Two sisters, Shireen and Amy, shared their experiences of partition in a heartfelt interview in Lahore. Shireen, originally from India, and Amy, from Pakistan, were part of the Zoroastrian community. Their family had settled in Lahore long before partition, believing they would remain unaffected by political changes. However, the events of 1947 had a lasting impact on their lives. Despite their belief in remaining neutral, the Parsi community faced social, political, and economic repercussions post-partition, leading to a significant decline in their population in Lahore and across Pakistan.
Shireen, born in Bombay and raised in Lahore, experienced the division between the two cities emotionally through her mother, who struggled with the separation from her roots in Bombay. Shireen, however, initially felt less of a rupture, focused on her studies and passion for the piano. The partition forced her to confront the reality of the physical and emotional divide between India and Pakistan.
The sisters’ story sheds light on the personal implications of partition on communities caught in between the lines drawn by the British in 1947. Despite facing challenges and uncertainties, Shireen and Amy’s resilience and dedication to preserving their community’s history and traditions are evident in their willingness to share their story with the younger generation. Their experiences serve as a reminder of the lasting impact of historical events and the importance of documenting and preserving personal narratives for future generations to learn from.
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