journey to pakistan - teaser

8/11/2019 Journey to Pakistan - Teaser

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J O U R N E Y T O

P A K I S T A N

A H S A N K H A N


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This book is dedicated to my grandmother, Rabia Habib.

Also dedicated to N.A.K.


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About the Author

Ahsan Khan is currently a Lab Instructor at FAST-

National University, Islamabad, Pakistan, where

he teaches Microcontrollers and Embedded

Systems. He holds an electrical engineering degree

from the University of Toronto. He enjoys reading

about history, the lives of historical figures, and

analyzing events which shape the regionalgeopolitics. In his free time, reading poetry, hiking

in nature, and wildlife photography are Mr. Khans

pastimes. In the years ahead, Mr. Khan looks

forward to reading books on the international

monetary system, and writing often on issues he

feels deeply about.


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Disclaimer

THIS IS A TRUE STORY. All names, characters,

places and events in this novel are real, and have

been narrated exactly as they occurred.

.


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About the Main Character

Zainab Bibi (b. 1925 - present) was born in the city

of Sangrur, Punjab, British India. This novel

narrates the story of her life, in third person, from

early childhood to marriage, and to the events

which led to the migration to Pakistan.

.


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Table of Contents

1 Birth and Early Childhood. Page 1

2 Treatment of Zainabs Leg Page 4

3 Posting to Ajmer Sharif Page 6

4 The Secret of the Lotion Page 12

5 The Chronicle of Sajda Bibi.. Page 15

6 Aunt From Aligarh Pays a Visit.. Page 22

7 Married Life. Page 26

8 A Separate State for Muslims. Page 29

9 The Division of Punjab. Page 33

10 Attack on Ramgarh Sardaran.. Page 36

11 The Fire in the Barn Page 39

12 The State of Maler Kotla Page 42

13 Passing Through Jogi Majra. Page 47

14 Mian Ji Escapes. Page 53

15 Meanwhile in Sangrur. Page 55

16 Destination Lahore Page 57

17 A New Beginning. Page 60


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JOURNEY TO PAKISTAN

MEMOIRS OF ZAINAB BIBI


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Journey to Pakistan

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1.Birth and Early Childhood

Zainab Bibi was born in 1925 in the city of Sangrur. Sangrur is

a city in the Indian state of Punjab, India. It is the headquarters

of Sangrur District. It is located at the intersection of the roadsconnecting Jalandhar with Rewari and Chandigarh with

Bathinda, at a distance of 77 km from Ludhiana and 58 km

from Patiala. Before the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, it

was a part of the state of Patiala, in the province of East Punjab.

Sangrur was a city which had an equal amount population of

Muslims and Hindus, who were living together with each other

peacefully under the British rule. The population of Sikhs in the

city was very little. It was a city which comprised mostly of

working people and had few rich merchants or traders.

Sangrur

East

Punjab

West

Punjab

Figure 1: Map of Sangrur


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Journey to Pakistan

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Maula Baksh

(married to

Fatima)

Fazl Ilahi

(married to

Ramzan Bibi)

Sajida Bibi Zainab BibiRashid

AhmadHabib Ahmad

Tufail

Muhammad

Zainabs grandfather and grandmother were originally from a

small village called Kot Muhammad Khan, in Amritsar. The

names of Zainabs grandfather and grandmother were Maula

Baksh and Fatima respectively. When Zainabs father was in his

teenage years, the family moved to Sangrur. The name ofZainabs father was Fazl Ilahi, and her mothers name was

Ramzan Bibi. Zainab had one elder sister named Sajida Bibi (8

years elder) and two younger brothers named Rashid Ahmad (8

years younger) and Habib Ahmad (13 years younger).

Zainab was born and grew up in Sangrur. Her father and his

brother, Tufail Muhammad, Zainabs uncle (chacha), had theirown houses in Sangrur and lived next to each other.

Figure 2: Family Tree of Maula Baksh


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Journey to Pakistan

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When Zainab was one years old she was struck with a specific

type of fever. In those days, the common term used for this fever

was morka bukhar.The fever remained for about two months.

After plenty of medications and herbal treatments, the fever

eventually subsided.

Soon Zainab began to crawl. However, Ramzan Bibi noticed one

day that one of Zainabs legs would lag behind the other when

she was crawling. Ramzan Bibi immediately called Fazl Ilahi

and the rest of the family and told them her observation. They

too agreed that the left leg was not operating normally. Fazl Ilahi

was worried and he contacted a local doctor (hakeem) andshowed her the condition of the baby girl.

The hakeemsuggested, This is probably the result of the fever

which struck your child when she was one years old. Your

daughter is an infant now. I advise you to take her to some well

reputed hospital and get her checked with a specialist doctor. If

this predicament is solved early, she can be treated in time.

Otherwise, the leg may be affected for the rest of her life.

Fazl Ilahi was very concerned with what the hakeemsaid. Tufail

Muhammad had a friend in Delhi who knew a respectable

doctor in a civil hospital. The family decided that they should

take Zainab to Delhi and get her checked up with the doctor.


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Journey to Pakistan

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2.Treatment of Zainabs Leg

Fazl Ilahi and Ramzan Bibi, along with Zainab, left from

Sangrur to Patiala, from where they would proceed to Delhi.

Patiala was a big city and was the centre of transportation inthe region. After arriving by horse-carriage (tanga), the family

found seats in a train going from Patiala to Delhi.

After arriving in Delhi, they located the hospital and proceeded

to meet Dr. William Brown. On meeting Dr. William, they gave

him the reference of Tufail Muhammads friend. Dr. William first

Figure 3: Map of route from Sangrur to Delhi


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Journey to Pakistan

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inquired about the details of Zainabs illness and then inspected

her leg.

Dr. William gave his analysis, Zainabs leg seems to be

suffering from reduced blood flow which is impairing the growthof the leg. We must give her leg treatment with electricity. I will

recommend a two-week treatment. After that her leg will begin

growing normally.

Fazl Ilahi asked Dr. William for some time so that the family can

consult and make a decision. Dr. William agreed. Fazl Ilahi sent

a letter to Sangrur asking the family for their advice. After a

couple of weeks, the reply came back in which Maula Baksh

stated that Fazl Ilahi should go ahead with the treatment.

Maula Baksh also sent some money for the treatment. Hence,

Dr. William started on a two-week electricity treatment on

Zainabs leg. After two weeks, the treatment was over.

Dr. William assured Fazl Ilahi, I am pleased to inform you that

the treatment of your daughter has been successful and the legis now fine. As Zainab will grow older, the weaker leg will

recover and there shall be no problems of lack of growth. When

Zainab will reach 6-8 years of age, the leg will be totally healed

and the lagging will not be visible.

Fazl Ilahi was very grateful of Dr. Williams and thanked him

wholeheartedly. Glad and relieved, the parents along with

Zainab made their journey back to Sangrur.

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