AN INTERVIEW PRESENTED IN THE
FORM OF AUTOBIOGRAPHY:
My name is Abdul Ghani s/o Mahar Ali. I belong to Chohan family of Rajputs. I
have three sons and seven daughters. I got birth in April 1904 in Tehsil Narain
district Ambala,India. I spent my childhood in a town “Rani Ka Raypure”. Due to
poverty and the deplorable plight of the Muslims, I couldn’t attend the school.
I joined the platoon 46 of Indian Army in 1929. I fought 1939’s World War II and
got medal of distinction from the British Monarch. In 1947, I migrated to
Pakistan and became part of Baloch regiment of Pakistan Army. I also fought 1948
War in the area of tehsil Bagh. I was retired from Army in 1963 but the army
called me back in 1965 war. When 1971 war broke out, I was again recalled to
join the war. So, I have the distinction to fight all the wars.
Quaid-i-Azam gave medal on my services rendered for the Pakistan on which my
name is inscribed. But much greater than these medals, I got the honour on 14
August 1947, when Quaid-i-Azam and me broke the fast in Ramazan together and
even shared the same plate. Furthermore, on the orders of Quaid-i-Azam, I along
with Hawaldar Mukaram Khan waived the flag of Pakistan for the first time in
Karachi.
Later on Quaid-i-Azam deputed me on the Pakistani border to escort safely the
Muslim caravans coming from India. Here one day, a colonel Partab Singh tried to
stop the caravans from going to Pakistan. Then he went ahead in wickedness and
engineered plundering of the caravans and then he moved further ahead in vile
and kidnapped 30 Muslims as hostage including women. At this juncture, my
emotions went out of control and I shot the colonel and got released all the
arrested 30 Muslims and took them safely to Pakistan. Later on Quaid-i-Azam
acknowledged my services at border and offered me to take any village or a
market in a big city. I said reverently to him, “The corpse of my Muslims
brothers and sisters are scattered everywhere; the land has turned red at many
places with the blood of my Muslim brothers and the migrants have no food, no
shelter and even no clothes. In these circumstances, how can I take courage to
become a lord of the village?” On hearing this, Quaid-i-Azam became so happy and
emotional that he came near to me and kissed at my forehead. I will never forget
this reward of nation’s father that many will covet for it in the later days.
Later on, when the condition of migrant improved , normality prevailed and the
newly built state started showing the sign of progress. I went to Revenue
department and inquired about my claim of land. The patwari asked me to utter
the kalmia. When I recited the kalima, he said to verbalize the kalima of
patwaries. Then he himself enunciated: “Pakistan ka mutlab kiah….. Saow rupia fi
killah! (Hinted to give hundred rupees per killah) When I refused to pay him
bribe, he threw ink on my claim and said, “I will see, how y will you take your
land without spending money.” Later on, his statement came true and till now I
am homeless, jobless and living from hand to mouth. But I have no repentance as
my country is free and today we are celebrating its 65th Independence Day. My
cottage is filled with medals, my heart is filled with the love for Pakistan, my
mind is thinking about the future glories of Pakistan and my spirit is soaring
sky high. Then he raised a slogan loudly: Pakistan Zindabad!
J.C. and A.W. HARE have rightly said: (Heroism is the self-devotion of genius
manifesting itself in action.)and he is following the words of Daniel Webstei in
letter and spirit that “Let our object be our country, our whole country, and
nothing but our country.”Should we follow his suite?