Gussa Piari Babi ka

Too small a price for a nap and negligence

I am pained to say that it is too small a price for a nap and negligence. Pakistan learned a lesson from the defeat of the last four wars that she waged against India. We proved stronger because of our higher numerical. 1962 India was caught napping as mocked by Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan the then President of India. China proved a winner in 1962 because of her preparedness, vigilance besides, higher numerical than India. Strategy plays its role in the present scenario. India must not expect anything better from Pakistan. Pakistan takes advantage from our poor vigilance and poor intelligence input.

Heavy recurring unaccounted for budget under the head Security Related Expenses (SRE) is spent lavishly on issues that are in no way connected with security. An enthusiast, a KPS officer at Jammu  raised objection for expenditures that were debited to the head SRE when the same were not even remotely related to security. The other day he was shifted to some other section. ‘Sadhbawna’ ‘proved utter failure, but still it continues unbridled and unchecked.

As usual experts from Home Ministry Delhi will arrive for two days excursion to Pahalgam on Government exchequer.

In routine the Prime Minister, the Home Minister, the Chief Minister of J&K State, the Defence Minister of India press the coded button.

The Prime Minister Narender Modi pressed the coded button that said: “Attacks in J&K are condemnable. They are desperate attempts to derail the atmosphere of hope and goodwill as seen by the increased voter turnout.

The Defence Minister pressed the coded button that said: “It is possible that this has happened because of elections……Last few days the army has been intercepting terrorists and eliminating them. So, I think, it is a sign of increased interception by the army.”

Omar Abdullah, the Chief Minister pressed the coded button that termed the attack as a desperate attempt by militants to disrupt peace in the state. Once again shows the desperate levels militants will go to disrupt peace and normalcy.

“Officers at the Army Headquarter in Delhi pressed the coded button that said: “The foreign militants were “Well trained” and sent from across the border to target Army Installations to “make a statement” amidst high voter turnout in the Assembly elections.

 Mid nineties I went to Army residential quarters at Smailpur Jammu to meet Major Bhat (Name changed). Knowing well the location, I deliberately knocked at different doors to enquire about the location. Surprisingly, no body checked me and asked me for wandering about in the area aimlessly and waywardly. After making assessment of the security majors in the most secured and sensitive area, I said to Major Bhat: “Your safety and security is ‘Ram burosay’. Major Bhat remained quiet when I narrated to him about my recce of the area. Mrs. Bhat said:” You are right. In the recent past one militant misfired on a Major. He was apprehended. He begged that either he be shot dead or retained with some employment. The authorities appointed the militant as a gardener.”

1994, my landlord T N Kachroo at Rehari, Jammu received a typed letter signed by Yasin Malik (Whether fake or genuine I don’t know) wherein he was threatened with a bomb blast for providing rental accommodation to me. I went to Ashok Suri IPS, the then DIG Police Jammu, retired DGP with the letter for his advice. He raised his hands and said:” I receive tens of such letters daily. We have to live with it.” I said: “I agree with you. Your survival is only ‘Ram burosay’ and you are at a greater risk. May God save you. I entered into your room without any check. From the main gate to the door of your room seven feet tall constables on your guard saluted me instead of frisking me.” They took me for a Police officer.

My friend a senior police officer would often during night patrolling stealthily pickup  the rifle of the snoring constable on his guard and return the same to him the next morning along with a little of reprimand.

Let us ensure that henceforth we are not caught napping and there be no further use of the coded buttons.

  

Kala Dhan-Black Money

1965, GM Sadiq was the Chief Minister of J&K State and Pundit J N Zutshi was the Senior Superintendent of Police Udhampur. Udhampur was stronghold of Jan Sangh. Rampant burglaries at Udhampur caused furor for the police and the Government.Jan Sangh MLA Shiv Charan Gupta, organized regular demonstrations in the town and raised slogan “Ya chor ko pakdo-vernae gadhi chod dho” (Either catch hold of the burglar or leave the chair).

The police rounded up all history-sheeters for interrogation but to no clue. History-sheeters identify the burglar from the circumstantial evidence, but in the current situation they too raised their hands.

One day one of the history-sheeters of Udhampur identified the sloganeer in the crowd protesting against burglary. The sloganeer was his barrack mate in Srinagar Jail. He called him by his name, Hamid.  He went to Hamid and in his language pinched his hand to convey him that he detected the burglar. The burglar in one jerk ran through Army area. People chased him. A little ahead he was caught by some army men.  He pleaded that he was a deserter and the police is after him. They pitied him and let him go. A little ahead, he was again caught by some other army men. He again used the same dialogue. This time the army men were from Military Police. They caught hold of him and handed him over to the police. The Police heaved a sigh of relief. All the burglaries were solved and the stolen property was restored to the claimants. Processions came to an abrupt end. SSP Zutshi earned appreciation of his friend, the then Chief Minister G M Sadiq. 

Hamid was a history-sheeter from Srinagar. He was a man of taste. He used to shift his area of operation along with the Darbar Move to winter capital Jammu in November to escape chill cold of the valley. The Secretariat and other offices move under the orders of the General Department; High Court moves under the orders of the  Chief Justice of the High Court. Hamid has all powers vested in him and moves as per his own convenience. 

During my school days, students used to steal one another’s books. They used to sell them at half price to Kapoor Brothers and go for movies. One day one of my classmates lost complete satchel containing all his books and notebooks. Search and interrogation by Master Dwarika Nath Koul proved a futile exercise. Finally Master Koul announced that he would get roasted ‘kare’ (dry peas) the next day and give it to each student to eat. The one who stole the satchel would vomit blood. The whole class became restive lest even an innocent vomited blood.

C Lal S (Abbreviated name) one of the classmates became proactive. He appreciated the device and persuaded the teacher for early implementation of the device. While all were apprehensive, C Lal S pretended to be excited.

