Smooth Life Formula

Spend some time alone every day.

Once a year, go some place you have never been before

Be gentle with the earth

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon

My Memories of 1947

After reaching Pakistan, we came to know that the only living brother of my grand father had joined Qafla on 5th November, 1947 and was never seen again. Further, a few persons who had gone with Qafla on 6th November, some how, reached Police Lines early morning on 7th November and informed Capt (R) Naseer (leader of Muslim Conference) what had happened to them. By the time a strategy could be decided, people had mounted the buses. Capt (R) Naseer passed by all the buses saying loudly, “Hurry up get into the buses.” But, at low tone, he kept on saying, “If you want to stay alive, come out of the buses.” Within an hour all the people came out of the buses. Then Capt (R) Naseer addressed the officers of Indian army present there, “Fire the machine guns fixed on top of the Police Lines and kill all of us. Why are you taking trouble of carrying the people to kill ? Thus, wasting petrol and time. Start the fire, I promise that not a single person will try to run.” That created a stir. Then Sheikh Abdullah was freed from prison and appointed prime minister of state. He delivered an emotional speech.

The gist was : “Muslims and Hindus of the state are brothers. Hence-forth, there will be no killing. I will go round and see myself that peace and tranquility prevails.” It is said that Sheikh Abdullah, before accepting premiership, had demanded that Indian army from Nabha and Patiala must be replaced by army from Madras who were known to be neutral. Two days later, Qaflas from Police Lines started reaching Sialkot without being attacked. My grand parents came to Pakistan on Sunday, the 9th November, 1947.

My Memories of 1947 – Part – 7

In last week of November, 1947, Sheikh Abdullah visited us in Jammu Cantt alongwith Additional District Magistrate of Jammu. I and my cousin were advised by the house lady to insist on going to Pakistan. On seeing us Sheikh Abdullah asked about me. I went near him, he lifted me on his arm and said, ”These 3 telegrams are from your father. If you want to join your parents, we will send you to Palestine but it is better that we bring them here and you live in your own home.” In the mean time my cousin started weeping and said, “All our relations have gone to Pakistan, we want to go to Pakistan.” I copied him. Sheikh Abdullah patted us and said, “O K. We will send you to Pakistan. Do not weep. You are good boys.” Then he said to the ADM, “Why don’t they shift to Jammu ?” He informed him that there was danger to our lives. (Father had sent 3 telegrams, one each to Lord Mount Batten, Governor General of India, Mr Nehru, Prime Minister and Sheikh Abdullah, to locate and send us to Palestine.)

Some days later, we were shifted under security cover to Jammu City and placed in the house of Col (R) Peer Muhammad. We arranged some money from the bank. Thus, we were able to purchase edibles and ate properly cooked food after about two months. We lived in there for about 2 weeks. During this period, accompanied by a Muslim Inspector Police and a few policemen, we visited our house. Every thing in the house had been looted. Suitcases and even G I sheet boxes had been taken away. What we found there was empty large G I sheet boxes and the Egyptian large brass-made double bed which had a beautiful brass canopy. On the floor were scattered papers of our property and family pictures. I and my sister collected all these papers and photographs but we could not bring those because of weight. We saw blood at two places, on the roof. (After reaching Pakistan we came to know that my father’s young cousin and a 16 year old son of a neighbour fell victims to machine guns of Indian army.)

A plan was made to send to Pakistan minor children and injured women, parents or guardians of whom were supposed to have gone to Pakistan. Thus, on December 18, 1947, six small buses with children (including us) and injured women started off to Sialkot. Total drive was about 40 Km. Sheikh Abdullah was leading this Kafla in a military jeep and the Kafla was moving under protection of army from Madras, India. Sheikh Abdullah and Indian army stopped at the border. The buses finally reached and stopped at Sialkot Cantt. In our bus, my sister was sitting near window and I was sitting next to her. On seeing our two aunts outside, we became very happy. However, their state of mind, that had been under persistent tension for about two months, can be judged from the fact that one of my aunts came near our bus and asked my sister calling my sisters and cousins name, “Baytee ! Have you them ? Have they also come with you ?” My sister said, “Chachi ji, it is me. It is me your niece.” Then we got down and hugged our aunts. They again asked, “Who are you ?” then they recognized us and started kissing us while tears rained from their eyes.

