Writer Mod Date & Time PARTITION: Tape 38 (cont) 255MODEM 255MODEM Mar 08 10:01 SISTER EMILIA interviewed at St Joseph's convent (Franciscan Order of Mary) at Baramulla on 8 March 1997 Italian-born nun from Verona, came to India in 1930 and to Baramulla in 1933 and has been there ever since; now aged 91, almost 92; was present during the raiders' attack in 1947, and along with other nuns was evacuated out in Nov 47; she and others returned in 1949 at request of local people Sister Emilia said in chat after the interview that the man who came and ordered the raiders to lay down their weapons, and obviously was in some position of authority was different to the raiders in facial appearance and in dress, and probably came from Pakistan; she couldn't understand what he was saying, and doesn't know who he was round-faced, slightly red, jolly, very pleasant outgoing woman, diminutive and plump; speaks with strong Italian accent; obviously loves Baramulla; speaks Urdu and can understand Kashmiri; says she was away from Italy so long, she almost forgot her native language; has been back to Italy a total of four times, most recently twelve years ago convent was - in 47 - largely European with a school, hospital and two priests; now much expanded with large church (Sunday congregation c 100, with 15 local Catholic families), large school, dispensary and hospital - all clearly well run and well patronised; twenty nuns, all except Emilia being Indian, with Sister Lucy, a Goan who's been here for about 17 years, in charge; beautiful calm setting, on main road out of Baramulla towards Srinagar, just out of the town centre - overlooked by tree-lined hills church has bell [actuality recorded **] just a mile or two further towards Srinagar is a monment on a small hill by the roadside, with a board on the raod reading: "In the ever green memory on [sic] the brave soldiers of the Sikh Regiment who gave their lives so Kashmiris might live in freedom. They were the first Indian troops to come to their rescue in 27th Oct 1947 on this fateful hill was fought their first engagement". Side A at end - bells of St Joseph's convent church, Baramulla Side B 10 > came to Baramulla in May 33; wept away in Nov 47 and back in March 49 20 - 'there were rumours that they were con^jng; we were thinkig that they won't do nothing to us ... Monday after the feast of Christ the King they reach here . .. they started to fehoot . .. they came inside, we were working still, our dispensary was working still, the hoa^ital/had patients' 39 - 'they [the raiders] want to ^eafdn for money, I think, a patient they kill in the )?ed ... they wanted to get