Occupation of Bantva & Kutiyana

A Chronological Summary

On International website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki - A Free Encyclopedia

by Abdur Razzaq Thaplawala

I had written an article captioned “Occupation of Bantva and Kutiyana”. The article was published in Daily Dawn, Monthly Memon Alam etc is also available on my website:

         http://www.memonworld.net     OR      http://www.memonworld.com.pk

An internationally known website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki  which is a sort of free encyclopedia has summarized my article on the basis of dates. The summary is reproduced below with the hope that it will be of interest to old residents of Bantva & Kutiyana and their youngsters.

• August 14, 1947

• A new nation Pakistan was created and gain independence from British

• September 9, 1947

At the time of Partition of India, Bantva (town), ruled by Khan of Bantva Manavadar who was were indecisive about joining either Pakiatan or India . The Muslim residents of Bantva, who mainly belonged to Memon community organized a big public meeting in early September, 1947, demanding joing of Bantva with Pakistan and formed a delegation to meet the rulers of Bantva-Manavadar. The delegation consisting of dignitaries of Memon community met darbar of Bantva & Khan of Manavadar.

• September 25, 1947

On the persuasion of the subjects of the state, Bantva-Manavadar ruler accounced its accession to Pakistan This was naturally not acceptable to India

• October 3, 1947

• Indian Government sent two companies of its armed forces to Bantva under the command of Col. Himmayat Singhjee. The invading forces took over all government offices and declared Bantva as a part of Indian union. Army pickets were established at various places in Bantva. On the same day Sardargadh a , neighboring town of Bantva was also occupied.

• October 23, 1947

Manavadar was occupied and the rulers were arrested and taken away first to Jamnagar and then to Rajkot.

• 7^th November 1947

The 8^th Sikh regiment reached Kutiyana

• 8^th Novemebr 1947

More arm forces consisting of 40 trucks and 50 jeeps also joined the Sikh regiment to occupy Kutiyana. Many Muslims of Kutiyana laid their lives.

• 9^th November 1947’

Occupation of Junagadh State State

• 10^th Novemebr 1947

the population of Kutiyana was attacked by the Sikh Regiment. They broke in the houses and took away all currency, jewellery, valuables clothing etc.

• 13^th November 1947

In the meanwhile, uneasy calm prevailed in Bantva whose residents knew that they were the next target. Mr. Valabh Bhai Patel, the then interior Minister of India & others made inflammatory speeches while addressing a public meeting in Junagadh against Muslims in general and Memon community of Bantva in particular which had made handsome contribution to the Press Fund of Muslim League when Quaid-e-Azam visited Bantva in 1940.

15th November 1947

The population of bantva was attacked in the midnight of 15th November, 1947. The attackers mainly consisted of farm labour of adjoining villages. They broke open the doors of houses with their axes and took away everything which they could lay hand on. No Muslim could help his follow Muslims because Muslims were not allowed to come out of their homes to help their fellow brothers by the curfew enforcing army.

• November 16- 30 1947 Migration to Pakistan

The entire population of Bantva was in a state of shock and helplessness. They left their houses and shops with all their belongings, and migrated to Pakistan by ships through Okha port or Bombay. About 90pc of population of Bantva & Kutiyana had left their birth place within next 15 days.

As a result of atrocities committed on the members of community in Bantva and Kutiyana, the Memons from other towns and cities including Dhoraji, Jetpur, Gondal, Upleta, Mangrol, Jamnagar etc realized that it was no longer safe for them to continue living is their home towns. Majority of them, therefore, migrated to Pakistan . They were helped to settle in Karachi and other towns of Sindh

Some Clarification

As an instrument of accession with Pakistan was not yet signed, Bantva & Manawadar were occupied by Indian Army and there was no opposition or trouble until 15th November, 1947 when some farmers broke the doors, houses and took away all valuables. This happened after inflammatory SPEECHED MADE BY Sardar Walabh Bhai Patel and Samardas Gandhi against Memons of Bantva. The sikh army did not take part in looting the houses but they also did not prevent the looters who took away valuables appliances & clothing in bullock carts before their eyes inspite of the fact that there was night curfew. This loot occurred on 15th November, 1947 and from midnight to early morning. There was no blood shed and there was no other incidence except this one but the entire population of Bantva left for Pakistan in a week. The story of Kutiyana was different. It was part of Junagadh State and it was occupied by Aarzee Hukumat organized by a journalist of Rajkot Mr. Samar Das Gandhi under the patronage of Sardar Walabh Bhai Patel (Home Minister). There was a lot of blood shed and looting in Kutiyana but official Indian Army was not involved. The information department of Gujrat Government 7, Dr. Jiwraj Maheta Bhawan Gandhi Nagar has published a 250 pages book in Gujrat in February, 1999 with the title:

“JUNAGADH NEE AARZEE HUKUMAT”

This book gives a detailed account of how KUTIYANA was occupied. It shows the photographs of the Army of Arzee  Hukumat, the dismantlling of railway track at SARADIA and derailing of the only engine which operated Junagadh/ Saradia railway line the easiest way to go to Kutiyana. The purpose was to prevent Junagadh to give any assistance to Kutiyana before 9^th November, 1947.

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