Rescuing and giving Refuge to Dhoni Chand Bhagat & Leelawanti ( 1947 Partition Stories)

My forefathers used to live in Rangpura Sialkot for the last three hundred years. In 1947, Pakistan came into being, at that  time my father was just five years old. During these days his elder brother was a renowned dispenser doctor and was practicing in Rangpura, he was very famous in society as well. My grandfather was working in Indian Railways in those days. My grandfather's four other brothers and several cousins also used to live in Rangpura at that time.

The partition led to the forced migration of millions of people across the newly drawn borders. Hindus and Sikhs migrated to India from Pakistan, while Muslims migrated to Pakistan from India.

Riots and violence also started in Rangpura, Muslims were the majority in Sialkot at that time. People were attacked and killed based on their religious affiliation.

Dhoni Chand Bhagat was a Hindu, who used to live in Rangpura, his life was also at risk when a mob came after him for killing, my father's elder brother Dr. Abbas Baig came to his rescue and bring him to his home and gave him refuge in a barn.

Dhoni Chand Bhagat was not the only Hindu to whom my uncle had given refuge in his home. During partition days, Leelawanti the soul sister (منہ بولی بہن) to my uncle, also stayed in our Rangpura home for months. In haste her family left her alone in Sialkot  Later she left for Ludhiana and came back once after many years with her son to meet my uncle. My father was also grown up till then and she has a glimpse of Leelawanti in his mind and at first instance, she recognized her. 'Leelawanti Baji' were the first words that came from his mouth, she met everybody with affection and that was also her last visit to Pakistan.

Dhoni Chand Bhagat decided to stay in Pakistan. After many years of partition of Hindustan, he died in Sialkot. My father and uncle attended his cremation ceremony and used to share that story with me as well. There was a place named Marian used to present near Pul Aik in Sialkot where the cremation of the deceased Hindu's bodies took place.  The body of Dhoni Chand was washed and dressed in new clothes and then placed on a bier. The funeral procession is led by his eldest son. As the procession makes its way to the cremation ground, prayers and hymns were recited also Patasa (Sweet), and coins were distributed among kids, also there was a flute and drum player present in the procession. 

At the cremation ground, the body was placed on the funeral pyre made of wood. The eldest son of Dhoni Chand Bhagat lighted the pyre, and the body was consumed by the flames. My father told me the pyre was remain in flames for three days  After the cremation, the ashes were collected and sent to be in a sacred Ganga.

The partition of India remains one of the most tragic and violent events in modern history, and its legacy continues to be felt today. However, I feel a bit proud of my forefathers that they did not become part of this violence and helped other humans in need without considering their different religious affiliations.