Oral history interview with J. K. Sharma Interview by: Atiha Chaudry

Interview description by: Harriet Morgan-Shami

Introduces himself and tells of living in Manchester for 50 years, working as a university librarian. Talks about his family and his role in establishing the Ghandi Hall. [01:42] Recounts his early life, he was born in 1933 in the Punjab, some of his family were based in Lahore. Talks about his qualifications and his arrival in the UK in 1962. Briefly talks about his interests in retirement. [03:12] Gives some historical and political background to the Partition referring to the different political groups, the role of Cyril Radcliffe in drawing up the border and the beginning of the violence. [06:11] Remembers he and other teenagers being asked to sit on the roofs of houses in order to defend his area with bricks, stones and iron bars. Recalls the excitement that he and his friends felt. Refers to Muslim families in his village fleeing and other villagers going out at night to “expel” Muslims from villages. [07:23] Remembers how is family in Lahore had to walk all the way to the Indian border due to the lack of safe transport. Talks about the massacres on the trains and the millions of people who crossed the border on both sides. [08:10] Describes his village near Mahilpur on the Indian side of the border. Describes how family members who travelled over from the Pakistani side came to live with his family in their ancestral home and how different living areas in the house were created with sheets. Talks about food shortages. Briefly refers to his wife’s family having to walk with their possessions including livestock. [10:42] Talks in more detail about his uncle and brothers who were living in Lahore at the time of the Partition. His brothers worked for the university and were therefore able to secure safe transport and continue in their roles once they settled in India. However his uncle was a contractor which made the process more difficult although he did eventually secure work. Briefly mentions Muslim properties being allotted to refugees. [12:16] Interviewer asks Mr Sharma to describe in more detail his experience of guarding properties by sitting on the roof. He remembers that he and his friends were not called upon to throw the stones, etc. He recalls that the situation went on from August to October, including his relatives having to stay with his family while the bureaucracy of the new government sorted out new accommodation for the refugees. [14:08] Briefly discusses his schooling not being affected because he was able to remain in his village. [15:00] Is unable to recall losing any friends and emphasises instead how difficult it was to accommodate the people who came over from Pakistan. Recalls the lack of communication at the time. Remembers how he heard about train massacres on the radio. Explains how, as a teenager, he felt both fear and excitement during this period. [17:49] Returns to giving some historical and political context to the events of Partition, exploring the themes he touched on before. [19:17] Interviewer asks what he thinks might have happened if the Partition had not taken place. He states that people had been living peacefully and that then something changed. He thinks they probably would have been able to sort something out constitutionally for Muslims and Hindus to live together. Recognises that there was existing discrimination between Hindus and Muslims (e.g. having to drink from separate cups due to fears of uncleanliness and also that the British Empire was bankrupt after WW2. Wonders if today’s terrorism problems might be different if the Partition hadn’t happened. Briefly mentions the situation in Kashmir. Accepts human nature – people can live in peace and then things change. [25:08 End of the interview]