DERA GHAZI KHAN: Social media has played a pivotal role in reunification of families who were separated during the Partition of the subcontinent in 1947.

Chawla family of Taunsa Sharif tehsil’s Nutkani village is one of those who parted ways and met after 75 years with the efforts of a vlogger.

A vlog recently went viral on social media under title “MITHRA BHIRA” (sweet brother) and revealed the case of a family whose one brother Abdul Majeed and a sister decided to stay at Nutkani village while other members of the family left the abode and settled in a town near New Delhi. Majeed and his sister later embraced Islam. Majeed later passed away.

Vlogger helps family separated at Partition reunite

Indian vlogger Manu Mehta, who helps such families reunite, got information about the Chawla family and played a vital role in connecting the family. Mehta, along with Kirshan Kumar Chawla and his brother Dianand Kumar Chawla, came to Pakistan after getting permission from both governments and the two visited their birthplace and met cousin Sheikh Saifullah, son of the late Abdul Majeed, and their sister and her children.

Raitra police SHO Yousaf Baloch told Dawn that his team provided security to the Indian guests who were warmly welcomed by the family and local residents and they spent two days.

The vlog shows Dianand Kumar, a retired principal, and Kirshan Kumar kissing the mud wall of their ancestral home. The house was rebuilt after the Partition but original bricks were used. The brothers had an emotional reunion with the family members and they can be seen touching these old bricks of their ancestral home with tears in their eyes.

They said that house was built in 1898 by their grandfather D.K Chawla. They lauded the SHO and his team for facilitating their visit and said they were impressed by the hospitality of their cousins and expressed gratitude for all those who made the journey possible.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022