As Pakistan took its first steps, the state faced a huge task. It had to house millions of refugees during widespread communal violence. The Dawn newspaper issues from Sept 8 to 14, 1947, recorded these difficult times. In better news, the Urdu Anjuman met for the first time in Karachi. Also, in a strange twist of history, the US supported Iran against Soviet threats.
The great migration
The partition of the subcontinent caused one of the largest and bloodiest mass migrations in human history. In the second week of September, Dawn recorded the massive flow of refugees in both directions. Communal violence continued, and the new state struggled to protect, house, and feed millions of people.
In the Sept 8 issue, Mr Sri Prakasa, the Indian High Commissioner in Pakistan, said: "at present, nearly 300,000 people must be on the move from Pakistan to India and vice-versa and it was estimated that about 1,000,000 persons had already changed sides in both directions".
Refugees coming from India mainly went to Karachi, then the federal capital, and Punjab. In the Sept 10 issue, it was noted that "refugees from Hindustan are pouring into Karachi in ever increasing numbers." The outflow in the other direction was also large. A report said "the mad rush of evacuees from Karachi is reaching its zenith. The police had to disperse several times crowds which had assembled at the office of the Bombay Steam Navigation Company to get passages to Hindustan".
The influx into Punjab was just as intense. In the Sept 11 issue, a report said "the total number of Muslim refugees which have arrived from the East Punjab into the West Punjab up-to-date has reached the huge figure of 12 lakhs and almost one half of this number has already been absorbed into the economic life of this province. …"
Food scarcity
The huge arrival of people was one reason for food shortage in the early weeks of Pakistan. A headline in the Sept 8 issue said, 'Pakistan food situation becoming very acute'. Other reasons were exports to India, now another country, and floods.
But the report said the "refugee problem coupled with the 'scorched-earth' policy carried out by some evacuees from the West Punjab — destruction of foodgrains, livestock and agricultural implements — have put an enormous strain on the food and administrative resources of the West Punjab."
Those were exceptionally tough times. The young state had to arrange food for a large population in war-like conditions. Today, decades after Pakistan was established, a more experienced state still cannot properly feed its people, especially children. Millions of children suffer from stunting and wasting due to malnutrition. This shows a depressing reality.
Delhi in flames
There was communal violence across the subcontinent before Independence and in the weeks and months after. In the week under review, New Delhi, the Indian capital, saw particularly brutal violence. The banner headline in the Sept 9 issue read 'Delhi in flames'.
"Delhi is in flames. The administration has completely broken down. The troops seem out of control", the report said. "Monday [Sept 8] was indescribably terrible throughout Delhi and New Delhi. It is impossible to say how many were killed on Sunday and Monday. That there has been extensive butchery everywhere is admitted by official quarters".
Freedom was supposed to be a moment of joy. It was the end of nearly a century of foreign bondage. But as these horrific accounts show, that joy was short-lived. Savagery was unleashed. Those who saw this madness with their own eyes have nearly all passed away, or are in the twilight of their lives. Yet the wounds of that period have not healed. The continuing toxicity in relations between Pakistan and India shows this.
Urdu Anjuman formed
Many among the elite pay only lip service to Urdu. But the national language is key to preserving the culture and civilisation of the subcontinent's Muslims. This does not take anything away from other languages spoken in Pakistan. All are important and deserve respect and support. But Urdu and Pakistan are closely linked. As the Sept 9 issue noted, the formation of the Urdu Anjuman was a major event in the nation's cultural history.
The initial meeting was held in Karachi's YMCA Hall on Sept 8 "under the Presidentship of Pir Illahi Bakhsh", Sind's education minister. "The organisation will serve as a nucleus for the propagation of Urdu throughout Pakistan," the report said.
In a message, Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan said: "It is fitting that Karachi should be the centre of the Urdu Anjuman-Pakistan. … Urdu has been a safe custodian of our cultural heritage and has formed an international link."
US support for Iran
The truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction. Today the US and Israel are locked in battle with Iran. Chances of fresh aggression against the Islamic Republic remain. However, in 1947, when Iranians, then ruled by Mohammad Reza Shah, faced tensions with the Soviet Union, the US came to Tehran's defence. Mohammad Reza Shah was deposed by the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
As mentioned in the Sept 12 issue, the Iranians had reportedly repudiated the Soviet-Iran oil agreement. This did not go down well in Moscow. The dispute caused the American ambassador in what was then called Teheran to make an impassioned plea for Iranian sovereignty.
Mr George Allen, the US Ambassador in Teheran, was quoted as saying that "Iran's resources belong to Iran. Iran can give them away free of charge or refuse to dispose them at any price. … Iranians may rest assured that the United States people will support fully their freedom to make their own choice."
Looking back at history
With the advantage of hindsight, one can study the historical cycles in a nation's life. Thanks to this newspaper's unique, extensive archive of back issues, one can examine the major political, economic and social trends that have shaped Pakistan and the world over the last seven decades and counting. History repeats itself, and we — as a state and as a polity — largely refuse to learn from it.
Through this platform, we will look back at the 'big' stories that made it to the front pages of Dawn, as well as significant developments tucked away in the inside pages, from the birth of Pakistan onwards. We will study the critical issues of the week, starting from August 14, 1947 and examine the major themes and issues that made it to the paper.
Source: dawn