ISLAMABAD: At the age of 90, Lala Nazar Hussain vividly recalls the harrowing journey to Pakistan, a journey that was more than just a migration; it was a passage to freedom. As a young boy of 14, Lala was part of a three-mile-long caravan from Tahsil Fazilka in Ferozepur, India, to the newly-formed Pakistan in 1947.
The journey began after a large group of people from Ferozepur district and surrounding areas gathered at the Kothi of Nawab Iftikhar Hussain. For eight days, they stayed there, preparing for the journey ahead. The caravan, protected by four soldiers from the Baloch Regiment, set out on foot, covering approximately 25 kilometers over two days and nights.
Lala recalls the harsh conditions they faced, trekking through waterlogged fields in the rainy season, their feet pierced by thorns from Gum Arabic trees (keekar). Twice, the caravan came under attack, but the bravery of the Baloch Regiment soldiers kept them safe.
Despite hunger and the biting cold, the caravan pressed on, collecting wood to keep warm during the night. By 10 pm. on one such night, they crossed Head Ganda Singh Wala, a moment of immense relief as they realized they had finally entered Pakistan.
For Lala, it was a bittersweet victory. “We were in Pakistan,” he said, his voice thick with emotion as tears welled up in his eyes. The long journey had taken its toll, and they had fallen behind the rest of the caravan. A soldier, who had been guarding the rear, found them and reassured them, saying, “You are now in Pakistan.”
The next morning, they continued to Kasur, where they were allotted a shop to start their new lives. However, the shop was later occupied by someone else, forcing Lala and his family to move to Multan, where they eventually established a gold jewelry business.
He said that Pakistan is a priceless gift, that they were able to get after countless sacrifices and younger generation should know the liberty, they enjoy today was the result of the sacrifices of their forefathers.
