is pouring profusely from all over his body.  He can’t speak because he is parched with thirst. His hair is overgrown down his back in thread locks. He is a thin man who is suffering from malnutrition and hard times have both beaten him. He is wearing rag that is severely worn out. He is wearing some rags that neither keeps him clothed nor qualify him as naked. His T-shirt is worn both at the back and at the front. In his lower body, he is wearing an army fatigue that has the right leg missing. He is walking at a fierce speed while talking to himself thus: “God is great. Siad Barre is in the other world and we have freed the country. We have protected the Faith, and we have prospered the people.”   He smiled to himself and said: “But these people give no gratitude – Siad Barre was better for them. Everybody is looking for his pocket and the richer one is the better he is.”

Dhiirrane was the youth who came of age at the time of the height of the liberation movement.  At the age of ten years, he witnessed the independence of Somaliland from the British Protectorate on 26^th June 1960. He was among the youth singing for the celebrations. Although he was young at the time, he was imbued with the love of freedom and nationalism. His father Gulane was among the Somalilanders who have spent their energy and wealth for that independence. Guulane was a selfless freedom fighter.

Dhiirrane grew up with the governments of Somalia. When he finished his secondary school he joined the army and he participated in the Ethiopian Somali territorial war in 1977, where he has sustained some injuries but he returned from the war with all his limbs and faculties intact. He married and got 4 kids from his marriage. Dhirrane was a selfless nationalist. His intense nationalism was attributed to two reasons: a) he grew up at a time of intense liberation movement and fierce nationalism and b) he is from a family of freedom fighters who have supported the independence of Somaliland like his father Guulane.

Dhiirrane saw a country besieged by tribal affiliation and he disappointed general goods for the country subsumed by favoritism and personal issues. The highest government officials mismanaging what was entrusted in them; the poor getting poorer. The women being raped with the country’s heroes killed. Honest people arrested and the men of Faith being slaughtered and kicked around. Children left destitute and the whole country is controlled by tribal groups and those who want to build some kind of monarchy. Where Dhiirrane saw all these atrocities he could not bear it any more. Therefore, he decided to cross the border leaving nothing save Allah for his family and children. After nine months, his family followed him except his youngest daughter who has already succumbed to malaria. Dhiirrane was among the freedom fighters of SNM.  He was one of those freedom fighters who faced the challenge of gorilla in order to save their people from the chains of a blood sucking dictator who ruled Somalia with an iron fist.  He is one of the men who faced the strongest army in Africa without an equal power to fight them. They were few selfless men. They were men whose motive was to liberate or die. They endured difficulty with courage.

Dhiirrane was among the group of fighters who entered the town of Hargeisa in 1990 with a mixture of apprehension and happiness.  He laughed at the destruction to the army of Siad Barre.  He was shocked the destruction that has happened to his home town without a single structure standing, may it be schools, hospitals, offices or private homes. What gave him a lot of grieve on that day many of his freedom fighters friends were there to witness it.  They died. They were the men he fought together with, walked on the long way to freedom together, eaten together. He remembered the conversation he had with some of those men about the happy day they will face but time did not allow them to be here today… His Colleagues …. Friends….Relatives… Brothers… Uncles…or Cousins… His mind recollected many men in a short period of time. He bit his lip in sadness and said to himself: “Freedom! We have given you the life and blood of people.  The best among us died for you.  Oh Allah Have Mercy on all of them.  Amen.”

Dhiirrane continued his national service. He took some chalk and he became one of the first teachers who taught kids for free. Later he joined the first Somaliland Army where he served for many years. For many years he hoped the disabled war veterans and the orphans of the SNM will be taken care of but he was disappointed. What adds to his grieve was the cost of living getting higher and higher. He is a soldier and he does not earn a big salary and he does not have any other assets. When his children are unable to pay the meager school fees, they are chased away from school. Yet he was happy to serve his country as a low paying soldier.

One day he brought his children back to school after they were expelled for not paying the school fees. He spoke with the principle and informed him about the situation in his life. The principle told him the teachers have the same kind of circumstances. Trying to convince him of his particular situation Dhiirrane said: “I understand that teachers are in the same circumstances. I was one of those teachers who started from scratch on voluntary basis. We are just returning from war and we still stand guard to preserve its dignity. You know that a soldier earns very little. I promise I will pay the fees as soon as I can but let the children stay in school.” The principle empathizing with the soldier said. “I will allow them in but you have to bring the money within seven days.”

