Hindus

Hindus

A few Hindu families lived in Marghuz. I don’t know where from and when did they come and settled in Marghuz. They had landed agricultural property and lived in homes belonging to them. On the eve of partition of the Indian Sub-Continent in 1947 they migrated to India. One evening they all left in a Truck. No physical harm was caused to them. They left behind whatever they had except perhaps cash and jewelry.

They spoke some other language amongst themselves while with the rest of the people they communicated in Pushto.  There was a Hindu temple in one small room where Hindus went to worship. The temple has since been made a part of the shops in Marghuz Bazaar called as ‘dheera’ now a forgotten name. Older people can identify where the temple existed.

  Hindu Residences now demolished and a girls School constructed up on the land (Place tapa Kamral)

Hindus had some landed agricultural property also but mostly they were associated with commerce. They lived in seclusion, always under the protection of landed people. They did not come in contact with the rest of the villagers except business matters.

As they were considered inferior, ladies of the village observed no purdah from them. Their main abode having a one point entry was near the ‘tapa Kamral’s’  mosque with a very heavy iron gate a huge double story building. At that time dacoits used to loot the movable property and for security reasons all Hindus lived in one enclosure and fortified themselves.  On their departure, later that place was converted into a Gov boy’s Primary School and later to Girls Primary School. A few years ago the building was demolished being in a dilapidated condition and a new building constructed housing the girl’s School upon the land.

Agricultural lands belonging to them were appropriated to Govt Middle School upgraded now to a ‘Centennial Model High School’ a school having history of 100 years.

One prominent figure among them was Sita Ram who later rose to become the President of Indian National Congress. He was replaced by Sonia Gandhi. He along with his father Bishen Das and other Hindus of Marghuz migrated to India on the eve of partition in 1947. In one of his interview Sita Ram showed his desire to visit Marghuz his birth place.

                    Marghuz Bazaar: Place where the Hindu Temple existed