Transcript in English

Question: And your mother’s relatives, they all live in East Pakistan?

Answer: Yes, all over there.

Question: Have you heard any stories from your mother?

Answer: Yes, I have heard. But I didn’t see her coming. I had a maternal uncle, who sold our

Mud-house on the sly…, finally went to Kanchanpur… and died there.

Question: What’s your name?

Answer: My name is Shudhanya Kumar Nath

Question: Shudhanya Kumar Nath. You were born in 1955.

Answer: 1955.

Question: And what was your father’s name?

Answer: Surendra Kumar Nath.

Question: Surendra Kumar Nath. He came to India in 1950.

Answer: In 1950.

Part2 -0.6–1.16

Question: So, your home is in Kadamtala?

Answer: Yes, I was born there.

Question: Then who lived in East Pakistan?

Answer: My father lived in East Pakistan. In 1950, my family…

Question: Okay, so in 1950, your family came from East Pakistan to India?

Answer: Yes, as refugees.

Question: So, when did you come as refugees?

Answer: We gave up this place.

Question: Gave up?

Answer: Yes.

Question: When your father came from East Pakistan, who else came with him?

Answer: My father and mother.

Question: Do you remember exactly where they lived in East Pakistan?

Answer: I have never seen the place, never been there.

Question: Is it in Sylhet?

Answer: Yes, in Sylhet District.

1:28-3:30

SKN: I have heard about the riot between Hindus and Muslims after Independence.

Question: Do you remember anything of what you have heard?

Answer: I have heard that Muslims attacked Hindus. The Hindus couldn’t stay any more. There were a lot of killings and violence. Then they left.

Question: What do you mean by killing?

Answer: Muslims.

Question: They left because of the riots?

Answer: Yes. But in a later riot, they didn’t leave. They stayed put.

Question: When you came in 1950, did all the people of the village you mentioned – Puira – leave?

Answer: Yes, everyone.

Question: And the reason for leaving was riot?

Answer: Yes, riot.

Question: Which route did they take while returning?

Answer: I can’t say this.

Question: Did they face any problems on the road?

Answer: No, can’t say that.

Question: You didn’t hear anything from your father?

Answer: No, I didn’t. Just that they came as refugees, and then the King of Tripura gave land.

Question: How big was the land?

Answer: That I don’t know.

Question: Who fed them in the refugee camps?

Answer: They made arrangements themselves.

Question: If the Government did nothing and they made arrangements themselves, how did they manage? What did they do?

Answer: They worked very hard.

5.11-6.05 

SKN: They would sell puffed rice, samosas. I’ve also made samosas myself… would go out and sell them in the bazaar.

Question: In which bazaar? Were they near the border?

Answer: No, in Kadamtala. After my birth.

Question: I see.

Answer: Didn’t go to the border.

Question: How far is the border from Kadamtala?

Answer: About 5 miles.

7.20-9.00

SKN: I don’t remember much of the 1971 War.

Question: Whatever you remember, can you share with us?

Answer: Remember about the Mukti Bahini and Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

Question: Where was this, in Kadamtala?

Answer: Not far from here.

There was a trial… Our school master said, the War has ended. The Pakistan army has been defeated in Bangladesh. India has helped.

11.30-11.50

Question: Did the price of commodities go up during that time? What was your experience of selling products then in the market?

Answer: Can’t say whether prices increased or decreased.

Question: Did you not face any problems in your business?

12.30-12.40

SKN: I got a job offer 15 days after my father died. And within a year of that, my mother passed away as well.

15.10-15.55

Question: Did your father tell you what belongings they carried when they came? Which route did they take?

Answer: They came empty-handed.

Question: Did you have any property there?

Answer: My uncles had disposed of them.

Question: Means, they had sold it to their relatives?

Answer: They sold off… but were not given the money.

Question: Oh, I see.

Answer: We didn’t get anything. And faced a terrible crisis.

Question: So, they promised to pay but didn’t?

Answer: They didn’t give anything.