Shora Kothi, Alipur Mohalla (Okara)

Pakistan / Punjab / Okara
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The name of this development, Mohalla Shora Kothi stems from a Potassium Nitrate Factory (Shora manufacturing plant) in Okara. The industrialist, Seth Meghraj Mohunta owned Shora factory prior to the partition of India and Pakistan. Seth Meghraj Mohunta’s family consisted of his sons Kanti Chandra Mohunta, Kirti Chandra Mohunta and others. Unfortunately, during the partition of the country, only Mr. Kirti Chandra Mohunta could reach India; whereas the rest of the family lost their lives during their migration to India from Pakistan.

Mohunta was a large and prominent Indian family, which also had a family base at, Mohunta Mandi, Sirsa, Haryana, Punjab, India. Mohunta family used to produce Shora (Potassium Nitrate) in factories in Okara, Montgomery (Sahiwal) and Bavanni, Pakistan. Moreover, they had other establishments and businesses in Montgomery. One of the establishments under their management in Okara was Birla Cotton Mills (now known as Sutlej Cotton Mills).
After the partition, Mohunta family eventually migrated from District Sarsa to Nagpur, Maharashtra, India for trading in Shora. After reestablishing the business, they started manufacturing Shora in Nagpur and hence also named their premises 'Shora Kothi', Kamptee Road, Nagpur 440026, India. Nagpur business is managed by Vivek Mohunta. His grandmother, who was only 19 during partition, has also passed away now. She did not know much about the family properties in Pakistan.

There was a chronic alcoholic person, Dr. Ghulam Mustafa Shora in Okara, known as Dr. Shora. His family owned the whole Mohalla of Shora Kothi, consisting of agricultural lands after partition. He mostly wore white shirt, black tie, and black pants. Always drunk, with a Gold Flakes cigarette in his hand, he used to hang around near Dehli Wala Mithai Shop, near Municipal Board (Municipal Committee) offices. He was a well mannered and a well spoken person, except for his drinking habit. In my childhood, I always thought his family name was Shora and that’s how his Mohalla was called Shora Kothi.; but after over 60 years of partition I discovered Potassium Nitrate facts from Mohunta family about that area. Okara had few industries in 1950s and a Military Dairy Farm in cantonment area.

At the main street-entrance, there were two adjoining Kothis (Villa), behind Barf Khana. Both Kothis had separate entrances from the street, but they had a main-gate between common wall in their backyards. In 1950, Mrs. Brooks, a British woman established Pre-Kindergarten Nursery School in the right side Kothi (Villa). I remember, very vividly that the school cabinets still had, beautiful Idols (Moorti), left behind, by the Mohunta family, who had migrated to India, because of the partition in 1947. Both Kothis had a common wall and a gate between courtyards with Pomegranate (Anar) trees on both sides. I still have in my mind the orange and red blooms (Anar Ki kaliyan) spreading aroma. Mrs. Brooks had a white complexion with an ever-smiling face. She was slender, tall, and an extremely loving and caring person, with brunette curly hair. She was able to communicate in Urdu (with British accent), complemented by sign language and facial expressions. One fine morning when I arrived school in the horse carriage, with Amjad (Shaikh Riaz's son), we discovered that few parents and kids were gossiping that Mrs. Brooks pocketed school fees and disappeared over the weekend and was never found again. I have photographic memory, when it comes to my childhood events. I have always longed for my childhood teacher Mrs. Brooks and I still miss her. If she is alive, may Allah keep her in good health and if she has passed away may Allah reward her for her good deeds, Aa’meen.

I love Okara and have many memories associated it. Our family owned agricultural lands and fruit orchards (Bagh) in the vicinity of Okara, in Gogera, in Karman Wala, and in Marula (North of Renala Khurd). Gogera used to be District Headquarters prior to Montgomery-Sahiwal during British Rule. I grew up in Lahore, but Okara was like a second home for us.

In late 1970s, we moved to USA, and love it here, while my brother and sisters are still settled in Lahore. You can search for uzkmi, through Wikimapia Search Bar on top right and read more about my snippets or tidbits.

