An insight into a bygone era: Book Review

Its cultures and subcultures

There were however several differences between various regions of the province based on their peculiar geographical conditions, nature of landownership, castes and religions. The Nakodar ‘bate’ was occupied by Arains who had a peculiar subculture. With small landholdings one could prosper only through education

Shahid Hamid is a literary figure known for his translations of some of the major works of fiction including Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”, Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”, Dostoevsky’s “The Brothers Karamazov” and Ernest Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea”. He has also translated Edward W. Said’s “The Question of Palestine.” Currently his Urdu-English dictionary comprising over 2,000 pages is under publication. Hamid has taught English language and literature at Government College Lahore.

The book under review is an absorbing memoir. It provides a view of life in villages of Nakodar tehsil of Jalandhar district. It is part social history, part anecdote and part a recount of events which unfolded during the boyhood and youth of the writer. The narration is brought up to the upheavals of the Partition and a little after.

The book has a dramatic beginning with Hamid describing the destruction of his ancestral village by the mighty Sutlej, an event which occurred generations before his birth. He also describes the positive impact on land when rivers change course and leave behind tracts of rich alluvial soil spread over squares of miles beneficial for cultivation. The tract of fresh soil thus created is called ‘bate’ in Punjab. ‘Waddian Parjian’ where Shahid Hamid was brought up was one of the villages in the ‘bate.’ Doaba, or the region situated between the rivers Sutlej and Bias where Jalandhar district is located is generally fertile.

The land had an impact on the population. Despite the area’s fertility the landholdings were small. Some from the area migrated to other countries in search of livelihood. Besides Britain, people from the ‘bate’ traveled to Africa, Australia and North America. Jobs inside British India required education. Education was therefore highly prized by the population and the District Councils paid special attention to it. Some of the primary schools in the ’bate’ villages were set up way back in late 19th century. The one in Hamid’s village was constructed in 1873. A middle school in a larger village served a cluster of villages and students had to walk several miles to attend classes. The high schools were confined to big towns. The college was located in Jalandhar, the district headquarters.

Among the well known people of the ‘bate’ was Ch Muhammad Ali who later became the prime minster of Pakistan and belonged to a village nearby. Coming from a poor background his rise was the outcome of sheer hard work. He did Master’s in Chemistry and before joining government service taught at Islamia College Lahore. Whenever Ch Mohammad Ali visited his village, despite being a senior bureaucrat, he was seen wearing the traditional kurta and chaddar. The region produced Urdu poets like Abdul Aziz Khalid, Shad Nikodari and Arsh Malsiani. Salim Gandhri was not a creative writer but after Partition he set up Nafees Academy in Karachi which was known for its high publishing standard. The poet Ibn-e-Insha lived only a few miles away.

The book provides a detailed and interesting account of practices related to agricultural production in the village. This has historical importance as agricultural production has undergone revolutionary changes after the introduction of modern machinery and new technology. Not to speak of those living in the cities even the new generation of the agriculturist is fast forgetting the terms once too common all over Punjab.

It describes how the traditional wells were dug and the primitive machinery for the extraction of water was constructed and how it worked with the bull pulling it. It described how Gur and its derivatives, black sugar and black treacle, were made and how black treacle was used to mature tobacco for hubble-bubble fans.

The book also describes in full detail the processes involved in the production of wheat, the main agricultural product and the terms used for each action like ‘wadhi’, ‘gahaee’, ‘suhaga’ and ‘udai’. Also the instruments used at various stages of the process like ‘sang’, ‘tangil’, and ‘chhaj’ and the ‘padhola’ used to store the product.

He also mentions the various winds that helped or created problems for the cultivator like ‘pura’, ‘pachhoon’, ‘pahar’ and ‘dakhan’. Also the common sports and games in the village like ‘kabaddi’, ’gulli danda’, ‘khiddu’, ‘bara tehni’ ‘golian’ and ‘cowdies’.

Like the production processes of a bygone era, many of these sports and games have also disappeared. The writer has done a service to Punjabi language by recording their details as well as the peculiar term associated with them.

The book provides an interesting account of the 1946 elections. A year before the Partition the All India Muslim League had become the cynosure of the Muslim population’s eyes in Punjab. Anyone getting the League ticket was bound to win. Among the non-entities who won their seats hands down was Mian Bashir Ahmad who was the owner-cum-editor of “Humayun”, a literary magazine, and a thoroughly apolitical gentleman. Mian Bashir Ahmad belonged to a prominent Arain family of Lahore. He was however given party ticket for a constituency in Ferozepur district which he had never visited.

The land had an impact on the population. Despite the area’s fertility the landholdings were small. Some from the area migrated to other countries in search of livelihood. Besides Britain, people from the ‘bate’ traveled to Africa, Australia and North America

There were many things common in undivided Punjab. The land revenue system with Patwaris, both ‘mali’ and ‘nehri’, Numberdars and Zaildars was the same. The cultivation system with canal and well irrigation was also common.

There were however several differences between various regions of the province based on their peculiar geographical conditions, nature of landownership, castes and religions. The Nakodar ‘bate’ was occupied by Arains who had a peculiar subculture. With small landholdings one could prosper only through education, seeking jobs in India or moving to other countries. The living conditions also promoted parsimony and humility that characterise the Arain community all over the province. The Arains can assume subtitles like ‘maliks’, ‘mians’ or sardars depending on the larger community in their neighbourhood. They are not finicky about the clan when marrying their daughters.

Not so with the Jat community in Punjab, to take just one example, which is much more clannish. The Jats have traditionally possessed larger holdings and are equally good at cultivation. They have in the process developed a different subculture. Unlike the Arains they are prone to violence leading to feuds and litigation. Unlike the Arains they prefer military service. Again unlike the Arains they do not value thrift.

Shahid Hamid provides an insight into the life and values of the Arain community and their peculiar subculture.

Gaey Dinaun ki Musafat,

(Urdu),

Shahid Hamid,

Ilqa Publications,

Readings, Lahore,

Pp263,

Price Rs 695