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liberated on 11 November from the raiders road in many different forms of transport
by the Indian army. including an Ekka (two-seater) , a tonga
Pakistan never could accept this young (four-seater) both of these forms of
man’s bravery and siding with the transport used to take about four days and
Kashmiris and subsequently the Indian with horse changes at different stages and
state, that when they sponsored militancy used to cost me about Rs. 10 for an Ekka.
in the late 80’s, this monument was My last ride using a Tonga on this road was
desecrated in the initial months itself. around 1927. It was a little later that a small
The importance of his sacrifice was also passenger bus (Cheverlot make 14 seater)
highlighted by Mahatma Gandhi himself. was introduced on this road & used to take
The survivors of the horrific events related 14–16 hours each side. The Jehlum Valley
some gruesome tales of killings, looting road was mostly on the left bank of the
and barbaric destruction. A few years river from Kohala (the then border between
later the whole scene was reconstructed in British India and Jammu & Kashmir state)
an audio-feature by the well-known AIR and the major towns on the route were
producer and my very good friend, Melville Baramulla, Uri, Garhi, Domail, Kohala,
DeMello titled “Rape of Baramulla” and Murree and then Rawalpindi. When cars
was reportedly played at the United were introduced around 1929, the journey
Nations during a debate on Kashmir in time reduced to 12 hours and I remember
1957. That radio feature brought tears to the paying only 3 rupees from Rawalpindi
eyes of Jawaharlal Nehru as well as many to Srinagar. Uri was a major commercial
others who heard about the depravity of centre for walnuts, corn,ghee, and some
the marauders. Since it had actual voice other dry fruits. Domel was the customs
recordings of foreigners including Father barrier between the two states and all
George Shanks, sisters and nuns of St imports & exports subject to customs duty
Joseph Hospital and a few important locals as scheduled from time to time. I vividly
players of the Pakistani depredations, it remember the beautiful Dak (Tourist)
made a forceful impact and strengthened Bungalow on the river bank where the
the Indian case at the UN. Khansamah produced delicious meals.
Baramulla, 34 Miles from Srinagar on March 1946 was the last time I traveled on
the Sringar – Rawalpindi road was a this road from Srinagar to Rawalpindi and
thriving, commercial township of nearly and further onwards to Sialkot and Jammu.
14,000 inhabitants. All fruits produced This was as the Srinagar / Banihal / Jammu
in the Baramulla & Sopore belt used to road (known as the Banihal cart road) was
be brought to the town’s fruit mandi for closed due to snowfall. On October 22, 1947,
further transportation & distribution. One the traffic on Jehlum Valley road came
of the major halts on the Jhelum valley road to an end after the Pakistani invasion on
was this small yet picturesque town which Muzzafarabad and no civilian transport
was also the last town before leaving the plied thereafter.
Kashmir valley. --------------------------------------------------
All my life as a student in Kashmir, I used Shrimati Mali – Poonch,1971
to go for winter vacations to Rawalpindi Poonch is a small province in Jammu region
and Lahore. I have traveled along this of the state and from an international
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #23 | MAY 2021 15
