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LAHORE: A book titled “Partition and Locality -- Violence, Migration, and Development in Gujranwala and Sialkot, 1947-1961” by Ilyas Chattha was launched at Oxford Bookshop in Gulberg’s Mini Market on Friday.
The function was organised by the Oxford University Press.
The book provides original and challenging insights into the processes of violence, demographic transformation and physical reconstruction arising from partition of the subcontinent in 1947. The study focuses on the cities of Gujranwala and Sialkot, which experienced violence, demographic shift and economic transformation in different ways.
The work is not only a significant contribution to the understanding of the partition process of British India and its aftermath in Punjab that became Pakistani territory, but it also provides authoritative and thought provoking approach to the themes of broader twentieth century processes of collective violence, mass displacements and economic recovery.
The writer of the book is presently based at the Centre for Imperial and Post Colonial Studies of the University of Southampton and is carrying out research on the impact of partition on Punjabi Christians in Pakistan.
Speakers on the occasion explored various aspects of the book. Yaqoob Khan Bangash from the Oxford University Press said the purpose of such book launch events was to increase the intellectual discourse in Lahore and engage people in such issues. Bangash said the book was written in simple language and was easy to read. He said the additional point of the book was the FIRs registered at that time and the writer had included these FIRs in his book. He called the book a groundbreaking research that pointed out gaps in historical research done earlier.
Prof Imran Ali from LUMS said the book was quite informative in terms of a probe into the local history of partition. Ali said the author had written in the book how Gujranwala and Sialkot emerged as two industrial units. He said the author gave certain facts, which might not be available anywhere else that Hindus and Sikhs were looted by police as well.
Prof Iqbal Chawla from the University of Punjab said the book dealt with many issues of political and social development as well as horrifying events of partition. The book, he said, was a huge contribution to history and a big achievement. The writer elaborated well the rehabilitation part of the partition and loss of assets in his book.
He said the writer visited 20 police stations in Gujranwala and Sialkot to gather the record of FIRs registered at that time. He threw light on various aspects of the book and mentioned an incident from the book that how a leading Hindu family Obrais was looted in Sialkot during the partition. He said police and district administration also joined the looters.
