In the last episode I have described the type of life we were leading in Bangalore. No one would expect anything better and we were most grateful to Almighty God.
In 1945 we were a bit concerned as the World War II had ended and logically many of the people serving in Hindustan Aircraft Factory expected to be thrown out. The reason was that the factory had been geared to support the war effort by repairing and overhauling aircraft returning from war zones. Initially the factory was built to fabricate small airplanes as a private enterprise for peace time requirements. As the war progressed the factory became one of the most important outfits to cater for War requirements.
In 1941 America had entered the War and it was raging in full bloom and fury. Hindustan Aircraft Factory proved to be the most ideal place for supporting the War effort and in 1942 the American's took full control of the factory. The staff strength rose gradually to 18000 from 2000 initially. The factory also expanded rapidly and latest machines were added.
In 1945 the factory management started retrenching people and the target was to bring down the strength to about seven to eight thousand.
Myself and Mr. Qadri were among those who were very anxious and started looking around for opening elsewhere. Fortunately nothing serious happened to us and through God's help we survived upto 1947 and had no danger of being retrenched. We felt secure as the factory also made progress by handling peace time projects.
Everything looked rosy for us as we were in a place where we had our roots besides job security and amidst our relations.
From the beginning of 1947 the political situation in India was becoming uneasy as the agitation for freedom from British was gathering momentum. At the same time the Muslim league under the able leadership of Quaid-e-Azam had gathered sufficient strength to claim a homeland for Muslims and Pakistan was in every Muslim's dream.
As the agitation continued disturbances started all over India and Hindu - Muslim riots broke out in many places, particularly in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and some parts of Bihar and U.P. The control seemed to be slipping out of British hands and foreseeing this possibility the British wisely relinquished authority. This way they thought they would remain friends. It was a very wise move but the way they handed power to India and Pakistan was very cunning. It had all the elements of evil designs as in collusion with India they left an access for India to grab a major part of Kashmir. This was their intent as they knew that Kashmir shall remain a bone of contention for both countries for a long time. Anyway this is another story.
Muslims got their Pakistan in two parts West and East. On August 14th. 1947, more riots started as people started migrating. Hindus from Pakistan to India and Muslims from India to Pakistan.
Although the Muslims were barely 11% in Mysore State (Bangalore) we had no fear as we were still dominating the Hindus in quarrels and in argument. However foreseeing grim prospects in future quite a few Muslims in Bangalore felt insecure and started discussing whether it would be wise to migrate to Pakistan or to Hyderabad which was ruled by a Muslim with a Hindu majority.
When I started participating in such discussions and made mention of it in the house, a sitting was convened. My father made it clear that any move on my part to migrate will break the joint family set up. In fact our family had shifted from Bangarapet to Bangalore because I had a good job in Hindustan Aircraft Factory and everyone was happy. In other words I was responsible for it, I immediately sensed the danger and declared then and there that I would never again think of migrating either to Pakistan or to Hyderabad. The matter ended not for long as it reopened in a dramatic manner.
What happened after that could be attributed to destiny.
Swipe sideways to see the whole tree
Pakistan came into being on August 14th. and India got its Independence on 15th. August, 1947. The aftermath of Independence was terrible as the riots erupted in Northern India and many lives were lost, mostly of Muslims as they became an easy prey while migrating. This they could not avoid as they were being chased from their homes. However all seemed to be quiet on our front in Southern India except that Muslims were anxiously listening to the news on radio about the happenings in other parts. At the same time some of them were considering whether or not it was prudent to migrate before it was too late. We had no such thought as we had taken a decision to stay put.
One morning to be exact, on Oct. 25th. 1947 a senior executive by name Mr. Subandu Muzamdar came to me while I was on duty in Hindustan Aircraft Factory and asked me if I would like to avail the opportunity of visiting Karachi on an official flight. He disclosed that a factory Aircraft (Dakota) was scheduled to leave for Karachi on Oct. 27 and will return to Bangalore in 3 or 4 days after collecting a few spares. He also told me that if I wanted to avail this opportunity all I had to do was to get permission from the factory Superintendent (an American whom I knew very well). Having obtained the permission, I announced this at home at dinner time and said that this is a chance to have a glimpse of Pakistan without spending a pie.
Mr. Subandu Muzamdar (a Bengali Hindu) thought he was obliging me by giving the information regarding the flight in return for my assistance to him several times by having some of his private work done at no cost in the shop where I was working. In fact Mr. Muzamdar was not only doing me a favor but he had changed the life style of so many of our families.
