Saturday 25 May 2019

ALAS! SOHAN SINGH NEVER REPLIED BACK

ALAS! SOHAN SINGH NEVER REPLIED BACK

I was moved to receive an email in June 2004 from one Sohan Singh the erstwhile resident of Doda near Kartarpur sahib.  I promptly replied back seeking some more information about Doda and Kartarpur sahib. But unfortunately never received the reply. Most likely this mail was from UK.  This tells about the life of village Doda and its people before 1947. In those initial years of Corridor Movement I also had contact with Mr. Zulfikar Bhatt a senior journalist then living in USA. But after some time there was abrupt end to this correspondence.  Any relative of these people please?

A Letter from erstwhile Kartarpur resident.

Those Haunting Memories of Kartarpur

ਸੰਨ 2004 ਵਿਚ ਮੈਨੂੰ 1947 ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਦੇ ਕਰਤਾਰਪੁਰ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਲ ਦੇ ਇਤਹਾਸਿਕ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੋਦਾ ਦੇ ਹਾਲਾਤਾਂ ਤੇ ਚਾਨਣਾ ਪਾਉਦੀ ਹੋਈ ਇਕ ਬਜੁਰਗ ਦੀ ਇੰਗਲੈਂਡ ਤੋਂ ਈਮੇਲ ਮਿਲੀ। ਮੈਂ ਤੁਰੰਤ ਉਨਾਂ ਦਾ ਸ਼ੁਕਰੀਆ ਅਦਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਅਤੇ ਨਾਲ ਕੁਝ ਹੋਰ ਜਾਣਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਮੰਗੀਆਂ। ਪਰ ਅਫਸੋਸ….! (ਸ਼ਾਇਦ ਸੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਨੂੰ ਪਿਆਰੇ ਹੋ ਗਏ)। ਅੱਜ ਸ. ਸੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਦੀ ਈਮੇਲ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਵੈਬਸਾਈਟ ਤੇ ਪਾ ਰਿਹਾ ਹਾਂ। ਸੋਹਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਜੀ ਦੋਦਾ ਵਿਚਲੀ ਗੁਰੂ ਨਾਨਕ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਦੀ ਧਰਮਸਾਲ ਦੀ ਗਲ ਕਰਦੇ ਹਨ ਜਿਸਦੇ ਨਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੁਣ ਮਿੱਟ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਹਨ। ਧਰਮਸਾਲ ਅਤੇ ਮੰਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਬਾਬਤ ਅਸੀ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਇਮਰਾਨ ਖਾਨ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਈਮੇਲ ਕੀਤੀ ਹੈ। ਉਮੀਦ ਹੈ ਇਨਾਂ ਦੋਵਾਂ ਅਸਥਾਨਾਂ ਦੀਆਂ ਨੀਹਾਂ ਲੱਭ ਕੇ ਦੋਵੇ ਦੁਬਾਰਾ ਉਸਾਰ ਦਿਤੇ ਜਾਣਗੇ। ਯਾਦ ਰਹੇ ਮੰਜੀ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਉਹ ਥੜਾ ਜਾਂ ਪਲੇਟਫਾਰਮ ਸੀ ਜਿਥੇ ਬਹਿ ਗੁਰੂ ਸਾਹਿਬ ਵਖਿਆਨ ਜਾਂ ਕੀਰਤਨ ਕਰਿਆ ਕਰਦੇ ਸਨ। ਜਾਂ ਇਹ ਕਹਿ ਲਓ ਉਹ ਫਕੀਰ- ਬਾਦਸ਼ਾਹ ਦਾ ਤਖਤ ਸੀ। ਫਿਰ 1539 ਈ. ਵਿਚ ਓਸੇ ਤਖਤ ਤੇ ਭਾਈ ਲਹਿਣੇ ਨੂੰ ਬੈਠਾ ਗੁਰੂ ਅੰਗਦ ਬਣਾ ਦਿਤਾ ਗਿਆ।


FROM: "Sohan Singh"  S Syan@aol.com | Save Address
DATE: Fri, 25 Jun 2004 10:44:40 +0530
TO: <goraya@kartarpur.com>

Name - Sohan Singh
Email - Sohan S Syan@aol.com

Comments - My place of birth is Village Doda (Darbar Sahib Kartarpur). I am now an old man of 72 years (Born in 1932). So long I have lived on memories linked with my village, the Mandir and Dharamsal there and the people, who were mostly Mahajans and Brahmans living in our neighbourhood. 

Those memories still haunt and I have an earnest wish to be able to move about freely in and around Darbar Sahib, where Masya (Amavas-monthly congregation) and fair of Dasvin ( Joti-jot Samavan Divas of Guru Nanak Dev Ji)and Vaisakhi were celebrated/organised with great devotion and grandeur.

 I vividly remember Tayaji Bhai Malang, Sohan Lal and Bhai Gian Chand Sweetmeat sellers in the village and at Darbar Sahib during the Melas referred to above. Taaies Dhan Dai, one a Brahaman and another a Mehri, I miss for the love and affection, which they showered on me and other members of my family, whenever we were there in the village. Taaya Fateh Chand, a Mehra in our neighbourhood and husband of Taai Dhan Dai was a unique personality, full of love and affection.

Then Jaasar Junction, in whose vicinity was Mandi Pandori- my Naankey. We lived in Rawalpindi but during second world war and the riots in Pindi in March,1947, I alongwith my mother had to stay in Mandi-Pandori and I attended Khalsa High School, Narowal for my 5th grade and from April,1947 to August,1949 for 10th Class.

To Narowal, I went along with my maternal cousin Bhaa Gurbachan Singh, his friend Bhaa Harwant Singh from village Qiampur. We would have a race to reach Narowal or would travel (without ticket) to and fro Narowal, when train or rail car (Dabba) timings suited. 

Another personality in my mind is that of Bhaa Sadhu Singh, from Village Kakkeke, who would some times join us at Jassar Railway Station to either march on foot to Narowal or board the train.

The wonderful booking clerk was Mr. Aziz, who knew that we travelled without ticket, turned away to other side on seeing us students, alighting from the train. I wish to do something for my birthplace and serve Darbar Sahib Kartarpur, before I die.

 Please pray for me and help me establish contact with any person anywhere in the world having any link withe era and the described area in Pakistan. Please keep me informed about any thing latest related to Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

1 comment:

  1. Dear Mr. Goraya...... Sat Shree Akal

    Iam Grateful to Almighty for receiving a message to have received a your message regarding my village Doda and Darbar Sahib Kartarpur.

    Iam Still Alive and not dead. I have to share alot about my native place-village Doda. Iam 91 yrs now and very much deficient in mental faculty but i shall be grateful if you kindly let me know your mailing address, email address and telephone no. I have written alot about my background and culture of shakargarh. i would like to send you the material by post. kindly let me know me your mailing (postal Address) , Although Iam settled in USA but presently Iam here in mohali in india ( H. No. 199, Phase -7, Sector 61, Mohali...160061. Cell Ph. No. 90416-63394). where i generally visit frequently.
    Wishing you all the best for your efforts to revive and sustained old memories.

    Sincerely.
    Sohan Singh
    ph. 90416-63394

    ReplyDelete