Life in Peshawar, Undivided India - Prior to the 1947 Partition - A Story by Vishwa Mitter Khanna

Watch the video to get a glimpse into Untold Chronicles of my nana ji (maternal grandpa), Vishwa Mitter Khanna's, life back in Peshwar.

Watch my grandpa's interview, recorded by the 1947 Partition Archive, in 2018, showcasing his life in the City of Peshawar, in Undivided India, prior to India's partition on August 15, 1947. Nanu Daddy is a true Peshawar or Peshauri as they fondly call people hailing from that region. He used to live at Santa di Galli, Undar Shehar.

He talks about the minutest details that you would never have heard, about life back in Peshawar. From the water well to the mithais (sweets), to songs they sang, he's covered it all in his interview.

He was fondly addressed by one and all as Sahab and I'll tell you why. Back in his day, he was one of the sharpest dressed men around, with perfectly polished shoes and matching trousers and shirts. He would also don a sailer's hat and use a trendy walking stick, as it was quite in vogue back then.

Till date his shoes are perfectly polished without as much as a speck of dust. His closet at home is immaculate. All clothes are nicely ironed. My nani ji has embroidered all his sweaters and handkerchiefs with his initials VMK. He only wears fitted clothes and only if he likes the color. He is still very particular about his appearance and likes to look sharp. Can't blame him. He can surely give many younger men a run for their money :)

Nanu Daddy's family owned a large movie theater / cinema house in Peshwar. He traveled on the tonga (horse chariot) and was a State level Hockey Player back in the day. Very fit and charming, many girls that time secretly admired him for his looks, character, and personality. His mami ji (mom's brother's wife) was the first cousin of veteran actor, the late Prithvi Raj Kapoor. Nanu Daddy was friends with late actor Shammi Kapoor, back in Peshwar. They lost touch after partition, as Nanu Daddy's family moved to Amritsar, while Prithvi Raj's family moved to Bombay to pursue films. In India, Nanu Daddy got into the business of Dried Fruits trading. Till date most of his side of the family is into the same trade. In Chandni Chowk, he had a shop at Katra Market. It's still the most well known in India as the hub of the dried fruit trade. Suffice it to know that we grew up eating a lot of dried fruits.

On August 15, 1947, Nanu Daddy, then 20 years old, had to leave his home and his life, overnight, on a burning train, with his many sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, and of course Baiji (his mom). Their first stop in India was a Refugee Camp in Amritsar, Punjab, India.

Leave us your comments or questions below. If you have roots in Peshawar or your ancestors moved to India from Undivided India, share with us what you remember from their stories? Anything they shared that stood out to you? How did their lives change after moving to India?

Thanks for watching!

Credits: This interview was recorded in Gurgaon, India, in 2018, and was edited in New York, by https://www.1947partitionarchive.org/ . If you would like your living ancestor's Partition story chronicled, get in touch with them.

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