Two days later one student from the neighbouring school asked my elder brother whether any of his classmates had lost his satchel. He said in the affirmative and asked him how he knew it. The student from the neighbouring school told him that he saw C Lal S throwing and hiding a satchel in the ‘soie zand’ (nettle bush-the weed that causes blisters).

Protest organized at Jantar Mantar on 1st December, 2014 for Black Money by the Congress party headed by Rahul Gandhi and his cohorts reminded me of the characters like Hamid and C Lal S. Kickbacks of Bofer Gun investigator on way to Switzerland was given a secret letter addressed to authorities by Narsima Rao Government to go slow. Some of the missing Coal-gate files were discovered somewhere from the garbage dump. Ministers of the UPA- 2 involved with 2G scam are in jail. Kalmadi the Common Wealth Games is in jail. Robert Wadara’s scam for them is too small to be of any consequence.

‘Mandhchhuen launch te tim khevan nutchie nutchi’ It is the eunuchs who would feel ashamed but they enjoy livelihood while dancing. 

Bríjû dàss te Girdass chhú vanàn låsív tû basiv.

brijdass,a wanderer in exile at 75

Deprived of his Cremation Ground

by the Farooq Abdullah Government with acquiescence by the Rajiv Government at the Centre.

“Mezareabal tanie chi hazar tufaan

Vujarea gachi gachi kabaer ti ravem”(Dolwal)

From Mumbai contact No: Landline 022-25552055; Mobile No:09869923093 bkdass69@gmail.com;

http://bkdass.blogspot.ae

FAITH

Mohammad Khalil Dy. Superintendent of Police, Anti Corruption on his return from official Haj pilgrimage was called in by his superior SSP Hamid Khan to narrate the event to him. Khalil Sahib said: “Sir one of the pillars there at the mosque is under protest.”

Astonished Khan said “Reason?”

“Sir, Prophet Mohammad is said to have rested and relaxed against the neighbouring pillar. And the pillar under protest protests for such a discrimination.” said Khalil Sahib.

Soon Khan Sahib called in Jawahir Lal Pundita retired DIG, the then Dy. SP to listen to the event.

To mock at Khalil Sahib, Khan Sahib said: “It must have created a law and order problem.”

……..

…….

Recently while recasting the previous events, DIG Pundita(Retired) acclaimed the genius in Khalil Sahib as a perfect Police Officer. I reminded him of ‘the pillar episode’ and asked him if genius, why did he make fool of himself with such a statement.

Pundita said: “It is FAITH.”

I remained silent. I have faith in Maha Ganesh and carry three Maha Ganeshs in my pocket and claim: “Maha Ganesh is in my pocket.”

2004, I wept and sobbed in front of the Rock depicting my Ganesh at Hari Parbat Srinagar. It is my faith that within a week’s time my job held up for four years got solved.

While concentrating on each point of the Rock, I see image of Maha Ganesh.

To be a vegetarian or non vegetarian has nothing to do with sanctity of the temple. It is the individual’s mindset.

Once at Tulmul in late fifties, , Amar Nath Munshi’s( Fire Brigade officer) ‘doonga’ in the night got a little shake due to somebody’s push. Alarm was raised and a villager in a fishing boat was apprehended as a thief. In the morning, the held up villager (Ghar jewaiee) confessed his crime and lead the police to a site across the nalah to show them the place where he said had buried the booty. He named all the male members of his in-laws as his associates in the crime. Pundit Amar Nath repeatedly said to the police that nothing was missing in his doonga and no theft had taken place.

I asked one of the villagers in the crowd as to what could be the reason of innocent people getting humiliated and beaten.

He said: “His in-laws are respectable people and are never expected to commit any crime. We the villagers of Tulmula will never go for fishing in the nalah around the Tulmul Nagh. It is our faith in Tulmul. He being an outsider with little faith in our conviction must have clandestinely tried fishing during the night. Mata has caught him and that is why his other innocent people are suffering for no crime.”

Ramzan Badyari, the Doonga  walla used to tell us to inform him for trip to Tulmul one week earlier, so that the family remained vegetarian for the week and would wash clothes and mop the doonga to make both worthy for Tulmul.

Had eating mutton been sin, nature would have not created carnivores. It is one’s mind set. Whatever justification, to a lay man like me it is one’s mindset. Sin or no sin is a relative term. Beef eater Muslims do not die due to eating of beef and pork eater Hindus do not die due to pork. Bahta is allowed both jethka and halal with little restrictions on a few occasions. Mindset and faith discipline the life of a human being. Had lagan and nikah not been there then all would be savages.

Rashid Khan 1

Home Ministry ki kehani CID officer ki zabani

May,2002

Venue: Wanebal old Airport road, Budgam, Kashmir

Characters: CID Officer Manzoor Ahmmad  and B K Dass

Surprised to see the name plate at the main entrance of the house that read “ Manzoor Ahmmad, J&K Police”

I said: ”Manzoor Sahab, how dare you to disclose your identity especially when the Militant Area Commander of this area is Manzoor Medicate, your name sake and militancy is at its peak. Besides, J&K Police too is at its hit list?”

Manzoor said: “I live here in this house along with my family with the permission of the Area Commander Manzoor Medicate. I went to him and told him that I serve in J&K Police Department. I have constructed a house at Waneabal and would like to live in that house along with my family. The Area Commander Manzoor Medicate asked me my name and place of posting. I told him my name and told him that I was posted at Interrogation Centre Hari Niwas on Gupkar Road, Srinagar. The Area Commander closed his eyes for a little while and told me that I could live along with my family in the house with the name plate.”

I said: “Then how can you deal with the militants to combat terrorism?”

