The partition involved the division of two provinces and legally came into existence at midnight on 14-15 August 1947 – into two separate countries – the secular state of India dominated by Hindus and Muslim Pakistan. Millions of people were forced to leave their homes because of inter-religions violence. Muslims trekked to Pakistan and Hindus travelled to India.
During my interaction with the partition survivor, I observed that pre-partition and post-partition years, rescue and violent stories, harmonious past or segregation and discrimination are neatly packed in his memories with accounts of courage, regrets and gratitude for those who even belonged to other community.
Gonind Singh, now 100+, of Maman Wala village now in Kasur, presently settled at village Kunde near Hussainwala border in Ferozepur district, was 16 years old, at the time of partition of India by the Britishers in 1947 – a creation of two independent dominions – India and Pakistan.
Its seven decades now but the partition generation suffered great tragedies in 1947 but tear rolls down from the eyes of the survivors when they share the events with the others.
Gobind Singh, around 6 feet tall, wearing old traditional dhoti and pagri, was located in village Kunde in Ferozepur District, who has witnessed the blood-strewn trains, mob violence, riots, gut-wrenching images of women jumping into wells, of rape and abductions, of looting and slaughter,
The old timers are so entrenched in collecting memories with pain deeply engraved in their bodies and minds which continue to haunt the survivors in many ways and also the post-partition generations because these memories were never fully heard or shared rather repeated processed alone.
Gobind Singh was 22 years and married, have attended only five classes in school in Chabbar village. When asked for not continuing the study, he said, what for, when 6 or 7 class passed was recruited as Patwari.
He was a wrestler and produced number of followers and famous for running with two persons on my shoulders.
Sharing his moments, Gobind said, prior to partition, there was no difference between Hindu and Muslim but with the caste based partition was very unfortunate and everything was changed, when my father was chopped in front of me. I too lost my patience and beheaded two Muslims.
All these events still come to my mind while going to sleep. Only once I had gone to Pakistan when Chhaba and Muhammad were weeping on our moving to India. We settled in village Maman Wala and acquired the river-bedded land on ‘patta’ - lease and cultivated with great labour. Out of three sons, Mohinder Singh has died while Balbir Singh and Bhajan Singh are living with me.
Since there used to be too many thefts at that time, I even worked as ‘Khoji’ for 60 years and solved number of cases without charging anything, Gobind shared with confidence by raising his hands.
He admits that the British rule was fine and did not hesitate to say, to abuse everyday in the morning, who are responsible for the partition.
He was emotional when he rubbed his eyes to say, it’s very unfortunate that none of the government bothered about the migrated persons.
Gobind still hold good his views that we have shifted our family members well before the riots but never expected of revenging attitude from the Muslims.
When asked about a message to the young generation, Gobind said in his pure Punjabi language, “???????, do something for the nation otherwise you will die on the cots doing nothing for the society and nation as well".
After seven decades of independence, it looks that perhaps, August 14 and 15 give the public across the border a chance to celebrate the triumph of India and Pakistan while emphasizing the need for separation from the other.