KASHMIR ITS HISTORY AND PEOPLE
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St. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL
The remarkable Sister Emilia Montavani born on July 21, 1903 passed on at the age of
100 in Varhamulla,
present Baramulla, Kashmir, in 2003.
Mother Teresalina and two other sisters traveled to Kashmir in the spring of 1947. It was an incredibly beautiful land. Deep valleys covered with Himalayan pine, rivers and lakes reflecting the lacy green of the Poplar tree, majestic cypresses and eternal snowy peaks met your eye. Houseboats crowded the rivers. Temples, monumental staircases, wooden houses clustering together covered with pretty creepers, lined the Jhelum river. Before the founding of St. Joseph's, the Franciscan missionaries of Mary had made many mission tours from the convent in Rawalpindi into Kashmir. On horseback or in tonga the missionaries would go up the mountain caring for the sick and assisting the dying. After St. Joseph's was established, the Sister's still continued these tours, seeking out those in need of treatment and often succeeding in persuading them to come to the hospital for the necessary care.
The hospital of St. Joseph's had been established some 15 years before Mother Teresalina joined them as assistant to Mother Superior. It was the year following the beatification of the Seven Sister Martyrs. Political troubles were brewing in Kashmir and Baramulla lay on the road from Punjab in Pakistan to Srinagar in India. A deceptive quiet had fallen over Kashmir. During the week of the retreat, news came that the tribes from the border were rioting in the valley. People fled and Baramulla lay in the path of this exodus. On advice of Reverend Father McCarthy the retreat was closed a day earlier to devote time to the care of frantic refugees fleeing south. Unaware that they themselves were in harms way they did their best to house and feed the refugees. The events related the ferocity of killing by the invading tribesmen, each equipped with a revolver, a hatchet and knife with notable skills in gunmanship. On October 25, 1947, Reverend Father George Shanks, Chaplin of the mission gave the community the consolidation of receiving Holy Communion. Next morning in early mass the Chaplin gave Reverend Mother Superior an unconsumed Consecrate Host to be consumed at the first sign of danger. Morning of October 27, shots were heard. The Maharaja's troops retreated in disorder and terror over the mountains. Attacking tribesmen followed killing them mercilessly. The mission was surrounded on all sides and the mission walls had been scaled. The hospital, convent and residence was under attack. A Mrs. Dykes, a patient who had a newborn was murdered so was another woman patient. Col. Dykes who had come for his wife was shot dead. Mother Superior was with Dr. Barreto, a staff lady doctor, making rounds of the infirmary. That day Mother Teresalina, nurse Philomena passed away and Mother Superior was injured. Dr. Bareto's husband also was shot dead. While Dr. Bareto and nine sisters and young lay nurses were being lined up it appears a Major Saurab disbanded the tribesman and commanded them to lay down their arms. Major Saurab then saved Father Shanks and Father Mallet from being killed. The tribesmen had looted the entire hospital and convent.
In March 1949, Reverend Father Shanks and the Sisters returned to the foresaken mission. With open arms the grateful people of Baramulla welcomed the missionaries. The entire town came out to welcome. September 1952 found the entire mission restored and expanded. Sister Emilia Montavani who had survived the raid by hiding out for three days also returned.