On seeing our aunts, we were very happy. However, their state of mind, that had been under persistent tension for about 2 months, can be judged from the fact that one of our aunts (whose children were with us) came near our bus and asked my sister Y, “Have you seen X, Y or Z?” She replied, “Auntie, it is me, Y.” It took our aunt some time to realize that she was indeed speaking to Y. Then we got down and hugged our aunts. They started kissing us while tears rained from their eyes.

My Memories of 1947 – Part – 6

Later, what the young man and old lady told us is: “The scattered Muslims in Hindu areas of Jammu city had been mostly killed by Hindus. Only very few lucky ones shifted to Muslim areas. The two Muslim areas where we and Asghar Khan (later to become Pakistan’s air force chief) lived became under siege of Sevak Sang, Mahasabha, Akali Dal and Indian army. Indian army had taken positions on top of high buildings around our home area. They fired on any Muslim coming in sight and kept on firing bursts with pauses. Muslims in Jammu city had no weapons after the search so they decided to stay in their houses, their past experience being that such quarrels used to be over in about two weeks. They made holes in common walls of their houses, so that they could move to each other without going out to street. At some points, however, they had to cross a street but surrounding was all Muslim population. It was also to enable exit to Muslim families in case Hindus attacked the houses.

Only few Muslims got killed during 3 weeks’ period. In spite of Indian army cover, Hindus did not dare to come near the Muslim areas. One morning, it was announced, on a loud speaker fitted on a Tonga, “This is a message from Col Peer Muhammad. Pakistan has sent buses to evacuate Muslims to Sialkot. All people desirous of going to Pakistan should gather in the Police Lines.” The Police Lines was on south edge of Jummu city near river Tawi, about 2 kilometers from farthest end of Muslim areas. Though Col (Retd) Peer Muhammad was a leader of National Conference (Congress equivalent) yet people believed in him because he was a Muslim, but that was a trap. Any person, who went to see the place, did not return. If somebody carried baggage, that was snatched on way by the Indian army. All the Muslims, except members of National Conference, reached Police Lines where they saw buses lined up with Pakistan flags on top. On Wednesday, 5th November, 1947 people were asked to board the buses and the first Qafla started off. Second Qafla, starting on Thursday, 6th November, 1947, traveled bypassing Jammu Cantonment. When it reached a forest near canal, the buses were halted. The passengers noticed Indian army at a distance on both sides. They thought it was for their protection. Soon they heard slogans, Jai Hind, Sat Sri Akal. Then appeared hundreds of Hindus and Sikhs carrying swords, Balums and daggers. The rioters passed though the Indian army line and headed towards buses. Seeing this, Muslims started jumping out of the buses. At that moment rifle / machine gun fire was opened by India army on both sides of buses. Men, women and children started running for their life. Many of them jumped in to the canal. While Balums (javelins) / swords / bullets pierced them.”

My Memories of 1947 – Part – 5

During disturbance days, the tap water being hardly sufficient for drinking, we could not take bath for about one month. On 6th November, 1947 (about noon), five boys headed by 18 year old son of Colonel, went to take bath in the nearby Canal. We saw clots of blood floating in the canal water. We got scared and rushed back. Reaching back, when we informed the people in the house, we were advised not to go out and not to open the outer door.

At about 4 pm, somebody knocked at the outer door hysterically. I was standing in the courtyard near the door. The lady of the house asked all the females to go to the rear room, send the boys out and lock the room door from inside. She directed the boys to give me cover and signaled me to open the door. As I opened the door, a tall young man in his early 20’s, wearing a sleeping suit rushed in, shouted, “Sab mur gayay (all are dead)”, fell on his face and fainted. I closed the door immediately. The other boys rushed to the young man, turned him over and two of them screamed, “Bhaijan (brother)! what happened ?” Somebody sprinkled water on his face. He got up, shouted, “Sab mur gayay” and fainted again. Then he was lifted by us and taken to the room and all children were ordered to leave the room. Only wives of the two colonels and the oldest boy remained inside. In the evening, we came to know that he was nephew of the Colonel who lived in Jammu city. They had started for Pakistan in Qafla in the morning (6th November). All family except him was killed. He knew the way to our residence and had come hiding and running. He informed that a Qafla had also gone on the previous day. This made us think that all our relations in Jammu were dead. So, we all started weeping and there was no one to console. We did not eat or drink anything. Next day in the evening, Colonel’s wife, still sobbing, consoled us and gave us some rice to eat.

