Interview with Wajahat Husain, June 13, 2005

Project: Partition's First Generation Oral History Project

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Interview Summary

This interview with retired General Wajahat Hussain begins with a discussion of his childhood and upbringing in Aligarh (India) during the British occupation of India. It talks about his familial background. He also talks about his education, which consisted of both schooling at home as well as formal private education. Hussain then moves on to talk about his enlistment in the Indian Air Force during World War II. He talks about his basic training, as well as his early career. Hussain also talks about Anglo-Indians. Next, Hussain discusses his memories of both the Indian Freedom Movement as well as the movement to establish an independent Pakistan. He talks about his relationships with founding fathers Mahomed Ali Jinnah and Mohammed Iqbal. Hussain also talks about his involvement in the Aligarh Riding Club, which was established to teach boys how to horseback ride. This enabled him to meet several notable political and military leaders, about whom he also talks. He then recalls his family's interest in politics and current events. Hussain moves on to discuss the difficulty Pakistan and India faced in establishing the borders of their new countries. He also talks about his religious background, which includes heritage from both Sunnis and Shiites. Hussain then talks at length about his early military career, including his training to become an officer. Finally, Hussain recounts his decision to leave India for Pakistan, before recalling his time on the Boundary Force, whose job it was to enforce the newly created border between Pakistan and India.

Interview Accession

2016oh286_site015

Interviewee Name

Wajahat Husain

Interviewer Name

Amber Abbas

Interview Date

2005-06-13

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

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Husain, Wajahat Interview by Amber Abbas. 13 Jun. 2005. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.

Husain, W. (2005, June 13). Interview by A. Abbas. Partition's First Generation Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.

Husain, Wajahat, interview by Amber Abbas. June 13, 2005, Partition's First Generation Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.





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