CHANDIGARH, February 8: Bucked by the success of writer Salman Rushdie in getting back the Annis Villa at Solan, 1947 migrants from West Punjab have staked a claim on the Bahawalpur House in New Delhi. In a representation made to Prime Minister I K Gujral, hoping to appeal to his `refugee' sentiments, two city-based migrant associations have urged the government to transfer the Bahawalpur House to the Bahawalpur Wefare Association.The demand has come from the Bahawalpur Welfare Association and the Federation of Migrant Groups from North-West India, now in Pakistan.
Elaborating on this demand, S K Sharma, founder-president of the Federation, says: ``The people from Bahawalpur state have a sentimental attachment to this building and they wish to acquire it to set up a centre to preserve the culture of West Punjab.''
The Bahawalpur Welfare Association proposes to set up a Saraiki Folk culture Centre to promote the Saraiki (known before the Partition as Multani or Lehandi) language. They also mean topromote arts, crafts, folk songs, dances and cuisine of the area. The Saraiki area in Pakistan, which includes Multan and Bahawalpur divisions shares the same language and culture.
The only difference was that while the Multan division was in British India, Bahawalpur was a princely state with a sizable Hindu population. The state was merged with Pakistan in 1947. A large number of the migrants were rehabilitated in Patiala.
Giving reasons for making this demand Sharma adds, ``There are 1 crore people speaking Saraiki in the country.''
The building was declared evacuee property in 1947. The American Centre Library functioned here for sometime before moving to Kasturba Gandhi Marg. The foundation stone for the building was laid on March 5, 1937, by Nawab Al Haj Sir Sadiq Mohammed Khan Abbasi the fifth, ruler of Bahawalpur State. It was used as a liaison office and the residence of the Nawab.
Of the several princely states including Dir, Chitral, Kalat and Kalabagh, Bahawalpur was the only state tobuild its building in New Delhi.
Has not this demand come 50 years too late? To this, Gobind Rakesh, secretary, Bahawalpur Association says: ``The migrants came here devastated. It was a tough struggle for existence. Many of them are still low-paid phulkari embroiderers in Patiala and Rajpura. However, some have come up. The second and third generations are now making an effort to preserve their language and culture. Thus, even though the claim comes late, it is not out of place.''
Justifying the demand, Rakesh adds that the Delhi Administration on the advice of the Government of India had transferred the control of the Kotwali building adjoining Gurdwara Sisganj to the Delhi Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee some years ago.
``A similar case can be made for the Bahawalpur House, which we will use as a cultural institute. While there are so many migrants here from West Punjab, little has been done to preserve the West Punjab culture.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