On the morning of Oct. 27th. 1947 the Aircraft took off from Bangalore with six free passengers including myself, unaware of the fact that on the same day the war in Kashmir had started.
The schedule for the Aircraft was to proceed to Karachi after a short stopover at Bombay airport for refueling. When the Aircraft approached Bombay and contacted the control tower for landing the captain was told not to attempt landing at Bombay as there was heavy thunder storm. Since the aircraft was almost empty the captain found his tanks to have enough fuel to proceed directly to Karachi.
We landed at Karachi Mauripur Airport at midday and we went straight to the captain to ask him about his scheduled return to Bangalore. He smiled and asked us to make our own arrangements for the return as according to him the Aircraft was seized by Pakistan Government.
All of us who availed this flight with enthusiasm felt panicky as we had no idea how to return. In a state of shock I went straight to my friend Dr. Samad Shaheen's place. He had migrated earlier and was living in a flat on Bunder Road. Luckily he was at home and was very happy to see me. Although we used to discuss such adventures while he was in Bangalore he did not know that I would surprise him this way.
When I explained my plight and showed anxiety about my return trip he calmed me down and said there was no worry as steamers were plying between Karachi and Bombay regularly and I could avail one seat for Rs. 19.50 (about $85 in today's money) only. Before returning he suggested that I should first have a good look at Karachi and its beaches. I agreed. After two days I saw an ad. in the daily Dawn which asked for an Airport Deputy Health Officer on a salary of Rs. 625/= per month (about $2,750 a month in today's money). I was attracted by the ad. which looked suitable for my brother Dr. Iliyas who fulfilled the desired qualifications. Dr. Shaheen's opinion was that I should send an application and sign it myself.
Karachi was no different to any of the other Indian cities but it looked clean and things were cheaper than in Bangalore. For instance we could have an English style dinner for half a rupee (about $2 in today's money) and Indian style dinner with chapati and curry etc. for quarter of a Rupee (about $1 in today's money). The breakfast was even less.
After submitting the application I left for Bombay on a steam boat (Deck class) which was packed with Hindu families migrating to India. The journey was of two nights and 1 1/2 day and I was in the midst of a Sindhi Hindu family. They talked about their vows and experiences after partition and complained as to how they were forced to leave their homes and properties to save their lives. I was careful enough not to identify myself and just telling them that I was on a business trip to Karachi from Bangalore. They advised me never to think of coming back to Karachi again as it had been occupied by beasts thinking that I was also a Hindu.
From Bombay I left for Bangalore by train another two nights and a day journey. The whole return journey from Karachi to Bangalore was very tiring as I had no bed and no towels etc.
When I reached Bangalore on one morning in Nov. (1947) everyone was pleased because they were worried as my journey and back was supposed to be only 4 days at the most and I had stayed away for more than a week and the Kashmir War had started.
Anyway I was surprised and pleased to see Mr. Aziz Ahmad (my brother in law) who had come from Kolar. I sent him the same night to Jog (Shimoga District) to show the ad. to Dr. Iliyas and ask him to come immediately to Bangalore if he wanted the job in Pakistan.
Dr. Iliyas my elder brother was the type of person who had completely merged himself with his Brahmin friends and he talked fluently in the local language. He was also liked by the families living around that area. In fact even during his college days and the post graduation PhD course his close associates were mostly Brahmins.
Now destiny played the part with him also. When Aziz Ahmed reached Shimoga after a night's travel and showed him the ad and conveyed my message he thought this was a call from heaven and packed his suitcase with just two pairs of clothes and caught the next available train to Bangalore.
What had happened before that he was not given a family quarter and he was all alone while his wife was in Shimoga with her parents with an infant (daughter) Shamim. He had other professional problems also with his bosses and all this made him take an immediate decision to embark upon migration.
When he reached Bangalore my father was also at home, he asked me a straight question, when are we supposed to leave for Karachi? This put me in a dizzy state of mind as I had first returned two days back and had given a word to my parents, brothers and sisters that there is no question of my leaving Bangalore. Dr. Iliyas refused to leave without me and everyone looked at me for an answer. The fact was that I was dazed and never imagined that I would be in a situation like this. My father came to my rescue and suggested that I should go with him and return after he gets his job. I went on duty, got leave of absence and prepared for the journey. Another train journey to Bombay and a steam boat to Karachi.