A few days later, an old lady, a young lady and a teen-aged girl came. Young lady had a deep one inch wide wound in her neck which had become septic. They were, also, in the Qafla of 6th November, the Muslims in which were murdered near the canal. Old lady weeping bitterly said, “Rioters were picking young girls. I mother directed my daughter to jump in the canal and not take her head out. So, my daughter, a good swimmer drowned. My two son were murdered. My daughter-in-law, after being pierced with Balum, had fallen unconscious. I with my second daughter had fallen on the ground. Some people got killed and fell on us. We did not move till rioters were gone. We wandered for few days eating tree leaves / grass and drank stagnant water.”

My Memories of 1947 – Part-4

I and my cousin used to go for collecting fire wood. Till we returned our sisters used to stand behind the outer door and pray for our safe return. I used to break and collect wood and cousin used to pull the bundle. Normally, we got dried cactus. My palms were full of thorn pricks. One day, when I returned, my cousin sister opened my hands and kept weeping and kissing my palms for a while. I don’t know how she came to know of it.

The edibles and water being available in small quantity, each one of us used to eat
one small chapatti or little rice with daal (Lentils). When olive oil was finished, we used to eat boiled rice with boiled daal (without salt, pepper, onion, garlic, etc). When daal was finished, we ate only boiled rice. Rice was about to finish and we were worried but Allah was kind. When I and cousin were out looking for fire wood, a burqa-clad l(veiled) ady came near me and whispered, “Where are you living ?” She followed us to the residence. Having come to know of food problem, she promised to arrange some thing. Her residence was half a mile away and an easy route. Two days later, I went to her residence with money and purchased some daal and rice.

In the end of October, the house lady informed us that Muslims in Poonchh, Mirpur and Muzaffarabad had started Jihad (war of liberation) on 24th October, 1947 for freeing the state and that fierce battle was going on between the Mujahideen (freedom fighters) and army of the state Jammu Kashmir.

Address to the New-born Nation

Speech of Founder of Pakistan, Mr Muhammad Ali Jinnah on August 15, 1947, the first day of independence / foundation of Pakistan via my elder son, Zakaria.

Text of the speech

It is with feelings of greatest happiness and emotion that I send you my greetings. August 15 is the birthday of the independent and sovereign State of Pakistan. It marks the fulfillment of the destiny of the Muslim nation which made great sacrifices in the past few years to have its homeland.

At this supreme moment my thoughts are with those valiant fighters in our cause. Pakistan will remain grateful to them and cherish the memory of those who are no more.
The creation of the new State has placed a tremendous responsibility on the citizens of Pakistan. It gives them an opportunity to demonstrate to the world how can a nation, containing many elements, live in peace and amity and work for the betterment of all its citizens, irrespective of caste or creed.

Our object should be peace within and peace without. We want to live peacefully and maintain cordial and friendly relations with our immediate neighbors and with the world at large. We have no aggressive designs against any one. We stand by the United Nations Charter and will gladly make our full contribution to the peace and prosperity of the world.

Muslims of India have shown to the world that they are a united nation, their cause is just and righteous which cannot be denied. Let us, on this day, humbly thank God for His bounty and pray that we might be able to prove that we are worthy of it.

This day marks the end of a poignant phase in our national history and it should also be the beginning of a new and a noble era. Let us impress the minorities by word, deed and thought that as long as they fulfill their duties and obligations as loyal citizens of Pakistan, they have nothing to fear.

To the freedom loving tribes on our borders and the States beyond our borders, we send our greetings and assure that Pakistan will respect their status and will extend to them its most friendly co-operation in preserving peace. We have no ambition beyond the desire to live honorably and let others live honorably.

Today is Jummat-ul-Wida, last Friday of the holy month of Ramazan, a day of rejoicing for all of us wherever we may be in this vast sub-continent and for the matter of that throughout the world. Let the Muslim congregations in their thousands, in all the mosques, bow in all humility before the Almighty and thank Him for His eternal kindness and generosity, seeking His guidance and assistance in the task of making Pakistan into a great State and themselves into its worthy citizens.

Finally, let me tell you, fellow citizens, Pakistan is a land of great potential resources. But to build it up into a country worthy of the Muslim nation, we shall require every ounce of energy that we possess and I am confident that it will come from all whole-heartedly.”