Usman Muhammad Khan
New Jersey 08054-3315 USA
Wikimapia User: uzkmi
Updated: August 31, 2012

dekhna royegi fariyaad karegi duniya
hum na honge to hume yaad karegi duniya
apne jeene ki ada bhi anokhi sab se
apne marne ka bhi andaaz nirala hoga

Ek Din Bik Jayega, Maati Ke Mol
Jag Mein Reh Jayenge Pyare Tere Bol

Dooje Ke Hothon Ko Dekar Apne Geet
Koi Nishani Chhor, Phir Duniya Se Dol
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   30°48'45"N   73°27'18"E

Comments

  • Ya ALLAH , I ask You to Bless my friends, relatives and those that I care for deeply, those who are reading this right now.. strengthen their IMAAN at this very moment... Where there is pain, give them SALAAM and REHMAT. Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through Your grace. Where there is need, give them abundantly.. Bless their homes, families, finances, their goings and their comings. Aameen!
  • It is strange that after so many years I am reading about our family in pre-partition days. I am the grandson of the brother of Shri Meghraj Mohunta mentioned above. Vivek is the great grand son of Shri Meghraj Mohunta. Besides the factories mentioned there was perhaps the largest potassium nitrate factory In prepartition india at Kanakatcha, near Lahore. Vivek's grandmother had very vivid memories of prepartition days and I have lot of information from her. The shora kothi was actually started by a britisher and later purchased by Seth Meghraj. Incidently Seth Meghraj's grand niece (my niece) lives in new Jersey
  • Mr. Khan, Thank you for sharing the information. My uncle Dr. D.M. Mohunta forwarded me the link and I was so happy to read a little bit about the history of our family. I have heard many stories about Shora Kothi and all the events connected with pre-partition days from my grandmother Mohini Mohunta. Kirtichandra Mohunta and his family settled in Nagpur and my dad was involved in establishing and running the same business with him. His home was also called Shora Kothi. I live in New Jersey and hope that we will be able to meet in person. Best wishes, Seema
  • Thank you for your posting, blessings, and poetry, Usmaan Sahib. I am also a grandson of the brother of the late Meghraj Mohunta mentioned in your article. I will be visiting New Jersey and hope I can join Seema in meeting you. I tried to find "uzkmi" on Wikimapia, but the system did not respond.
  • Dear All, I am surprised that you are posting your comments, only as guests; I have no way of getting in touch this way. I wish you could have posted your eMail or contact information. You could even have post Wiki Mssages to my ID. You are welcome to send me eMail at njuzkmi@gmail.com
  • Dear Sushi, Seema, ans D.M. you are all most welcome. If you click on the following link, you can access my other write-ups. http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=30.813930&lon=73.454129&z=14&m=b&search=uzkmi
  • Dear Khan Uncle, Thanks for updating the story and adding new information. Sushil Kaka and I would love to meet you. Kaka often visits New Jersey. I have heard stories from my grandmother about how the family escaped from the area. I am told that there was a Muslim doctor from whom my family got an Austin car and drove into India. The car apparently stood for many years in Shora Kothi, Kaithal. My grandfather Shri Brij Mohan Mohunta's brother Lalit Mohan Mohunta ji did not want to sell the car - so many emotions connected with it. I wonder if the Doctor you mention was the one from whom they borrowed the car. My dadaji - Kirtichand ji Mohunta escaped with a huge knife wound by jumping out the window of the train which was attacked. His bhabhi who was traveling with him and since she was sleeping on the floor people thought she was dead. The massacres were terrible and I still remember my grandmother Mohini Devi Mohunta crying during the movie Gandhi when she saw the scenes of partition - she had actually been through it and seen the devastation. I do have to thank my grandparents and all the people of my family because they never taught us to hate anyone despite all the terrible things that happened. These were circumstances beyond their control and they understood the magnitude of human tragedy that broke up families, separated friends and destroyed communities. I will be forever indebted to them for this gift of tolerance they have given every person in my family. Thank you once again for helping us connect with our roots. I often thought about the stories my grandmother Mohini Mohnta told me and always wanted to go back to see for myself. I have shared all these stories with my kids and I hope that somehow I have been able to convey the values my grandparents passed on to us. I look forward to meeting you. Seema
  • Love you Seema beta, thanks for the long telephone call, which made me cry out of love. We will see you Insha Allah on the 29th; thanks for inviting us! Our love to your loved ones in India, USA, and elsewhere.
  • Dr.Shoora sahib was a decent and educated person. I remember he was a press correspondent of an English News Paper. Unfortunately the migration on both sides was equally terrible and tragic. The generations enjoying the fruits of independence of Pakistan and India can never ever pay back the sacrifices of their elders during migration. I remember our family had very cordial and friendly relations with Mr Gajenand, the Manager, Birla Cotton Mills Okara, many years even after partition, till early 1960s. Mrs Gajenand and their daughter Sitara Baji use to visit and stay with Amman Huzur. I was a kid of 8 years only but I vividly remember their smiling faces. They were very friendly, kind and loving. They left Pakistan in early 60s when Birla Cotton Mill was sold and renamed as Sutlej Cotton Mills. May God bless them always.