The happening of the past few days were like a nightmare for me.
When we reached Bombay we became panicky as there were strong rumors of disturbances between Hindus and Muslims and tickets for steamboat were being sold at black market rates. In fact tickets were not even available. We were asked by the Muslim Hotel owner to change our outlook so as not to be distinguished as Muslims. One of our companions from Bangalore, a Muslim businessman on a similar mission, was wearing a Mirza cap which he had to pack in a suitcase and wear a pant/shirt instead of a sherwani. We were asked not to go into dangerous areas which were dominated by Hindus. At that time I happened to look into my brother's eyes which conveyed to me as if he was saying What a great blunder I have committed by listening to you.
Anyway our businessman companion found some source whose influence fetched us three tickets to Karachi at a small premium.
My grand son, you must be thinking that it is all a fairy tale which I am telling you. No, my son it is all true that is why I quoted a quote that Truth is stranger than fiction. Like our elder wise men said, If your grand parent is telling you something you must believe him unless he is a known scoundrel.
Since we got the tickets we went to the port and observed that there was a great rush and it was a boat belonging to a Hindu Magnet. The name of the ship was Saraswati.
I asked my brother to rush and occupy seats on the deck while I could settle the payment to the coolies who brought our luggage. When I reached Doctor Sab, to my horror I saw him perched on a suitcase by the side of the ship's chimney. I once again saw the same strange look in his eyes probably cursing himself for walking into my trap. All he said was that there was no other place on the deck. I realized that by the time we reach Karachi no one will be able to recognize us as human beings, because all coal particles and black dust will drench us and all those who were around the chimney for the rest of the journey.
A word here about Dr. Sab. He was of the type who would not tolerate any irregularity, lethargy or the slightest nonsense. This was his built-in habit. The journey from Bangalore to Bombay, the atmosphere in that city and the accommodation on the ship were playing havoc on his mind which I could read from his face although he did not speak a word. He was grim and continued to be so for two nights and a day.
I did not talk about all the happenings either and I found him to be a different person when we reached Karachi. Our companion donned his sherwani and his Mirza cap and kept regretting that he could not bring a pistol to shoot any Hindu at sight in Karachi. What a change in his attitude when we had seen him so scared in Bombay.
Both of us went straight to Dr. Shaheen's house, who was once again very happy to see us.
Dr. Sab went to see the Airport Health Officer Col. Jaffer who recognized him as his student of PhD course in Calcutta. Dr. Sab was asked to wait as a number of applications had been received and they were all to be interviewed before a final decision. Another jolt and similar strange look on Dr. Sab's face which scared me.
Both of us started looking for jobs in private places and 15 days elapsed. Finally Dr. Sab got the job for which he had applied and he asked me to leave for Bangalore as I would be risking my permanent job in the Aircraft Factory. I felt guilty as it would not be fair on my part to leave him all by himself when he had so much trust in me.
In the meanwhile Sirdar and Sarwar arrived in Karachi one day in similar fashion drenched in coal and black dust. This sealed my fate and I tried vigorously to get a job. Finally I got one in a private mechanical workshop on Rs. 300/= P.M. (about $1,200 a month in today's money)
By first week of Dec. 1947 or there about both myself and Doctor Sab had crossed the first hurdle of securing our jobs in Pakistan. Our immediate concern was to think of getting our families into the new world (Pakistan).
It was decided that I should proceed to Bangalore immediately and organize the migration of three families, mine, Doctor Sab's and Sirdar's.
I left Karachi for the second time by steam boat (full of Hindu migrants to India) for Bombay and another train journey of two nights a day to Bangalore. There I had two important tasks to achieve. One was to get the release from Hindustan Aircraft Factory, if possible with total amount due to me. The second was to convince my parents, brothers and sisters about the reasons for breaking my promise of staying together in Bangalore.
The first job had no problem as the factory released me although without full benefits which I had expected.
The second also did not offer much difficulty as every one agreed that it was something that was thrust upon me through the WILL of God and it perhaps augured well. However it was my conscience that pricked me because entire family had shifted from Bangarapet to Bangalore and I was responsible for it. Secondly when I had started speaking about possible migration, Nawab had felt uneasy and conveyed it to our parents which had resulted in a meeting and my promise not to raise the subject of migration again. Now I had not raised the question but had actually accomplished it. Anyway both my parents felt the predicament I was in and came to my rescue. They said I don't have to worry about it but they asked me to prepare for the journey with their blessings.
