I was all of 8 years in Bharatpur when August 1947 arrived. The atmosphere was one of excitement and joy as 15 August approached. There was also an air of uncertainty and anxiety at home- Pitaji and Mataji were wondering what the future held for them? What would happen to Pitaji’s job as a Judge in Bharatpur High Court? What would happen to the state of Bharatpur and its Maharaja?
There was tension too because of the communal riots. Although we were far from the border, there was some violence in Bharatpur which had a sizeable population of a Muslim sect known as Meo (Mev). I remember that on one afternoon when I was walking back alone from School, I saw a group of men with spears coming in my direction. I had heard that Hindus identified people by the ‘chutiya’ (pigtail) and I didn’t have one. So I quickly hid behind some bushes while they passed by. After they disappeared, I wondered whether that was the correct thing to do- if they had discovered me, would they have taken this as a sign of guilt? I had no proof of my identity!
One day, a few Army tanks passed by our house. That was the first time I saw a tank and the track marks were visible on the road for a long time to come. The tanks probably had a dual role; firstly to quell the riots and secondly, to warn the Maharaja of any wild thought he might have indulged of his own independence!
A few friends of mine from Punjab have recounted their ghastly experiences of witnessing the killing of their close relatives and details of their bold and dangerous escapes from what became Pakistan. Those accounts are chilling and make one’s hairs stand even now.
15 August came and we lost ourselves in celebrations. Pandit Nehru’s famous ‘Tryst With Destiny’ was played on the radio again and again and was splashed on all newspapers. It was truly an emotional and inspired speech.
Happy Independence Day!
Thank you... Difficult for us to imagine what your generation has witnessed and survived.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Arun
I was just telling the kids the other day about the Bharatpur incident...
ReplyDeleteI was 7 and 6 months in August 1947 but remarkably have no memories of that. Must have been a late bloomer!! What a distance we have come since though there are many more miles to go. Happy Independence Day
ReplyDeleteTanks, strangely enough, though I was a little over 2 and a half, I seem to have an image of tanks rolling by, was it in Nowshera or Quetta? Don't remember. Of course it could be tales recounted that one associates with those images.
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