Pakistan Zindabad!

Happy Independence Day!

My Memories of 1947 – Part-3

 

By October, 1947, killing of Muslims in the villages had started. We saw villages on fire from top of our house. The number of villages on fire increased as the days passed. On sighting moon of Zil-Hajj, word of mouth was spread, “Pehlay Muslay qurbani kartay thay, iss Eid per hum Muslon ki qurbani karain gay. (Muslims used to slaughter lambs on Eid. We will slaughter Muslims on this Eid)” Few days later, curfew was cramped and attacks on scattered houses of Muslims within the Hindu areas of city started. News of Muslims killed / injured started pouring in but to assist anybody was impossible due to Indian army supervised curfew.

One night, roar of machine gun fire was heard coming from two sides of our house. Target was our house because my grand father used to finance Muslim Conference and that the large & high flag of Pakistan was still fluttering on our house top. Muslims had no weapon with them so they raised slogans “Nara-i-Takbeer – Allah-o-Akbar (The great slogan – God is The Great)” and “Pakistan zinda bad (Long live Pakistan)”. Next morning, one of our tenants for over a decade, a Brahmin (Hindu) brought a bucket of milk and said, “I thought that milk from your lands may have not arrived. So, I have brought it.” None of us was in a mood to drink milk or even eat anything. Next morning my aunt threw the milk in the drain outside the house. A cat came and drank some milk. After few minutes we heard some strange voice. We rushed to the door and saw the cat dying.

Our neighbour and his brother were Colonels in Maharaja’s army. They were on the border but their families were at home. Same day it came to be known that their families had
planned to shift to some safer place. Our guardians requested them to take six minor children of our family with them. (my aunt-17, cousin sister-17, cousin-14, my sisters 15 & 12, and myself.

During the next night, we were asked to quietly move to a military truck parked on the road keeping our heads low. We took with us some rice, atta, daal, one liter tin of olive oil, one single-sized razai (quilt) and some money. We reached Jammu Cantt and stayed in a military residence protected by 4 soldiers who did not stand around the house but lived in a room about 20 meters away from the house. Only one of them had a gun while armed rioters used to come in fifties. We lived there under fear of being murdered. Sometimes, after the sunset, we used to hear “Jai Hind” and “Sat Sri Akal”. Six of us used to sleep on a Namda (felt) 6 ft x 4 ft and one single size Razai over us. Allah protected us otherwise we should have died of Pneumonia.

My Memories of 1947 – Part-2

Initially, Muslim majority provinces were to form Pakistan. States were to decide their future according to wishes of their people. Baluchistan, Sind, NWFP, Punjab and Bengal were Muslim majority provinces. Jawahar Lal Nehru in connivance with British Viceroy, Lord Mount Batten got Punjab and Bengal divided on district basis. Jammu & Kashmir was a Muslim majority state with 97% Muslims in Kashmir province and well over 50% Muslims in Jammu province. Non-Muslims were in majority only in districts of Jammu, Kathuwa and Udhampur. Jammu district had 49% Muslims. In Jammu town non-Muslims had a little higher percentage. Purely Muslim population areas in Jammu town were three. Our area was larger than the other two combined. We lived at an edge of this area at a Tee of roads. The diagonally opposite houses were of Hindus. I had heard them cursing Muslims. I did not go to that area during 1947. In the next big Muslim area lived Col (R) Pir Muhammad who was Congressi. Air Marshal Asghar Khan lived in the smallest Muslim area.

Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Sialkot and Gurdaspur touched the state and were Muslim majority districts, and the state having Muslim in majority, Muslims of the state were sure to be a part of Pakistan. Muslims of Jammu used to take out processions. Once small children were included in the procession including me. The slogans used to be “Lay kay rahain gay Pakistan (We will get Pakistan)”, “Bun kay rahay ga Pakistan (Pakistan will come in to being)”, “What do you want – Pakistan”, “Pakistan ka matlab kia – La ilaha il-Allah (What is the meaning of Pakistan? – There is no god but God)”. During July, 1947, Muslims of the state passed “Accession to Pakistan Resolution” and 14th August, 1947 was celebrated with immense joy. On my wish, my grand father hoisted a large Pakistan flag on top of our two-storey house using steel pipe 32 ft tall.