The CID Officer Manzoor said: “On whose backing and support, you expect J&K Police to take on the militants. Retired DIG the late Mirza Hamid Iqbal IPS went into low profile to save his life after he was scolded by the CM Farooq Abdullah for reporting on the preparedness of militants and their arsenal enough to last for ten years. To combat terrorism, all concerned have faith in the rudderless Central Government. They little know that the Central team that comes after every major episode to inspect the situation on spot and draw their independent conclusion come only to enjoy drinks at the tourist resort Pahalgam. They are supposed to counter check the observation of the State Government. The moment they land at the airport and board the red beacon fitted ambassador car, they express their desire for visit to Pahalgam. The department already knows their weakness. Crate of English whisky is put in the dickey of the car and they are seen off for sightseeing. The State police, which is to be countered, entertain them with heavy wazwan, drinks sight-seeing for the limited two days at their disposal. Then the State police on their behalf prepares the report and hand them the file containing the report along with a shawl and some other gifts for the Babi Ji and ask them ," Saheb theek hai" to the response," haan thek hai". The report is generally handed while the team is boarding the plane back to Delhi.

Militancy is the hen that lays golden eggs. The Police officers enjoy SRE (Security related expenses) in crores, which they have not to account for. Why should the police axe their own legs by putting end to militancy? Government employees are provided with free accommodation in hotels. Whether occupied or not, the hotel is paid Rs.9000/room. Officials in the General Department in collaboration with the hotel owners make the best of the worst. Air crash of the retired Police Officer Surrinder Nath when Governor Himachal Pradesh made a rain of currency notes in bundles. When he joined his services in the state, his coat had repair work at its elbows and collar. He had one attaché with him. When he returned after superannuation, he was followed with a convoy carrying his household goods.

Dy. Registrar Supreme Court of India camped at the extreme end nearer to Pahagam in the south-east of the valley to investigate relief to earthquake sufferers of  2005 at the other end closer to LOC in the north-west of the valley.

“Khudavanda tairay sadha lo bundhay kenhan jaiany

Yehan dhervaishi be aiaree hai ki Sultanee be aiaree

Supreme is the Supreme; Director CBI Ranjit Sin-ha is not an exception.

5^th October, 2014, we stealthily looked at each other in the dinning hall at Holiday Home State Guest House, Udaipur. 6^th also passed like that. Neither of us took initiative for self introduction. 7^th I could not resist and wished him Jai Ram Ji ki for mutual introduction.

“I am B K Dass from Srinagar, Kashmir. I am a teacher by profession” said I.

He said: “I am Rajesh (Name changed) Sharma, Dy. Registrar Supreme Court of India.”

Soon we entered into a gossip.

He said: “I have been to Kashmir and stayed at Mattan for six months.

“Surprised! How is it? There is no sub court of the Supreme Court of India at Mattan” said I.

The Judge said: “I was there to conduct an enquiry in the relief distribution to the earthquake sufferers that shook Muzaffarabad and its adjoining areas”.

Map of J&K State not to scale shows Mattan-Pahalgam is to the south-east of Srinagar and Muzaffarabad is to the far end of north-west of Srinagar

I said: “The earthquake occurred on 8^th Oct.2005 and caused damage and causalities over an area of 30,000 sq. km in the NWFP of Pakistan and parts of Pakistan occupied Kashmir. The major cities and towns affected were Muzaffarabad, Bagh and Rawlakot in Kashmir and Balakot, Shinkiari, Batagram, Mansehra Abbotabad, Murree and Islamabad in Pakistan with 80,000 causalities, 200,000 injured and more than four million homeless.(Google information) It does not fall within the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of India”.

The judge said: “I was there to conduct enquiry into the distribution of relief to earthquake sufferers on this side of the LOC.”

“Agreed, but its effect on this side of the LOC was insignificant and not that alarming, besides,

Mattan-Pahalgam is to the south-east of Srinagar and Muzaffarabad is to the far end of north-west of Srinagar

Muzaffarabad and the LOC the affected areas are to the north-west of Srinagar and the site of your camp was to the south-east of Srinagar. Both are poles apart. All who come from Delhi to probe prefer to be nearer to Pahalgam rather than at the site of occurrence. It is nothing short of enjoying holidays on public exchequer” said I.

The judge gave a smile and next day we did not have common dining hall and dining time.

Bashir from Pringal was allotted a prefabricated hut though he

argued with the Revenue authorities that his area was not affected

Bashir is from Pringal. Pringal and Buniyar are on either bank of the River Jehlum at a distance of about 15 km from Uri. I was on picnic to Pringal on 9^th August, 2014. Bashir offered me rent free accommodation if I liked to stay for sometime there. He said that they reluctantly accepted under pressure prefabricated hut as the earthquake had not caused any damage to their area.

Sin-ha indicates many sins. Like Subhana the Worst was for the best tailor, Sin-ha is for the scapegoat or the pigeon parrot.

Brijdass chu venan lasiv te basiv

To be concluded. Next you will read to HOME MINISTRY KI KEHANI CID OFFICER KI ZABANI

The Child of the Day

Cyclist Naviya Raina with perfect Road sense.

Cyclist Naviya Raina with perfect Road sense.

Model Naviya Raina

http://youtu.be/WxtO3oMitEk

The child of the day is ahead of his/her age. There are many reasons for it. One of the reasons, I believe, is the fewer get better attention. Other reasons are that they are offspring of educated parents. They are well versed with the electronic gadgets. Children’s channel like Pogo, Hungama, Discovery Kids and Cartoon Network are easily accessible to them. They are capable of copying cartoons from ‘DragoArt.com from the Net and master in drawing pictures. They understand and discuss the characters with their age group. Their observation and perception are sharp. None of them has a flowing nose. They are not used to ‘mul khoer colour garments. They are always neat and clean and care for clean habits.

Jansi ki Rani on 14th Nov.2014

We the elders must not take them casually. Their observation is sharp. They randomly use the words uttered by their parents and teachers. Their schooling is beyond the four walls of the school.

