My Family Reunion

Dost-mittar,

Very nice read. You may be interested in this travelogue as well.

http://www.time.com/time/asia/features/journey2002/bangladesh.html

On a completely different note, have you heard any of Sipra Bose`s thumris ?
Absolutely superb; very Begum Akhtar-like (I believe she was a student of the
Begum). May want to try musicindiaonline.com, in case you wish to get a sampling.

DM,

Thank you. With the same amount of detail my Boah Ji in London recounts her story from Jullander to Lylepur. My nanaji, also told me of his journey from Hoshiarpur to Lahore. Very similar to yours.

Rabb thaunu rakhey.

Since I didn`t live at that time, I have never figured out why people on both sides became so frenzied at that time? What was their motivation? Did they think that they needed to get the area cleared of minorities as soon as possible to consolidate partition? After all, prior to 1947, there had been very few incidents of large scale rioting or other atrocities. So what was the reason for this madness? I wonder if someone can analyze the behavior of the people at that time.

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Dost-mittar-
When faced with stark truths of life and death one realises the hollowness of natiolistic,patriotic and religious chauvinism.I strongly believe that memories and experiences are better categorised into deeply felt and shallow,rather than happy or sad.Deeply felt experiences make us see life in its true form.Thanks for sharing.

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Farzana:

Ranjj sey khoogar hua insaa`n tau mitt jaata haiy ranj
Mushkalein itni parri mujh per keh aasan ho gaieen

Regards,

Mohammad Gill

Dear Dost-mittarji:

This was most touching and relevant. I maintain that history cannot be erased, at least not from memory. I had said this on Mr. Gill`s board and I repeat...I find that those who have experienced the Partition are not so bitter today or do not react as strongly to contemporary happenings of a similar nature, though nothing can be as wrenching.

I have also observed that the post-Partition lot (I mean even those in their teens or early 20s) seem to be more prejudiced, or angry. I wonder why.

I am glad you wrote this, for yourself and for us...

Regards