An Unwritten Epic

Cambridge University Press

“…'The house has been converted into a little Shiva shrine [sic]', the report concluded. 44 As the conflict over this site indicates, there is a great deal that isalmost necessarily -covered up in the history of Delhi, a great deal that needs to be carefully unearthed. One representation of the city is found in Ahmed Ali's summary of its history in his novel, Twilight in Delhi: [Delhi] was built after the great battle of Mahabharat by Raja Yudhishtra [sic] in 1453 B.C., and has been the cause of many a great and historic battle.…”

Cambridge University Press

“…43 Among other early estimates, Ian Stephens, the editor of the Calcutta Statesman, who had seen the Calcutta killings at close quarters in August 1946, provided the figure of 'about 500,000' killed between August 1946 and December 1947. 44 On the basis of published and unpublished materials and oral evidence provided to him by officials and non-officials in Pakistan, Symonds declared that, 'at the lowest estimate', half a million people perished and twelve million became homeless. 45 Like others, I have in an earlier essay accepted something like the latter figures as the most 'likely '.…”

“…43 Moon, Divide and Quit, p. 293. 44 Stephens, Pakistan, p. 107. 45 Richard Symonds, The Making of Pakistan (London, 1950), p. 74.…”

“…After one woman had been disposed of, the ceremony of 'appropriating' another would begin. 44 Other statements underlined these charges. 'The plight of women was terrible', read the account of the Muslim trader who escaped, published in bold type on the front page of Dawn:…”

“…Government reports spoke simply of the Rohtak and Gurgaon 'pilgrims' getting away with 'a certain number of abducted Muslim girls'; see, for example, Tuker papers, 71/21/4/4, commissioner, Meerut division to chief secretary, government of UP (16 November 1946). 44 Ghazanfar report, pp. 16, 17 and 19.…”