Navia-Kishmish my granddaughter from my younger daughter is one of the children of the Day. She is 31^st August 2010born.

Last week while driving, I was discussing some issue with her mother. She intervened: “Aray gadi chalatay suduk per dhian rekho; batain muet kero.” (While driving concentrate your attention on the road)

Today while on wheel as per my diehard habit I was in gossip with my daughter. I missed the cut for U-turn and realized my mistake a few meters ahead of the cut. I remembered the caution of Kishmish only after spilling the milk.

Last fortnight at 11:30 PM, Kishmish told her 7+ brother Karmanya: “I will go to the TV room to listen to the News.”

Cyclist Naviya Raina with perfect Road sense.

Karmany asked: “What is News?”

Kishmish described the News as: “In the News, they say ‘ Koan mur ghaia, kenhan mur ghaia, kis ki chapel kho ghaiee; kis ki chapel chori ho ghaie (who died- where died, whose chapel was lost whose chapel was stolen)

A few days before she said: “Teacher ‘nay mara’ (Teacher beat me)”

I said: “Tue roiee (Did you weep?)

She said: “Pointing to her throat ‘Mai nahee roiee- maira dil roiya’( I did not weep, my heart wept)”.

Yesterday, additional dress for change at the Crèche was not in her bag. She cautioned me and said: “Nanu ghaiay kam say. Mai mummy kay pas complaint keruenghee”. Luckily it was an omission caused by her mother and so I am told that aap kam per ho”

The phrases she used appropriately for particular situations correctly speak about her observation and perception.

What made me to leave my home & hearth?

http://youtu.be/ytSvj7H6iMs

I used to go to plains during winter vacations. 1990, I intended to stay back in the valley as my daughters in 11th and 12th classes needed coaching for their board examinations. For one week until 12th January, both returned without attending coaching for curfew and hartal-civil curfew. I phoned my friend  Prof. B L Raina HOD Mathematics at Science College Jammu and expressed him the inability to continue with education especially when militants notified that girls should not continue their education beyond 8th. Prof. Raina suggested that he would manage special group for November session for them. I left for Jammu on 16th Jan. 1990 at 11 AM. En route I managed to operate upon the locker at PNB Mahraj Gunj. Manager Bank Raj Kumar Sharma, my student handed me the jewelry box on top priority and asked me if I had a locker at Jammu. I said that I never stayed at Jammu and so did not have any locker at Jammu. He suggested that in that case let the box be left back at the Mahraj Ganj Locker. I agreed and put the box back at Mahraj Ganj that I retrieved in 1994 by courtesy of my friend Professor Masood Sheikh (Retired Principal Govt. Degree College).

M Dass House  in ruins

28^th February 1990, rumour of my assassination was spread. Yasir Arfat Qadri my student in excitement rushed to convey the breaking News to his classmate and friend Arvind Razdan that Sir ‘ha khetovukh’(Sir has been eliminated) 2012, Sheikh Syed one of my students on his return from Saudi Arabia wanted to call on me. I visited him at his Zainakot residence on my return from Gulmarg on 18^th June, 2012. To my surprise, while gossiping, his elder brother Sheikh Din Mohammad told me that Ramzana was directed to kill me. Ramzan regretted when he came to know that target had already left for Jammu. I told him that I did not know any Ramzan. Please call him; I would like to ask him what enmity he had with me. I was grieved to know that in one of the encounters Ramzan was shot dead at Habbakadl. Later on I was told by my nephew that he used to play cricket with him and he was a fast bowler and used to ball with his left hand and so was known in his friend circle as Ramzan Khoesh (Left hander).

God had to save my life and so escaped his bullet. Munea Sadh (Sadhu) known to his Muslim friends as Munea Butea was approached by Nazir Puej, one Wazea and one more from Chotta Bazar at 9:30 in the night. They asked him to pack there and then, failing which one of them (From three different organizations) would shoot him before sunrise. He told them that he had no money to hire a taxi. The three friends pooled Rs.900 and arranged a taxi for him; bade goodbye to him in tears.

My elder brother was persuaded by his Muslim friends and neighbours to leave for sometime. None of us gained any thing out of this turmoil. It ended in loot khasoot and mayhem only. Altaf Bungri, Munea Bakhshi and many who initiated militancy, work for Indian Army now. Some live in exile in Indian Cities and some in Rawalpindi. None is a gainer. Each harmless Kashmiri Pundit was replaced by gun toting men in lacs- some in  civil and some in  uniform to cause mayhem in the peaceful valley where even a hardened criminal would not commit a murder.

  Nanea Butea and his brother sons of Vasdev, both delinquents, and neighbours of Prince Salim were stoned to death to please Allah by the so called Jahadis. Hamid Tailor from Chotta Bazar, neighbour of Kh Javed Ahmad Mir Sahab (Chairman JKLF) seized the opportunity to mint money. He used to borrow two hundred rupees for me for thread and used to liquidate the debt in easy installments of Rs.10 each purchased a KP house in Karan Nagar in early nineties. He came with advance for one more KP house at Chanpora. I questioned his source of treasure. He confessed to Krishna Tailors that when a youth in jeans and action shoes was apprehended by BSF, his parents approached him, the officer being his customer, for his release. The officer demanded Rs 10,000 for the release irrespective of his being innocent or a dreaded militant. Hamid asked for Rs.35000 and managed his release at 5000 and pocketed 30,000. Altaf Chath  a jeweler thanked Allah for roaring business in 1990. He said that in peacetime tourist visited the valley in thousands and that too for 3-4 months of summer. Now they have more that 6 lac armed people for the entire period, so a permanent source of income. 

M Dass House  in ruins

 M Dass House  in ruins

While I escaped Ramzan’s bullet, I gained enough as God saved my life and honour. Material losses are no losses. Had KPs not been hounded out, even KPs would join them under compulsion to save their life and honour. 1964, all Kashmiri Pundits joined the mammoth Moie-mukadas processions, little knowing what it was.

