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Birth Place Revisited

 BY: ABDUR RAZZAQ THAPLAWALA

I had migrated from Bantva in the 3rd week of November, 1947 after the houses of Muslims were attacked by Hindu farmers on 15th November, 1947. The houses were attacked in spite of the fact that there was night curfew and  Sikh soldiers were on duty at each Street and Mohalla. At that time, I was 11 years old but I still remember the sounds of save us or (Bachao, Bachao) from the women folks whose houses were being attacked.

 

On 16th November, 1947, when the curfew was relaxed for a few hours, all the residence of Bantva gathered at the Bazar outside the main gate (Zapa) of Bantva. cas well. Although, there was no bloodshed in Bantva but the houses were attacked in the presence of Sikh solders. The residence of Bantva were fearful and decided to leave for Pakistan as soon as possible. As a result of this decision, the 25,000 Muslim population majority of whom were Memons decided to migrate to Pakistan. Within 3 days, the residents of Bantva started leaving for Bombay or Okha from where they migrated to Pakistan by steamships.

 

After migration in the 3rd week of November, 1947, I did not have the opportunity of visiting Bantva and its surrounding cities until 21st March, 2005.

 

I was invited to participate in a seminar on cement industry being held in the first week of January, 2005 at Mumbai. I was also invited by some cement machinery manufacturers to have a look at machinery manufactured in India. I decided that I should visit Mumbai and surrounding places but at the same time I should take this opportunity of visiting my birth place. I therefore applied for visa to Indian High Commission with including visa for Rajkot, Junagadh and Bantva. Unfortunately, Indian High Commission  lost my passport and in spite of several efforts, the passport could not be found. I had to obtain a new passport. 

Please check the links below to see the details and pictures of this visit. The sequence of my visit was Bombay-> Rajkot -> Junagadh -> Vanthali -> Bantva -> Thapla & Kodvav -> Dhoraji -> Bombay.