Partition and its aftermath: violence, migration and the role of refugees in the socio-economic ...

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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
Centre for Imperial and Post-Colonial Studies
Partition and Its Aftermath: Violence, Migration and the
Role of Refugees in the Socio-Economic Development of
Gujranwala and Sialkot Cities, 1947-1961
by
Ilyas Ahmad Chattha
Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy
September 2009
Iwouldliketodedicatethis worktomyfamilywhogavemethe confidencetotry
and
Professor Ian Talbot mysupervisorwho guidedmetoaconclusion
Abstract
The partition of India in August 1947 was marked by the greatest migration in the
Twentieth Century and the death of an estimated one million persons. Yet until
recently (Ansari 2005; Talbot 2006) little was written about the longer term socio-
economic consequences of this massive dislocation, especially for Pakistan. Even
when the ‘human dimension’ of refugee experience rather than the ‘high politics’ of
partition was addressed, it was not specifically tied to local case studies (Butalia,
1998). A comparative dimension was also missing, even in the ‘new history’ of
partition.
The thesis through case studies of the Pakistan Punjab cities of Gujranwala
and Sialkot examines partition related episodes of violence, migration and
resettlement. It draws on hitherto unexplored original sources to explain the nature,
motivation and purpose of violence at the local level. It argues that the violence in
bothcities was clearlypoliticallyratherthanculturallyand religiouslyrooted.
The problems of finding accommodation and employment as well as patterns
of urban resettlement are also explored. The thesis shows how the massive shifts in
population influenced and transformed the socio-economic landscape of the two
cities. It also addresses wider issues regarding the relative roles of refugees and
locally skilled craftsmen in rebuilding the cities’ economies following the migration
of the Hindu and Sikh trading and commercial class. This analysis reveals that while
partition represented a major disruption, continuities persisted from the colonial era.
Indeed, Sialkot’s post-independence development owed more to the skill base it
inheritedthantotherefugeeinflux.
Contents
List ofTables vi
List ofMaps and Illustrations vii
DeclarationofAuthorship ix
PrefaceandAcknowledgement x
List ofAbbreviations xiii
Translations/Transliterations xiv
Introduction 1
TheHistoriographyofPartition
Explanations oftheViolence
Definition
TheStudysites, MethodologyandSources
OrganizationofChapters
Part1
Contexts:Historical and Provincial
1.Colonial Inheritance: LifebeforePartitioninGujranwala andSialkot 25
2.Violence,Migration andResettlement: BroaderPunjab Level Picture 93
PartII
Locality,Partition Violenceand Migration
3. Partition,Violenceand Migration: CaseStudyofGujranwala 125
4. Partition,Violenceand Migration: CaseStudyof Sialkot 160
Conclusion
PartIII
Localityand theAftermath of Partition
5. Aftermath of Partition: Case Study of Refugee Resettlement and Development in
Gujranwala
198
6. Aftermath of Partition: Case Study of Refugee Resettlement and Development in
Sialkot 230
Conclusion
Conclusion 282
Appendixes 293
Glossary 297
Bibliography 300
List of Tables
Table Page
Table1.1 CompositionofUrbanPopulationinthedistrict ofGujranwalaTowns 44
Table1.2 CompositionofPopulationinGujranwalaDistrict 45
Table1.3 CompositionofPopulationinSialkot Suburbs, 1881-1891 54