Neighbours visited on 31st Aug.2014

Ramp for service to personal vehicles within
M Dass campus.

Neighbour at Zainako

Lies have no legs to stand upon

·                           Quote:

“Malik Gowher MR.Brij Dass sahib...once in one of your write ups you had written that some people of Shalteng have stolen an iron gate from your residence and installed it at a local grave yard. Yesterday I inquired about it in your neighbourhood during a condolence gathering. People of that area informed me that there was no boundary wall around your house no iron gate either. However your house had barbed wire on the back and wooden fencing(Pache Baren ) on the front and an ordinary wooden gate. Ye boozeth paw mate akh koshur Mahware yaad...."Athe wanan pozes dun apze seeth pozaar".... lying though teeth to demonize KMs is proving counterproductive. Even the firebrand anti Muslim, Modi after receiving throne of India has shown very cold shoulder on your demands of Panun Kashmir. News is that now he has cancelled his proposed Kashmir visit as he feared it to become a historical flop show”.

Unquote: Gowhar Malik Sahab, your conscience, courage and physical personality are inversely proportional to the courage to speak the truth. Your statement is partly true and partly untrue based on cooked lies.

The wooden plank fenced enclosure with wooden gate was to the area apportioned for lawn and the residential house from the main M Dass Campus.

Holdfast grafted in the RCC pillars at the main entrance still exist there to reveal their woeful tale.  The residential house set on fire twice did not affect its ground and first floor. Window panes, doors and windows were intact with no damage.

Looters looted thereafter the window and door frames along with electric and bathroom fittings. Tin roof of three burnt buildings evaporated in the broad day light.

I reiterate, those who did it were not Muslims though they raised slogan ‘Narie taqbeer-Allah O Akbar while looting the evacuated houses.

Those who watched it quietly too are not Muslims. Those who close their eyes to cruelty can in no case be Muslims. Those who loot their neighbour too are not Muslims. These are the sacred words of the Great Prophet Mohammad in His Sayings-Hadith.

Ruins of the M Dass Residential House

http://youtu.be/ytSvj7H6iMs

My daughter Romesh Dass flanked by my neighbours Shaheen, and Jan Babi 

My neighbours-Haji Rehman Dar and his family

Gulea Cooperative

Gulea Cooperative is a big name among the transporters in the valley. Gulea Cooperative has never been to school. He started his career as a ‘hamal’ (porter) at KPCS (Kashmir Peoples’ Cooperative Store, Magarmal Bagh. Truckloads of goods used to pour into the store directly from manufacturers and wholesale dealers. Likewise truckloads of supplies used to pour out for different Marketing societies. Gulea Cooperative was one of the porters to load and unload the trucks.
One day an idea struck to Gulea Cooperative. He suggested to his other coolie colleagues for registration of a Transport Cooperative Society. Each member pooled for the purchase of a truck. Each one contributed 10%. Soon Gulea became one of the masters of a fleet of trucks attached to KPCS.
Gulea Cooperative got familiar with the documentation, registration and other aliened jobs pertaining to the RTO’s office. His behaviour earned him friends from peon to the RTO in the office of the RTO. Gulea Cooperative spread his tentacles beyond KPCS and Goods load carrier trucks. He entered into public transport business. Those days supply of chassis was short of demand. Thus each state had a quota for supply of Bus chassis. After booking, one had to be in a queue and wait for more than a year for his turn.
By now Gulea had developed relations with different RTOs of different States besides different Banks to finance the chassis. Communication with other States was not as fast as it is today, but Gulea Cooperative was an exception. He had almost managed an unofficial hotline connection by obliging Telephone operators. He used to supplement the Kashmir quota from the quota of other States. He would manage to get an NOC ( No objection certificate) from RTO Punjab or any other State for its delivery in Srinagar. Strangely he would get an imprint of the chassis and engine number of the chassis for its finance when the chassis was still at the Punjab Showroom.
The Bank Manager used to honour his demand for finance written with pencil even on the flap of a cigarette pack. Body of the chassis was built at Jeewan Singh Body Builders at Jallundher, Punjab.
1975, Gulea Cooperative approached me and offered sale of a second hand bus for school. I pleaded that I did not have ready cash of Rs.26,000 for the deal. He took my signatures on judicial papers and relevant forms, transferred the bus No: 8745 JKA in the name of M Dass Public School and told me to pay at my convenience in easy installments. I salute his magnanimity, his humbleness that is directly proportional to his wealth.
One day, I visited him at his residence at Jawahar Nagar or Chanpora, I don’t remember. His drawing room was overcrowded with guests. Three persons in neat and clean white dress with samawars and basketful of ‘lavasas’ served the guests with numkeen tea (nunea chaie) and lavasea. All were heard and all were served to the best of their satisfaction.
Later on Gulea Cooperative diversified his business. He has a shopping complex at Kamarwari and probably petrol pump too.
Height of it is that he is neither MBA, nor CA. He is neither from IIT nor from IIM and still proved a success. His highest degree is his human behaviour, his commitment, his honesty and sincerity.
I salute him for his virtues.

(I am sorry to name him with his familiar name. I don't know whether he is Ghulam Mohammad or Ghulam Ahmmad as I would otherwise name him)

Migration is a sacred act.

Gowher: Mahaj Wattal, Dont get charged with communal frenzy. Floods in Kashmir are over. But Garmi of Jammu is a continuous cycle. It will never leave you. Trust me. Enjoy Migrant fund and Shiv Sena paw bhaajis.

Unquote: Malik Gowher Sahab, your comment is not in good taste. It is tantamount to blasphemy. Our great prophets and Autar

migrated and left behind ‘sonet’ for we the ordinary souls to follow Their life style. While I migrated at the behest of my Muslim brethren, I only followed ‘Sonet’.

