Sant Singh Teg

Jammu: Sant Singh Teg, a 100-year-old Gandhian and freedom fighter, has urged the Pakistan Government to allow him to visit his birthplace, which he left 60 years ago during the Partition. Mr. Teg was born at Hattian Dupatta on April 13, 1907. The village is part of Muzaffarabad district of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"Ever since I left my birthplace in 1947, I could not go there. I belong to Muzaffarabad and my family owned a transport company. I have an emotional attachment with that place as I spent the best years of my life there. I appeal to the Pakistan Government to allow me to visit my birthplace on humanitarian grounds. To drive down the Uri-Muzaffarabad road is my last wish."

Association with Nehru

Mr. Teg has worked with many stalwarts of the country, including Jawaharlal Nehru. It was he who personally received Nehru when he came to the State in 1946 through the Kohala route, now in Muzaffarabad district. Nehru came to the State as a lawyer to defend his friend Sheikh Abdullah, who was under arrest for demanding transition from monarchy to democracy. Nehru was not allowed to appear in the courtroom and he was asked to turn back by the Maharaja's troops. Many historians attribute Nehru's support to the democratic movement started by Sheikh Abdullah as a masterstroke, as it paved the way for the rejection of the two-nation theory by Sheikh Abdullah.

Mr. Teg participated in the freedom struggle and he was jailed on many occasions.

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