Around the time of Partition of India in 1947, I was 11-years-old. My family and I lived in the Indian Punjab town of Rupar, in a second story apartment, close to the Muslim part of town.

Communal tensions increased considerable as the Partition approached. Anti Muslim feeling was fanned by the local Rashtriya Swayam Sewak Sangh leaders, who advised people not to patronize Muslim businesses. The feeling was augmented by the pathetic tales of Hindu and Sikh refugees from Pakistan, who had started trickling into our town.

Muslims living in the predominantly Hindu-Sikh neighborhoods started migrating to the predominantly Muslim area. In the process, one afternoon, two Muslim men were attacked in our street. One died instantly. The other one played dead, and sprinted to the safety of the Muslim area, as soon as his assailants walked away.

Every night, for several nights, from the roof of our building, we watched Muslim homes in the neighboring villages being set afire.  The residents were forced to seek refuge in Rupar, swelling its Muslim population by several hundreds.

Fearing attack by Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs in our neighborhood gathered, on their roofs, bottles filled with nails and lime. In the event of an attack, the bottles were to be partially filled with water, shaken, and thrown at the assailants below.

Early in the morning, one day, the Sub-Divisional Officer, with loudspeakers mounted on a jeep, moved through the Muslim area. He announced that an attack by a large group of Hindus and Sikhs had been imminent. He told them that he could no longer assure their safety. But he promised them military escort to the town of Sirhind, where they could board a train to Pakistan.

Feeling no longer safe, many Muslims, even before they could have the first meal of the day, decided to leave their homes. They gathered a few of their most precious possessions, and came into the streets.

Soon, from our roofs, we could watch a long procession of Muslims, as they walked along the Sirhind Canal, to a temporary camp on the outskirts of the town.

As the Muslims were leaving their homes, a mob of Hindus and Sikhs started looting their abandoned homes. They made off with whatever each one could lay his hands on.

On a rainy morning, a few days later, the Muslims were ordered to move. Followed by a military escort, they started marching on foot,  in the hope of boarding a train to Pakistan at Sirhind, about 30 miles away.

A couple of miles later, the military escort suddenly disappeared and a mob of Hindus and Sikhs attacked the Muslims. In panic they started running helter-skelter, to save their lives. In the process many discarded their possessions on the road.

Some Muslim women and girls were abducted.

A large group of Muslims was cornered by the mob in a muddy field. Surrounded by the armed assailants, they backed in to a large heap. The attackers pulled them off the heap one by one, and killed them.

Later, I came to know that some of the Muslims residents of Rupar had made it safely to Pakistan.

I apologize to the victims and their families that neither I, nor my elders and our leaders did enough to ensure safety of the victims and prosecution of the perpetrators.

I bow my head in shame.

As a founding member of the Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (www.asiapeace.org), since 1993, I am committed to the nonviolent resolution of all disagreements and conflicts.

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Comments (2)

	1. 16-01-2009 22:28
	A very moving piece! Registered

Shabnam Khan

	2. 21-08-2008 16:45
	again man's inhumanity to man... I read articles like this and cry.... and wonder how people who did this can live with their conscience??? the writer of this article was a child at that time.. and still feels the shame.... the Brits actions with Partition make me ashamed also..... Registered

Jennifer Gallagher

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