You rightly said in the next comment that we Kashmiri Muslims and Kashmiri Pundits are brothers. I 100 % agree with you. Our

blood group is same. We are descends of the same progeny.

Lord Rama was sent into exile by His own mother Kekie. He went into exile to leave behind a lesson for we the ordinary souls

that Mother’s orders are final and must be implemented at any cost.

Pandavs were sent into exile by their own cousin Dharyodhan. It is a lesson against gambling.

Prophet Mohammad was chased from Mecca to Medina by His own people from Quresh dynasty. He once unbuttoned his shirt to receive hot and breeze from His hometown Mecca.

He suffered the horrible blistering heat of the desert in exile when there were no coolers, Air-conditioning gadgets, fridge etc.

Your calendar is based on the day of His Hijrat. He went into exile to leave behind a lesson for us the ordinary souls that when there is danger to one’s life from one’s own people, one must migrate.

My migration is a sacred act of following ‘Sonet’. I migrated because my own brethren hounded me out.

Dear Malik Gowhar Sahab, kindly don’t rejoice our suffering due to heat waves. Allah has provided us with gadgets like AC,

fridge, fans, coolers, air-conditioned cars, air-conditioned buildings and air-conditioned school buildings, air-conditioned hospitals that were not existent when Islamic calendar started. I get pained to imagine what my beloved Prophet may have suffered in absence of these gadgets.

One thing is common in all the above mentioned migrations. All were hounded out by Their own people and I am not an exception.

The biggest achievement of our migration is that masks vanished and real faces appeared on the scene. One could easily differentiate between the real and the fake friend. Only a few turned out to be friends when tested on the touchstone of the proverb ' a friend in need is a friend indeed'. A man of great integrity was shocked when one of his beneficiaries accused him of being a cheat. He was hit more by the man who accused him than the tormentors who were after his blood.

Blood relations-brothers & sisters with financial and material edge over the other preferred to distance themselves from lesser privileged ones.

Mokdumus hi fokdum asi hay gamus tuli hay shamus tam

 Quote: “  · Malik Gowher I hereby once again reiterate: 

· Malik Gowher Pandits are welcome to Kashmir minus their canards and grudges.

Unquote: “Mundhchuhuen launch-tim khewan nuchie nuchie”

Malik Gowher Sabh, you seem to be living in a fool’s paradise. We Kashmiri Pundits do not need your invitation. Nor are we motivated by any package. Kashmir is our hometown and for return to one's home, one does not need anybody's invitation or any package. We left Kashmir because you turned it hostile for peaceful living. Kashmir is still not worth living for respectable gentry. I notice my Kashmiri Muslim brethren talking in whispers. Most of them have forgotten a hearty laughter. It is said that you hounded out Kashmiris especially Pundits only to sabotage the mischievous secret plan of the few. Some suspect you as an Indian agent and some as Pakistan agent. Most of your like turned informers and work with Army. Most of you stand in long queues at CID Headquarter. America based Dr. Shabir Chowdhry condemns you as a saboteur to convert his movement into loot-khasoot Movement.

You with mental block are always made to believe. You once spread the canard

that leaves of trees had inscription inscribed "La illa illela Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah'. Sheikh Abdullah mesmerized you to the extent that you voted for his candidate whom he described as electric post and a donkey. Despite being witness to the truth, you harp Jag Mohan canard to please your masters.You

hounded out Qabalis in 1947 with the slogan Hamla Awer Khaberdar…..; You

invited invaders as guest artists in 1990 to cause turmoil in the valley. You

warned Kashmiri Pundits through the columns of the News paper Alsafa to quit

within 24 hours or to face dire consequences.You danced to the slogan Hindu Muslim Sikh Ithad and in 1990, you danced to the tune Batav Bagaer Batnev saan. 1953 you raised the slogan ‘Raie Shumari foruen kerav’ 1975 you danced to the tune ‘alea karengha vanguen karengh…..Raie Shumari buruekh dobus olav bubus Mubarak; 1965 you fooled Martial Ayub and Z A Butoo and sold infiltrators very cheap. Your behaviour and character is unpredictable. Neither Pakistan nor India trusts you. You are one of those who in London enjoy political asylum and little know whether Kishtwar and Poonch are

countries or district head quarters and Narparistan is a mohalla or a country. 

5th April 1979, you along with a crowd in lacs at Chota Bazar Crossing while demonstrating against the murder of Z A Butoo was chased to your holes by Hassae Pachiea and one Burqa clad woman speaks volumes on your courage and valour. Nazir Ahmad Malik retired S P, the then ASI CID is witness to the scene. Gul Khatana from Salar condemns your like when four of the five militants raped Najma (Name changed) despite she served them food and

pleaded that due to miscarriage in the recent past was not well. Rashid (name

changed) from Muzaffarabad, one of the infiltrators of 1965 sobbed when he

revealed his woeful tale to me in 1967 regarding his sale by his own brothers

from Tangdhar  at a very cheap price. When G M Shah took over as CM, Ram Vilas Paswan as one of the enclave members delivered speech at DC office in presence of Farooq Abdullah. He said that MLAs are no doubt a salable commodity, but your MLAs were purchased at a very low price. You seem to be in oversize shoes. The earlier you know your size, the better it is.

For you, I quote: “Mundhchuhuen launch-tim

khewan nuchie nuchie”

 Mokdumus hi fokdum asi hay gamus tuli hay shamus tam

 (Mokdum is the headman of a village. Fokdum was an indigenous apparatus made of sheepskin to blow live charcoal by blacksmiths. In my childhood in fifties whenever I would boast my activity, my maternal grandmother Dedh would taunt: " Mokdumus hi fokdum asi hay gamus tuli hay shamus tam "

Suraj dulta hai-A meaningful song

http://youtu.be/5XvFyMGmsB

The Yoga Camp at the New Community Center at Anushakti Nagar concluded on 7th November 2014. In the evening the participants arranged a musical nite. The Head of the troupe is Chartered accountant in Mumbai. All of them are amateurs. I have for the first time seen the one playing on tabla and singing simultaneously. Some of the participants are senior most scientists at BARC.

