Source: www.apnabannu.com
In 1947, many Hindu families sold their land under compulsion of leaving their homes for migration to India. The Hindu property thus unsold by then was taken over by the Pakistan Government and a department known as Custodian Department looked after the property till the time much of the property was auctioned in 1954 to 1960 but a lot of it was given to the Mahajirs who migrated from India. The religious places of Hindus and Sikhs are still guarded by the District Administration.
Like Niazis who were once a part of District Bannu but driven out by the Marwats, the role of Hindus in Bannu who migrated to India due to partition, cannot ignored. The Hindus community (as well as some Sikh families) had a complete hold on the business line in Bannu except arms making, and 80% of houses and shops at Bannu city were purely held by them. In fact, Bannu city was erected for their protection by Lt. Edwardes in 1847 thence completed by Major Taylor in 1848; and they doubtlessly attained distinction in Bannu by virtue of hard work. They left their immovable property under the assurances from the Malluks and the district administration that their property would be returned to them if they might not find their migration to India and subsequent settlement there, either impossible or hard. However, when ten years passed and none returned, the property at city was completely taken over by Custodian Department (raised for the purpose) and after letting some houses and shops given to the Mahajirs from India, the rest was auctioned under government auctioneers which properties are now possessed by different classes. The land in villages was possessed by the Malluks and then after 30 years declared as their property.
The Hindus were not touched or molested at Bannu at the time of partition, rather they were looked after well and transported in their transports to Bannu Railway Station. The wealthy families managed to go by Air from Pakistan but majority of the families travelled by trained and while entering Punjab, many families at the hands of the Muslim bandits, suffered badly. Very touching scenes were observed when Hindus kissed the soil of Bannu while moving off the land with tears in their eyes. Their places of worship are still guarded by the District Administration through the Custodian Department and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Government of Pakistan. Even after their settlement till this date in India, they speak Bannuwal language at homes and love the language. In marriages they also play Bannuwal dhol and enjoy typical Bannuwal dances. However, here at Bannu, they are remembered with good words, people talk about their ways and manners, in places of meeting. Despite some incident that took place like the sad case of Islam Bibi, a newly converted girl to Islam who had fallen in love with a pir of Jhando Khel, in 1936; they all remained much respectful to the Bannuchi communities and maintained peace, wishing tranquility for the district in general.
Apart from their business line in grains; and sell or purchase of audible items like ghee, sugar, gurr and tea in the district; they even had been running the cinemas and private mechanized transport. Many of them were even tangewala (ekkawala). There were two cinemas in Bannu known as Regal Cinema and In-city Cinema, erected in 1930, run by Khanna family ( Hindu) and Kania Singh family (Sikh) respectively. ‘In-city Cinema’ was initially known as ‘talkies’ but when in 1947, Kania Singh embraced Islam and was named as Sheikh Saleem, the cinema was consequently named as ‘Saleem Theatre’. Regal cinema was owned by Bannu Garrison in 1947 when Khanna family left for India. It was subsequently leased out to Late Amanullah Khan and his brothers (Kachozai family). These two cinemas have been demolished recently by their owners due to the old brick structures that had gone dangerous after eighty years (or perhaps due to threats from Taliban), and now new commercial centers are being erected in place.
Till late in 1962, the Hindus of Miranshah and Bannu who opted to stay in Pakistan, had been collectively and regularly celebrating dosehra, dewali etc., with whom many Bannuchis also used to join them on such occasions at the specified parks. They had been distributing sweets on such occasions and sending these to the Bannuchi families living close to them. Typical bilateral relations of the mebers of the two religeons existed that remained combined for centuries.
After partition, as mentioned above, many Hindu families migrated to Delhi, Faridabad, Kanpur, Haridwar, Dehradun, Lucknow, Bareily, Rampur, Agra, Vrindavan and Bombay. Rampur (Uttar Pradesh) is having majority of Bannuwal communities.
The Hindus community dressed like Bannuchis with only a difference in Turban which they used to wear around their heads differently. Some Hindus in Bannu were well off and politically well placed. The most influential among them was Kanwar Bhan Bagai, a famous transporter, grain supplier and owner of many houses and around 100 shops in Bannu city in the second quarter of 20th century. He was the head of the Bannuwal Hindus and carried weight in his decision at the British offices.
To put the record straight, it is pointed out that Sikh name of Sheikh Saleem (owner of Saleem Theatre) was Kania Sing not Ricky Sing. And his father was Sham Sing.They owned a good chunk of property including shops and houses from Tehsil Street to Das Chowk in the centre of the walled city.
ReplyDeleteNot even Kania Singh, but "Kanhayya Lal"
DeleteKania singh not laa
DeleteNisar Saheb, please add more information if you have.
ReplyDeleteMy father and grandfather came from Bannu. My Grandfather was teacher at Bannu High School, Pandit Tehal Ram Sharma. We got large biradari in India with millions of people from Bannu well settled in various parts of India.
ReplyDeleteWe are Batras from Bannu. My father was born in Bannu in 1938 and migrated to India and settled in Bareilly U.P. Sadly he passed away in 2005. My grand parents used to speak Bannuwali and Pashto. My father could read Urdu. With passing away of my uncle in 2018, my link to Bannu is broken. I wish i could get more information about my extended family members who migrated from Bannu.
DeleteU can ask about bannu bro
DeleteMy Grandfather and Great Grandfather came from Bannu, my great grandfather's name was Prakashlal Sharma and my grandfather's name was Mohanlal Sharma.They came and settled in Faridabad, Haryana. My grandfather passed away on 2 days before. He known Urdu and my great grandfather known Pashto.
ReplyDeleteHi, I am a PhD student conducting research on Bannuwals in Faridabad. If you know anyone who witnessed Partition and would perhaps agree for an interview, could you please connect me with them? Thank you.
DeleteyES THERE ARE FEW IN DEHRADUN AND FARIDABAD
DeleteThere are few in dehradun Delhi faridabad. Coming from bannu family, i know many relatives staying in these 3 cities
DeleteHi, I am a PhD student conducting research on Bannuwals in Faridabad. If you know anyone who witnessed Partition and would perhaps agree for an interview, could you please connect me with them? Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHi,I can help you.
DeleteMy grand father name is than chand bhatia my father name us bhagat singh bhatia and born in bannu in 1941. After partitions they settled in jammu and well settled. My grand father died in 1990 and father in 2014 both were speaking vannuwali and pashtoo.
ReplyDeleteYes street still named in walled City bannu as mahala bhatia.
Delete