Writer Dr. Dalvinder Singh Grewal has written an extensive piece on the movement of Sikh and Hindu refugees from Lyallpur district to India. In each stage of the journey, the refugee caravan had to face tremendous odds and the chances of survival were reducing every hour as they moved slowly towards the new Indian border.

Excerpt below and link to full article here "The Making of Refugees"

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The young boys and girls were intermarried without caring for the inter-caste and inter gotra systems. Hindus and Sikhs married without considering anything accept age. Since none had been left with any wealth; so barrier of wealth had gone. There were no other rituals; no dowry etc but reading of Anand Karj and having four circles around Sri Guru Granrth Sahib; the system common for all marriages. No one knew when he would die and when he would depart from the caravan. Everyone was scared of the increasing war cries and fires burning in the villages around. Families thought these marriages as the best alternative to save the izzat of the communities. Women were even asked to wear kirpans. In case of any attack, they were supposed to counter-attack to kill. If not possible to do so they were to kill themselves with the kirpan. This kirpan became a common weapon for Sikhs and Hindu girls. It was a do or die business. Since safety and security was the key problem; the caste barriers all blew in the air. Relationship of Hindus and Sikhs was thus bonded permanently.  

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