Gagged Suppressed & Suffocated-2

I have already posted one write-up on the heading of the instant write up. I differ with the opinion of the majority of my community brethren who believe that the entire population from the majority community is in favour of terrorism, terrorists and separatists.

Tassaduk Khan-1 (name changed) is deadly against terrorism and terrorists. Tassaduk is a voracious reader with a treasure of knowledge with little academic qualification from any school.  He studies Urdu and Kashmiri literature.

Tassaduk looks for the earliest opportunity to serve his country by getting rid of the terrorists known to him and the menace of terrorism.

He is of the opinion that the terrorists armed for 24x7 hours misuse their arms to loot women of their choice and plunder money. He said: “A police officer or an Army officer is armed and in uniform only when on duty. After duty hours, they deposit Arms and ammunition at the quarter guard. Likewise a labourer who is to work with a spade and a rope deposits the same back at the store after the work is closed.”

Listen to the series of interviews with Tassaduk. http://youtu.be/bU1SZO8ioBk

“Those were the days of Helen”

Mid sixty were the days of modest plenty. Those were the days when Indian Railways was not on the map of Jammu & Kashmir State. Those were the days when the nearest railway station for J&K State was at Pathankot in Punjab. Those were the days when there was no internet. Those were the days when there was no television. Those were the days when the Telegraph, Telephone and the Post Office were one department. Those were the days when the fastest mode of communication was telegram through Posts & Telegraph department. Those were the days when each word of telegram cost Rs.0.25. Those were the days when text of the telegram used to be too brief to bother for grammar and complete sentence. Those were the days when specific numeral numbers were coded for specific greeting or condolence messages. Those were the days when address of the addressee on telegram was too vague to be located. Those were the days when only the Ambassador & the Fiat were the only makes of cars in India. Those were the days we never knew that nylon chapel was for bathroom only and not for college and official use. Those were the days when earthen inner pot of kangri worked as attached bathroom. Those were the days of 'seduer kuenz, anchar, turuen butea te hogadea hakh' Those were the days when Kupwara and Bandipore districts were part of Baramulla district.

Those were the days when ration ghats were at the river ghats. Those were the days when india coffee house was cynosure of young old excitement and discussions, lub koul and marina pleasure for evening cronies for gossip and fun life moves on sweet nostalgia..

Those were the days of Helen. Those were the days when any film with Helen on its cast was a box hit film.

Those were the days when in mid sixties, the messenger from the telegraph department Baramulla was too excited with the word Helen to be normal.

The telegram read: “Reaching on third arrange boarding lodging Helen”. The telegram was addressed to 969 Army Engineers Baramulla.

The messenger in excitement disclosed the contents of the telegram to every Tom Dick and Harry.

People with great fervour waited for third anxiously. Two days wait seemed to them a wait for two years.

On third, Baramulla Bus Stand wore a festive look. Since morning people trickled in their festive dresses meant for festivals to have a glimpse of Helen from a safer position. Local police took note of the situation and positioned jawans in adequate number to ensure that there was no stampede.

Mid day Panna Lal arrived in a local bus. Alighted from the bus, Panna Lal said to the Army staff car driver on wait: “Who is coming? For whom staff car is on wait? Why is local police here to control the restive crowd?”

The staff car diver said: “Helen is coming. In this context 969 Army Engineers received a telegram from Simla.”

Panna Lal opened the door of the staff car, sat in the rare seat and signaled the driver to move.

Before the driver would reprimand him, he said: “I am Panna Lal Helen from Head Draftsman on transfer from Simla to Baramulla

Infected & Infested Railway Coaches

Infected & Infested

September 30, 2014, I was booked for Abu Road Station to spend one week at the hill station Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Departure time for the train was 0744 hrs. Rafiq and Ajay dropped me at the Railway Station Jammu that is 8 minute drive from my place at Kunjwani. Rafiq was on the wheel.

The Railway coolie carried my luggage and placed it under my seat No: 9 in B1 coach. The train responded to the green signal and took leave of platform No: 2 at the scheduled departure time.

All the passengers took to their respective positions. The insects, mostly cockroaches from different stations and different states, travelled along with us without any ticket. These cockroaches followed the principle of unity in diversity. Despite being without ticket, they did not play hide and seek with the ticket checker. Both seemed to be in close harmony. They even took liberty to brazenly inspect the ticket checker from toe to top. They seemed to be special guests of the Railway Ministry.

Foul smell was an additional nuisance. I pitied the passenger that trusted hygiene of the cafeteria that served food  to them.

Empty hand wash bottle was awkwardly in a hanging position exhibiting emptiness of the railways.

The horrible scenario compelled me to approach one of the railway employees   for some remedial measures. He raised his hands to express his helplessness.  He said that cleanliness is being done by contractual contractors. The previous contract after its expiry has not been renewed so far. Let the complaint be made on the complaint book. He directed me to the Ticket Checker and asked him to get my complaint noted in the complaint book.

I pointed to the menace of insects to the TC.

The TC said: “I am abreast of the situation. The area of operation of these cockroaches is  my entire body. They run about my body and care little for my uniform.”

I said: “There is no soap to wash hands in the washroom or at the wash basin”.

I pitied him, when he offered to share his personal soap with me.

Soon he came to me with the complaint book. He simultaneously requested me to pardon him as the complaint would be his liability.

Click the link and watch my conversation with the Ticket checker.

