History in the making (From Asian Image)

History in the making

10:14am Monday 13th August 2007 in News features By Asian Image reporter

Sixty years ago this month millions died as as one great nation became two.

The Partition of India led to the creation on August 14 and 15 1947, of the sovereign states of Pakistan and India.

On the anniversary of the birth of these two nations Asian Image has been speaking to some of those people who lived through partition.

Kuvirjit Mistri was in her Majesty's Indian Army aged 24. Mr Mistri was stationed in Uganda (East Africa) between 1942 and 1946.

"I returned home after the war to see the country undergoing great changes. In the Army we all fought and died togther.

In early August 1947 I went to escort my friend to the centre of Bombay. I lived on the outskirts. My return journey was fraught with danger and very tense.

"I was told of the dangers by many people.

"I had no motor vehicle and much of the journey home was on foot. When religion came into it I saw simple arguments become more intense.

The area was a powder-keg waiting to explode."

Nasreen Anjum was aged 5 and living in Multan "My mother was a nurse at the Railway Hospital Multan. We were living in an accommodation provided by railway.

"My aunt and her family came to stay with us. We used to sleep on the roof in summer nights and one night the dog was barking most of the time. Next morning Dr.Rashid from Railway Hospital told us that he met some people who told him that they came to kill a Sikh family but the dog was barking and did not let us enter the house. Dr.Rashid told them that we are Muslims from Mohra Shrif.

"My dad was coming home from Lahore. His porter at the station was an old man and by the time he arrived at the platform the train for Molten had left.

"My dad was very upset with the porter but later on he was told that everyone in that train was murder by rioters."

Hasna Bain Parekh was aged 20 and married in August 1947.

"At my wedding we had to have police security in place.

"It was quite a strange situation to be in but quite necessary.

"Weddings themselves became very difficult to stage because most of the shops were closed and if there was any trouble there was a curfew.

"I get asked sometimes what the young people of today know about the partition and what happened and believe many I would know very little."