Table1.4 CompositionofPopulationinSialkot Town 69
Table1.5 Religious CompositionofPopulationinSialkot Town/Cantonment
Table1.6 Values of Export Sports Goods beforePartition 76
Table1.7 CompositionofChristianPopulationinSialkot District 79
Table1.8 Places oftheOriginofMuslim Refugees inWest Punjab 111
Table1.9 Patterns of RefugeeResettlement inPakistan,1948 112
Table1.10 RehabilitationofRefugees inRural andUrban Areas West Punjab
Table2.1 Annual Outputs ofSialkot’s Surgical Instruments 249
Table2.2 Total ValueofExport ofSporting- Goods, 1952-9 265
Table2.3 Customer Countries ofSport Goods andExportedAmount inRupees
Table2.4 Numberof JammuKashmirrefugees inWest Punjab,1952 268
vi
Maps and Illustrations
Map ofthePunjabin1947 xv
Map ofGujranwala cityin1947 26
Map ofSialkot cityin1947 53
Map ofJammuandKashmirin1947 179
Ranjit Singh’s BirthPlaceinGujranwala 29
TheTombofMahanSingh,inGujranwala,CourtesyBritish Library
ResidenceofSardar Hari SinghNalwa,inGujranwala
GujranwalaSialkoti Gate in1869,CourtesyBritish Library 35
GujranwalaSialkoti Gate in2007
GujranwalaChurchfoundedin1865,CourtesyBritish Library 36
GujranwalaRailwayStation,whichwas built in1861
CharanSingh’s formerresidenceinGujranwala 37
Banarasi Shah’s former residenceinGujranwala
ShaiwalaTejaSinghTempleinSialkot 55
Gurdwara Baba-di-Bari inSialkot
Traditional WoodworkArchitectureinSialkot’s Kashmiri mohalla 56
Uberoi GandaSingh’s formerMansioninSialkot’s Paris Road
AviewoftheKashmiri Mohalla inSialkot 57
Uberoi CooperativeSports LimitedinSialkot’s Paris Road
Former HinduRangPura mohalla inSialkot
Sialkot Cathedral establishedin1850 63
Sialkot MurrayChurchofScotlandfoundedin1889
Sialkot MurrayCollege, whichtheChurchofScotlandfoundedin1889
vii
NizamabadRailwayStationonthePunjabNorth-WesternRailwayTrack 146
Photos ofMohammadRamzanandMohammad Ali ofNizamabad 147
Photos ofAbdul Islam Butt,MalikAbbas andDr Lal 174
Photos ofKazim ShahandKhalidAnwar 210
Metal-Works inaGujranwalafactory 211
Aluminium RollerbeingpreparedinaGujranwala workshop
BatalaSteel Vessel General StoreinGujranwala’s Sialkoti Gate 228
GuffarPatialaJewellers inGujranwala’s Sarafa Bazaar
Surgical Instruments beingmanufacturedinaSialkot Factory 261
Surgical Instruments beingmanufacturedinaSialkot homebasedWorkshop
Tennis rackets beingmanufacturedinaSialkot factory 262
Hockeysticks beingmanufacturedinaSialkot factory
viii
DECLARATION OF AUTHORSHIP
I,ILYAS AHMADCHATTHAdeclarethat the thesis entitled:
‘Partition and Its Aftermath:Violence, Migration and theRoleof Refugees in
theSocio-economic Developmentof Gujranwalaand SialkotCities, 1947-1961’
andtheworkpresentedinthethesis arebothmyown,andhavebeen generatedbyme
as theresult ofmyownoriginal research. Iconfirm that:
 this workwas donewhollyormainlywhileincandidaturefor aresearchdegreeat
this University;
 where anypart ofthis thesis has previouslybeensubmittedforadegreeor any
otherqualificationat this Universityoranyotherinstitution,this has beenclearly
stated;
 where Ihave consultedthepublishedworkofothers, this is always clearly
attributed;
 where Ihavequotedfrom theworkofothers, the sourceis always given. Withthe
exceptionofsuchquotations, this thesis is entirelymyownwork;
 Ihaveacknowledgedall mainsources ofhelp;
 wherethethesis is based onworkdonebymyself jointlywithothers, Ihavemade
clear exactlywhat was donebyothers andwhat Ihavecontributedmyself;
 noneofthis workhas beenpublishedbeforesubmission
Signed:…IlyasChattha…………………………………………
Date:
ix