Dr. C L Bhat

Dr. C L Bhat

Dr. C L Bhat

Full name of the late Dr. C L Bhat is Dr. Chaman Lal Bhat. He was born in the family of the late Pundit Jia Lal Tikoo from Ganpatyar in the year 1949. His upbringing in early years of his age among family members full of virtues chiseled him a man of virtues with a perfect human heart with love for all and malice for none. He believed in high thinking  and simple living dedicated to his job. Dr. Chaman Lal Bhat among other family members was devotee of Bagwan Gopi Nath. Besides, he was influenced by the teaching of Swami Viveka Nanda and regularly contributed until his end to the journal published by the Divine Park.

 At the age of twenty-one in the year 1970 Dr. Bhat Gold Medalist completed his post-graduation in Physics from Kashmir University with first position and bagged the Gold Medal for his performance. Dr. Bhat completed Phd. in Physics under Dr. N N Raina HOD Physics Kashmir University in the year 1982. Soon thereafter, he did post doctoral work under Nobel Laureate Professor A Wolfendale in England.  His research work was mostly published in Nature, world’s topmost science journal.

Like others, when Chanpora came up as a new residential colony, Dr. Bhat also with hard earned money constructed a house to live in at Lal Nagar, Chanpora. Not only the hard earned money but he invested his blood and sweat to see his dream come true. Once, I spotted him carrying a bag of cement on the frame of his bicycle to meet the demand of the mason with little cement and half an hour left to call it a day.

Though entitled to Departmental vehicle as NRL(BARC) Kashmir Head , he footed to and fro walk from Chanpora to Lal Chowk with a heavy briefcase carrying his books weighing more than five kg. load. From Lal Chowk to Zakura, he used to board public transport. It was combination of austerity and walk to keep him physically and mentally fit.

January 1990 was not an exception for Dr. Bhat. Sloganeering echoed from all the amplifiers atop the mosques around. Of all the slogans the most obnoxious slogan was: “ Asie guchie asuen Pakistan, Butav bughaer Butnev saan’ (We must get Pakistan without Kashmiri Pundits, but with the women folk of Kashmiri Pundits )”. Dr. Bhat could not resist. He along with his two primary class student daughters and wife had a last look at his newly constructed house and went into exile to meet his brethren as a refugee in his own state.

I had already occupied two 10x10 rooms meant for coaching of students, on the first floor of the house of Prof. B L Raina at 25-Bagwati Nagar, Jammu on 16^th January, 1990. Third week of January 1990, 25- Bagwati Nagar Jammu with only three room received three more families consisting of Dr. C L Bhat (4); Er. Rattan Lal Raina (4) and Dr. Ravinder Raina (4) intermittently. The house turned into a private Refugee Camp. The buzz at the Refugee Camp 25 Bhagwati Nagar made us insensitive of the situation.

Soon other scientists along with their families trickled down to Jammu. The Camp at times turned into the Camp office for BARC Srinagar and the drawing room turned into meeting hall of the camp office of BARC.

Normalcy distanced itself by each passing day and the BARC hired a building on rent at Shastri Nagar, Jammu. Gulmarg laboratory being inaccessible the end product of the work was zero. Hope for return was illusive. Dr. Bhat, dedicated to work was the last man to earn salary without work. His other colleagues cooperated and he shifted his work place to Mumbai with laboratory at Mount Abu, Rajasthan. Initially Guest House of Rajasthan Tourist Corporation was taken on rent and subsequently it was purchased by BARC. Residential quarters for the staff at Mount Abu were constructed on priority. The backward village Oriya hummed with activity. Dr. Bhat made alterations to the architect to save age old trees. Besides, his dedication to his scientific work, he had development of the village also in his mind. He planned to share the bore well water with the water scanty villagers to uplift their living. On the fateful day he had taken samples from different bore wells for testing at Mumbai.

Dr.Bhat used to travel during nights to save day for work. His austerity cost the life of a reputed and dedicated scientist. He boarded the Government bus at Mount Abu for Abu Road. The drunk driver lost his control and gave a fatal blow to the Nation on 21^st December, 2001. In his death the Nation lost one of its most dedicated scientists of repute. His family and close his relations shattered beyond recovery.

I conclude that tragedy could be avoided if Dr. Bhat would have not been too austerity minded to avoid the use of the staff car meant for a scientist of his stature. I am reminded of the accidental death of Dr. Parimoo, Professor at BITS Pillani. He too had boarded a bus that was driven by a drunk driver.

Please click the link to listen to the man Dr. Bhat met last.http://youtu.be/S7STOkvi3zk

Dining Hall

Staff quarters

Shyam Rani Saproo

http://youtu.be/1xRILig9NB0

I visited Babi, mother of P L Saproo, we call as Gashea at her NIT residential quarter at Hazratbal, Srinagar on August 17, 2014 after a gap of more than forty years.  Even much earlier than forty years, we may have met per chance on roadside casually and wished each other.

Babi- Shyam Rani Saproo

`Gasha tried to check her ability to recognize the visitor. Babi did not only name me correctly as Brij Nath, but also asked about the welfare of each member of the 19 member family by name one by one. She described picturesquely in detail, how we four brothers as palanquin bearers had carried our father the late Pundit Madho Dass around the street decorated to receive the bharat on the marriage of our sister.

17^th August, 2014 Gasha was on fast on account of Janam Ashtami. He kidded Babi that being on fast he could not entertain the guest with a cup of tea. Under her command, her obedient and sincere son obeyed her orders before he would have been reprimanded by her Majesty.

The burnt house is the house where Shyam Rani had come in her teens as a bride.

The burnt house is the house where Shyam Rani lived peacefully along with many more families until January 1990 when the terrorists threatened her life.

Partly burnt house of Shyam Rani Saproo

The burnt house is the house where Shyam Rani became mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

The burnt house is the house where Shyam Rani had her friends from the close neighbourhood.

The burnt house is the house wherefrom Shyam Rani used to go to Tulmul with her friends on each Ashtami.

Periphery of the temple 

Kathleshwar temple adjacent to Saproo house

The obedient son P L Saproo with his mother