Romesh Kahryal (Mirpuri)
Mirpur, identified as Mirpur Chomakh, is in Pakistan occupied part of Jammu & Kashmir State since 1947. The town was raided and devastated by the Kabyali Pathans fully backed by well equipped Pakistan Army on 10th of Magar 2004 (25th of November 1947). The majestic town is no more in existence now as the town lies in deep slumber under the lake water of the Mangla Dam constructed by Pakistan Government somewhere in early sixties of the nineteenth century. Till 15 August, 1947 when India got independence, Mirpur was a part of Independent Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir (An Autocracy till then). Maharaja Hari Singh of the State signed the treaty of Accession on October 26, 1947, about over two months after the creation of Secular India on 15th August, 1947.
I was born at Mirpur and often in dreams walk through the lanes and bazaars of the town, sometimes alone and occasionally with my young mates. Mirpur by early 1947 had about 10,000 to 12,000 population which suddenly swelled to about 25,000 by August 1947 with the influx of displaced refugees from neighbouring Punjab (Pakistan) as well as displaced Hindus and Sikhs families from surrounding villages of rural Mirpur. It was a great tragedy of 1947 partition of British India in which about 20000 innocent armless Hindus and Sikhs of Mirpur were brutally killed or burnt alive.
Mirpur was perhaps the biggest trade centre of the State and was the gateway of trade of entire State with other states of British India. The town had over 80 percent brick built pacca houses. Some of the dwellings of few very rich Mirpuries like Diwan Chand Shah and Dhangryal brothers were even three storey palatial buildings with western style plumbing system. In absence of electricity, the administration managed oil lit street lights hung on street walls which used to be lit up at night by a paid employee who could be seen moving with a ladder and a kerosene Kanaster to feed these street lamps as and when required. A single about one and a half kilometer long Bazaar with brick built shops on both sides, was the main centre for business which had a main wholesale business centre named as ‘Dharat’ in front of which trucks for loading & unloading goods could be seen. The Bazar ended both ways in big gates called ‘Hathi Darwazas’ which were perhaps which were perhaps built for occasional visits of the Maharajas. The town was built on a slopy hillock and the low lying area called ‘Khud’ was connected with it by about a dozen zigzag pathways called ‘Dhakies’. Usually, the Dhakies ended up at a sweet water deep wells which were used for bathing & domestic purposes. Magestic Gurudwara Damdama Sahib, Jama Masjid Gkhran, Shiv Temple, Ram Temple, Arya Samaj Bhawan were the dignity of the town for spiritual food for Hindus, Sikhs and Muslims. Three Urdu daily news papers were published in Mirpur to impart needed knowledge to the educated sections of Mirpuri. In educational field the town had a high school and recently built degree college in 1947, alongwith a number of primary schools for boys and girls. On an average every Mirpuri family had an educated Matriculate. Some Mirpuris had gone to other states for education as well as business. Few Mirpuris had acquired technical education abroad as well. Mr Bihari Lal Gupta of Mirpur got engineering degree from London and served as powerful and honest Chief Engineer in Jammu & Kashmir State. In health & judiciary Mirpuris excelled every region of the State.
A large number of Mirpur survivors observe fast (Varat) and organize Parbhat Pharies and Havans on this black days of 10 Magar in loving memory of thousands of Mirpuris who lost their lives in holocaust of 1947. May Almighty bestow peace to all those who sacrificed their lives in 1947 at Mirpur and keep us survivors and our future generation to continue paying homage to these martyrs.
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