Boundary line of Pakistan and India in Punjab was not announced till 14th August, 1947. A conspiracy was hatched by Hindu leaders, Lord Mount Batten (British Viceroy) and Radcliff (Boundary Commission appointed by British government), and district Gurdaspur was divided for providing India a clear land passage to Jammu. Mirzais (ahmadia) also played a dirty game. They sent an application to Lord Mount Batten stating that they were not part of Muslims demanding Pakistan, as such, Qadian (part of District Gurdaspur) should be separated from Pakistan. The decision to divide district Gurdaspur had no justification.

After division of Gurdaspur, Nehru, Patel and another Congress leader reached Jummu and started pressing Maharaja Hari Singh to declare accession to India. They went back afte 3 or 4 days without any formal announcement. Soon after, Indian army started forced landing in Jammu. Also, militant wings of political parties of India (Sevak Sang, Maha Sabha and Akali Dal) started entering Jammu in large numbers with Balums, daggers, swords, rifles, etc under the protection of intruding Indian army.

It was announced in Jammu that all people must deposit every thing that could be used as weapon. There-after, houses of Muslims were searched and even domestic knives of over 4 inch blade were confiscated while Hindus and Sikhs walked around carrying weapons.

My Memories of 1947

Raja Hari Singh allowed Indian Hindus to settle in the state. These people established un-announced Sevak Sang (a Hindu militant political party) in Jammu and started teaching marshal arts to Hindu youth. Then every year used to be a quarrel between Hindus and Muslims on Janam Ashtami and Miladun Nabi but the matter used to be clear within a week or so. Every time the mischief was started by the Sevak Sang youth. Activities of Sevak Sang became more hectic with onset of 1947.

The attitude of Hindus towards Muslims can be guessed by comparing the following first two incidents with the third. (1) Once we were playing hide and seek and a boy (Muslim) rammed in to a passerby Hindu. He shouted, “Brisht ho geya, brisht ho geya (my clothes have become filthy)” and cursed Muslims. (2) Another time after playing we went to a Hindu’s shop for drinks. Shopkeeper sold drink to one boy who was Hindu and declined to sell to Muslim boys. On Hindu boy’s request to sell drinks to us, he said, “Muslay hain, botlain brisht ho jain gi (They are Mulims, bottles will become filthy).” Then one Muslim boy asked for water, the shop keeper standing two meters away poured water on to his hands from half a meter above his hands. (3) Hindus worship cows. Some cows used to wander about in the town. Once a Hindu was passing by a cow and the cow started urinating and his clothes were drenched with urine of cow. He said, “Pap Charri gay, pap charri gay (My sins are washed away).”

I studied in an English medium school named Model Academy where duration of study
for Junior Cambridge was 9 years (including 2 years of nursery) and another 2 years for the Senior Cambridge. In March, 1947, I was in 2nd year after nursery when the school closed.

When creation of Pakistan become sure, hatred could be noted on faces of Hindus. One of the Hindus in our class, Rambeer, was a member of children Sevak Sang. He was taller, stronger and 3 years older than me. Final decision about independence was announced in March, 1947. Next day Rambeer passing by me accompanied by classmate, Keerti Kumar, abused Mr Muhammad Ali Jinnah. On asking him not to do that, he took out a knife. I stood there and he tore my coat from behind with knife and threatening me went away. Two days later, when teacher was not in the class room, Keerti Kumar abused Muslims. On asking him to stop, he jumped on me saying, “We will kill you Muslims and there will be no Pakistan.” I retaliated and he bled from nose. Other students kept shouting ‘stop it’ ‘stop it’ but none intervened. After seeing blood on my shirt, classmates separated us. Our class comprised 6 girls (one Muslim, 4 Hindu, one Christian) and 14 boys (6 Muslim, one Sikh, 7 Hindus). Later, the girls reported the matter to the Principal who held inquiry. All the girls, 5 Muslim, one Sikh and one Hindu boy favoured me while Rambeer and another Hindu boy favoured Keerti Kumar. On pressing by the Principal, Keerti Kumar divulged that Rambeer had instigated him and that two days back Rambeer had cut Ajmal’s coat with knife. Consequently, both were suspended. I used to top in all examinations / class tests and had never quarreled. A few days later, a quarrel took place outside the school between Hindu and Muslim students of higher class and a boy was injured. Consequently, the school was closed.