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PARTITION: Tape 49
TAPE 49
Writer
255MODEM
Mod Date & Time
255MODEM Mar 20 17:15
Side A
Malar Kotla - former princely state ruled by a Muslim Nawab; the
only town in Indian Punjab which now has a Muslim majority; one
resident estimated total town popn of 100,000 +, 60% Muslims, with
more Hindus and Sikhs; most of surrounding villages mainly Sikh;
big cattle market - almost exc for Sikh farmers - on edge of town;
very pleasant old town, with Muslim dhabas, and many small
workshops speciliasing in emboridered military epaulettes and
badges for armed forces all over the world; one shop showed
epaulettes and badges for Indian, U.K., Israeli and Kuwaiti armed
forces. Many masjids in old town, a maZe of well-kept narrow
alleyways. The Jama Masjid very attractive and well-kept. The
Nawab's place, an imposing uilding, is in the old town - the last
Nawab died without an heir, but his three Begums still live there.
Few women in the streets, but some that are wear burqas. Old town
mixed, thjos o/whelming Muslim. Youngsters learn in urdu - one
said he cd read Urdu (and proved it) Punjabi and English - but not
Hindi.
Ate in a small dhaba opposite the Kamal cinema - one of several;
specialised in meat, spicy, freshly coooked, and tasty. Locals sd
there had been tension after the demolition of the Babri Masjid
(Ms apparently damaged Hindu and Jain temples, thos one man sd
they later helped make good the damage).
The town has a different feel to others in Indian Punjab - not
as prosperous, but much more homely and relaxed.
At office of Jammat-e-Islami: Hind, a considerable library of
works in urdu. Given three boks about the Prophet and Islam.
(20/3/97)
ALL IN PUNJABI/URDU
2 > wildtrack of dhaba (two big bubbling pots of meat,
one of rice, liver and rotis warmed up): prop -
Mohammed ? Issar
36 > Ahmeddin: old man from MK interviewed in dhaba
45 > 'in 47 there was a lot of trouble - MK was a place
where no trouble happened'
54 > 'this was a ... pirncely state and it had a nawab;
the nawab protected the Ms here' [and story of
Sikhs' respect for the M nawabas of MK]
85 > 'nothing happd here, it was v peaceful here, in fact a
lot of ms from other parts of Punj came here seking
refuge ... some 10 or 12 laks of Ms collected in MK
in 47'
104 > wildtrack of people eating in dhaba [with drunk
interrupting]
GAP
120 > dhaba owner cooking FX, and serving up
131 > vox pop 'Musulmana khana ji ... Muslim food ...'
136 > Abdul Hamid: military badge embroider, 8 years old at
partition time |
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