Dhiirrane left confused. He walked down the street alongside the presidential residence. When he was at the hospital location, he saw a woman he knows. She is the wife of veteran Colhaye.  They greeted each other. He immediately recognized something is not right. She informed him that her first born son is sick with kidney disease. She also informed him that he needs surgery otherwise he will die.  The surgery needs money. Dhiirrane who is serious nationalist said: “isn’t the hospital a government hospital?” The woman without hiding anything said: “It is a government hospital and it is free but the money goes to the doctor who is doing the operation.”  Dhiirrane did not understand. “Doesn’t the doctor work for the government?” he asked.

Dhiirrane and some other folks went to visit the doctor who was to perform the surgery to discuss the fees. Dhiirrane started the conversation and said: “Doctor, my name is veteran Dhiirrane. I am a soldier of the national army. I am a friend of this young boy’s father and veterans of the SNM.  We sacrificed our lives for this country. This young boy’s father died in the confrontation of the western mountains in 1984.  If his father was alive today, it won’t be a problem. We would have paid the money if we could afford but we are in difficult circumstances, and we can’t afford to pay.  Today is the day this family could felt proud for the sacrifice their father made.  It is the day to show gratitude to my friend who perished for the sake of this country.  It is the day that this widow who lost her husband in the war would be given the reassurance that her husband did not die in vain. It is the day the orphans would not be reminded they are orphans uncared for.  I beg you help us with your skill only.”

After he listened to the words of Dhiirrane, the doctor said:  “you are right, the veterans sacrificed their lives for the freedom of this country, but here in this hospital people are equal. I am not treating this young man as the son of a veteran but like every other patient in the hospital. Whether you have it or not, fees is a must. Otherwise the hospital cannot sustain itself.” Dhiirrane tried to convince the doctor but the doctor gestured to him and said. “Let’s us not waste each other’s time. Bring the money and the surgery will take place.” Dhiirrane lost in thoughts and blood boiling got up and said: “This is not right! Be kind to people!  The life of the person is more important than any money!”  The doctor angered about the words of Dhiirrane said:  “We know that and you are telling us about it.  We have to treat people equally.  It is not right to charge some and not charge others.” An elder person tried to intervene and said: “OK doctor let’s find a way to pay. Can you start the surgery in the meantime? We will bring the money but we don’t want the boy to suffer anymore.” It was not the right move! – The doctor clearly upset said:  “I am telling you the truth.  No surgery will take place until you bring the money.  Your son will lie here and nothing will be done for him.”  Then he stormed out of the door. 

Dhiirrane and his group were surprised. They separated to solicit money from different direction. Some rushed to the rich people in the clan.  Dhiirrane and his group went to search for help from the SNM veterans. After few hours they returned with the money of the surgery. But alas! The first child of veteran Colhaye died after his dad. When Dhiirrane heard that bad news, his mind went back to the day his friend and colleague was killed.

There were in a battle for a fortnight when they were attacked from behind and they ran in different directions. Dhiirrane and Colhaye and two other colleagues ran in the same direction where there were many enemies. It was late afternoon. The sun was going down. The enemy chased them for a few miles and they decided to protect themselves and fight back. They started fighting. After many hours, one veteran died. Colhaye had a hip injury in his right leg and the left shoulder. Only two of them are safe. They tried to take their injured friend. However, Colhaye who has realized today is his last day suggested they should leave him here to save their lives. They refused but he finally convinced them and asked them to wrap the wounds before they go so that he could fight for few more hours before he dies. After they wrapped the wounds, Colhaye started reading his will to them:  “I lost my life for this country. I pray you bring success in your war with the government. If you live up to the day of freeing the country, tell my wife and children that I did not die running away. I died facing the enemy not the other way. Tell them I perished not afraid of death. Tell my children that their father died for their country and they will never be orphans in their country.” With are courageous message, Colhaye’s colleagues left him and they ran for their lives.  After few days it was confirmed that veteran Colhaye fought a fierce fight before he was killed.

Dhiirrane recollected everything. He went home feverish and angry. Without talking to anyone, he went into the toilet. His wife who has heard about the death thought her husband did not know about it and tried to tell him. Half an hour after he went to the toilet, he came out of the toilet all his clothes torn and his face full of soap suds. The wife watched him with surprise. “What has happened to him” she wondered and tried to calm him down. The only thing she heard from him was: “We freed this country! Siad Barre is in the other world.” These people have no gratitude.”  He splashed himself with sand.  The wife started screaming and ran to the neighbors. The people came out to see what happened. The elders in the clan who were wondering why Dhiirrane missed the burial of veteran Colhaye’s son came to take him to the family but when they arrived at the house they saw the house full of spectators. They saw Dhiirane torn all his clothes, splashed himself with sand, and covered his face with soap suds. They were shocked! He has lost his mind.

From that day on, veteran Dhiirrane lived in another world.  He became an alien.  Those he knew before call him the veteran who lost his mind.  This is how Dhiirane became the crazy veteran.