  • After reading the above posts now I have some mixed feelings. Happy to know the history of my birth place shora kothi, Mustafa Park and Seth colony etc. I have been living here for the last 20 years and I often used to wonder why this place is called Shora kothi and Mustafa Park etc. We also have listened some tragic stories from our grandparents. First it was my thinking that only muslims were killed and burnt but Mr Khan your article also changed my way of thinking. Thanks for this article  and my grief is also with Mohunta family 
  • i am glad to read this story. i feel great privilege to inform you all that i am living next to Dr. Shora' home in street # 1 shora kothi, okara. A wall separate Shora Kothi from Mustafa park which is predominant with marzai (Ahmadi). My grandfather Siraj Din was built this wall. Now a days this wall has a door which is used for students to go school in Mustafa Park. for a long time this house remained empty because owner of this house was lived abroad and they offer this house on rent. i had spent my childhood around these houses. i remembered how i jumped from my roof to Dr. Shora's house to caught a kite :) or some time to pick fruits from the plants that was grown in their lawn. my parents told us all about the historical places in okara icluding shora buisness. you ll be surprised to know i have read a book regarding Saint Baba Farid ud Din Ganjshker, it was mentioned in this book that few of his follower extract shora from okara. that was really surprising for me. i am 26 years old. i love my city Okara more than any place in Pakistan. i always try to find some thing which distinct my city from others. But at the same time i love Batala (India) which is homeland of my forefathers from both sides. From maternal side we belongs to Guspura Batala where we had a lot land and of buffaloes (Maj or mai'n in punjabi) therefore people used to call us maieeyan waley. my great grandfather name was Maher Firoz Din and grandfather name was Maher Hassan. On other hands my forefathers from paternal side belongs to Achli gate Batala. where we had Commission shop (Aarhet in punjabi) in sabzi mandi. and my grandfather were also holding an Agri engineering industry with name of ( Batala engineer's). when i heard stories from my elders a natural feelings emerge and i really wish to see that place. i have a lot of unseen love for Batala. i have heard a lot of stories regarding partition but God really give me an opportunity to be part a story but as medium to bring a man to his birth place in Okara. it was sep, 2006 when i received an email from Dr. viny Kumar, dean of Chicago medical university USA. he requested me to find his birth place in okara. where his grand father Dr. Uttam Chand Ahuja used to live before partition. it was very difficult for me to find it because he told me that his house was constructed in 1935 and i did,t have anyone who was so much aged. secondly things was changed in 71 years. i asked my father they said i never heard about that because my date of birth is 1951. but he solved my problem when he told me that old civil hospital was on thandi sarak near Company Baag (still with same name as it served to accommodate refuges at time of partition). i find 2 houses keeping in view the things dr. viny had told me. On November, 2006 he came to okara after attending conference in Lahore. we visited his home was still existing in same condition with marble plaque engraved with his grandfather's name Dr. uttam Chand Ahuja. he started to cry and rushed toward the pillar below this plaque and asked for picture. Meanwhile one of member of family living in this house came out having same piece of marble which they have secured for 60 years. In short very emotional scenes were there which can,t b explain in words. That was really good experienced and i thanks Allah almighty who give me an opportunity to serve the people who had bad experience of migration. i read Batala was included in Pakistan at time of partition and remained part of Pakistan only for 3 days but Indian's conspiracy to secure Amretsir has deprived Pakistan from Batala and we have to migrate :( Whatever the case I Love to be Pakistani and i love my city and wish to see Batala :)
  • yes you are right. shora kothi history started from the era of great Saint Baba Fareed Ganj shker from 12th century. i am feel privilege that i am resident of Shora kothi in house that was part Shora factory owned by Seth Meghraj Mohunta but at present time is converted into a large beautiful house. no body can guess that a factory was exist there ever :P
  • Abdul Rahman mian, good to hear from you. i wish you had left contact info for my reply. Yes beta, more non-Muslims were massacred in Punjab, than Muslims. We had become worst than animals, throughout India and Pakistan. We must endeavor to heal the wounds; it was not the fault of the current generations. We all need to love humanity, and all the creations of God.. Thanks beta, best of luck for your future plans. If I visit Pakistan this year, I would love to meet you; I am definitely planning to visit Shora Kothi to see the Barf Khana and the location of my Pre-Kindergarten School.
  • Pyare Usman uncle! Whenever u plan to visit shorakothi, inform me. I will be there for u & I would like to see Ur childhood memories specially your school place and it would be a great pleasure for me. Barf khana is also there and I think it is the oldest thing which is still present. Here is my contact id rehman10ce27@gmail.com
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This article was last modified 10 years ago