Now I ask you my son Akbar to remember that what ever step you take in future, make sure that it has the blessing of your parents. That is the key to success.
Let me tell you a short link story about one of my best friends late Mr. Qadri (husband of my cousin sister Nanhi Jan). I have told you before that I responded to his call to join the Railway Service. Later he gave up his Railway Service and came back with his entire family as soon as he learnt that I left the Railway to join Hindustan Aircraft.
This time when I conveyed to him that I was leaving Aircraft Factory and migrating to Pakistan, he did not take long to decide to follow me.
He did not pay any heed to my suggestion that he should first visit Karachi, arrange for a job and then bring the family as I was doing. He resigned and prepared for the journey. This I considered to be a very big step and a possible risk as he had a big family.
By about the third week of Dec. 1947 our three families, mine, Sirdar's and Mr. Qadri's were almost ready to leave. We had to wait for a few days more as Doctor Sab's wife had a problem. She had an infant daughter Shamim only a few days old and did not know what to do.
Finally her grand parents agreed to keep the child with them until Doctor Sab was ready to take her back to Pakistan. This did not happen for quite a long time as Shamim grew up, got married and then migrated along with her husband. Dr. Sab himself came to Bangalore to take part in the marriage with his nephew Asghar. Dr. Sab however took care to support his daughter amply while she was with her grand parents.
The caravan consisting of four families alongwith a number of children reached Bombay during the last week of Dec. 1947 and stayed in a Muslim Musafir Khana near Crawford Market.
The atmosphere in Bombay was charged as disturbances with violence had started in Northern India. Thousands of people were being killed everyday. Migrating families of Hindus and Muslims were being massacred in trains. The majority of victims were unfortunately Muslims. Relief camps were opened in Lahore and Karachi to provide shelter to the afflicted. Many well to do families had lost their last penny and were lying as destitutes in camps. Such events which were spread through papers and radio had telling effects in other areas. Bombay was about to explode. With great difficulty we managed to procure the steamboat tickets for Karachi. A few Muslim Associations in Bombay were assisting the desirous emigrants like us.
We breathed a sigh of relief when every person of our families was on the steamboat. This was not the end of our adventure.
When the boat reached Karachi on the morning of 1st. January 1948, we were asked to remain on the boat for two or three days as Muslims in Karachi were retaliating against non Muslims. On 31st. Dec. 1947 about 160 Sikhs were believed to have been massacred in a busy locality of Karachi and curfew was imposed in the city.
Dr. Sab arranged to supply food for all of us on the boat twice a day from the hotel near Keamari. After two and a half days of stay we were allowed to disembark and catch a special train from the sea port to the city which was arranged by the Government for Mohajir's. At this time an unpleasant incident took place.
Dr. Sab who had his job at the Karachi Airport was given a 4 room apartment which was sufficient for two families at the most. Since there were four families that reached Karachi from India Dr. Sab did not agree to take Mr. Qadri's family to his house from the airport. I felt embarrassed and stayed back with Mr. Qadri's family in a hotel in the city and allowed my family to proceed with others to Dr. Sab's house.
I felt guilty as Mr. Qadri decided to migrate to Pakistan because he thought whatever I was doing must be right. This incident left a scar on our relations which never seemed to heal for a very long time. After a few days when Mr. Qadri settled down in a rented apartment I joined our families and joined the duty in Central Mechanical Engineering Co. at Lawrence Road.
From Jan. 1948 we began our new life in Pakistan which will be described in Book II.
A few morals out of Book I:
1. Our grand parents probably never imagined that so many of their grand children have not only been living well but have traveled far and wide. Some of their noble actions may have indeed pleased God Almighty.
2. If there had been no rain or thunder storm on Oct. 27, 1947 the flight on which I traveled from Bangalore to Karachi would have landed in Bombay. That would have been the end of our migration as the Indian Govt. would not have allowed it to proceed to Pakistan in view of the fact that Kashmir war had started on that day.
3. In late 1947 after India and Pakistan had achieved independence from British Rule violent disturbances between Hindus and Muslims had erupted resulting in mass killings on both sides. Miraculously Bombay had remained quiet but uneasy. In case some thing had started there at that time our families probably would have been wiped out. Where we are today is entirely through God's mercy.