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

Babi Saproo

Solution to Kashmir issue

Solution to Kashmir Issue

http://youtu.be/6S4zekeMgXY

A topmost secret meeting to solve Kashmir Issue was held at the topmost peak of Rajasthan. The delegates were only Kashmiri speaking people with an observer from Mount Abu Rajasthan. Henceforth the outcome of the meeting will be named as Mountabu resolution.

B K Dass, the senior most delegate mooted the suggestion that Kashmir  is like a child that was claimed by two ladies as mother of the child. The judge decreed the child to be pulled by either and the winner will take the child. One of the two surrendered her claim to ensure that the child was not put to any harm. The other one girdled herself for the bout. The judge decided the case in favour of the former and imprisoned the latter for her false claim.

Kashmir is like a grocer’s shop being ruled by coalition governments as partners of the shop. Previously Kashmir was ruled by Mufti Syed, patron of PDP for three years and then by Ghulam Nabi Azad from the Indian National Congress of Sonia Gandhi.

The current Government was exclusively handed to National Conference and the Indian National Congress remained contented with the Dy. Chief Minister from its party. The party surrendered its claim to CM’s chair for the second half for the friendship of Umar Abdullah with Rahul Gandhi.

B K Dass suggested that let by consensus the State be ruled by three partners instead of two and each rule the state for two years. One of the three partners consists of three claimants. As such it would be eight months to each.

A K, the Chief host at Mount Abu raised an objection on the figure 8. He said that minimum time fixed by nature for maturity is nine months. So 8 in no case was acceptable. By consensus instead of two years to each party, it was decided that under article 370 let each party be given three years and the party of three may include one more to make nine months for each to rule.

The meeting was success.

It is decided that J&K State including the POK be handed to:

 Pakistan to rule for the first three years.

Then Pakistan under the Mount Abu agreement will handover power to people of Kashmir represented by

(i) Syed Ali Shah Geelani for the first nine months;

(ii) Mohammad Yasin Malik for the next nine months.

(iii) Shabir Ahmmad Shah for the next nine months.

(iv) Dr. Mirwaiz Omar Farooq for the next nine months

Finally the concluding three years, power be handed to Government of India.

The cycle will continue and the Indian Government will handover power to Pakistan at the end of its term.

Kashmiri Pundits have an option to settle down in Kashmir during the period it is ruled by India.

Assassination of Mohan Lal Bhat

Mohan Lal Bhat

Mohan Lal Bhat when alive

http://youtu.be/iqBrgMKoIUY

Mohan Lal Bhat had not perceived threat to his life. He trusted his age old neighbours with whom he had spent his childhood, youth and then adulthood. He stayed back to take care of his ancestral property and orchards that he had added to his inherited property.  He did not perceive that his immovable property would be cause of his death. He let two of his sons Autar Krishan Bhat and his younger brother in their prime youth to shift to Jammu and stayed back along with his wife.

Autar Krishan Bhat along with his brother occupied an allotted tent at Purkhu Camp.

5^th May 1990, early in the morning, someone lifted the flap of the tent and in whispers called out Autar Krishan Bhat. The message was a bolt from the blue. His father Mohan Lal Bhat  was done to death on 4^th May, 1990 at his home at Chekpora Baghati Kanipora, Chadura, District Budgam, Kashmir.

None around to console or confirm the sad message, Autar Krishan rushed to Airport by the earliest conveyance available. He failed to get the air ticket. To his good luck in adverse circumstances, one Sardar ji came to his rescue. He offered his services to him and carried him to Chekpora Baghti Kanipora in his Taxi car. Money was no consideration to Sardar Ji.

By twilight they reached Chekpora Baghti Kanipora. Villagers and neighbours had already deserted the village. The only confirmation to the assassination of his father was the stale blood spilled all around.

SHO Thana Sadder at Shergadi, Srinagar expressed his ignorance. He suggested them to look for the dead body at the Police Control Room Batmalloo. Response from the constable in charge of dead bodies at Police control room was too cold to be humane.

Sardar Ji was the only human hand at the service of the bereaved son in his bereavement. To know the whereabouts of his mother was an additional anxiety to him.

They went back to Chekpora Baghati Kanipora where some army soldier came out of the bunker and asked them for the reason of their frequent restless visits to the site. He told them to look for the deceased at the nearby cremation ground where two, one civilian and one soldier were cremated. The former was cremated by the one named Kaka Ji.  Autar Krishan got the clue. Kaka ji was his maternal uncle. Sardar ji requisitioned one more taxi to carry the leftover important household goods and ashes of the dead.

Sardar Ji when compelled accepted only Rs.800 for all his services and two of his taxi cars. He was an angel for the depressed family.

Mohan Lal Bhat shot dead to please Allah

4th May, 1990, Mohan Lal Bhat was shot dead to please Alla

Mohan Lal Bhat shot dead to please Alla

‘Sheikh Abdullah’s second term’

When Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah came to power next time in 1975, he was worried that the valley was totally developed by his predecessor Bakhshi Ghulam Mohammad and no work for execution was left for him. Sheikh Abdul Salam the then Chief Engineer was equally worried lest Sheikh Abdullah questioned him for his disproportionate wealth to his known resources.

The senior Sheikh sent a word to the junior one. The junior Sheikh nervously and apprehensively responded to the call.

 The Senior Sheikh: "Let you give me an estimate for replacement of the ceiling ('vasea talav') to my house in the Nedou's premises."

The junior said: "Hardly round about five to six."

Before he concluded, the senior said: "Five to six thousand is affordable for me. Go ahead with the job."

The junior executed the work that cost him more than 10 lac. Both knew the unspoken language. The senior said: " Bakhsi has almost completed all the developmental works, suggest some that could be undertaken."

 For want of any work to execute, the junior Sheikh suggested filling of Nallie Maer to convert the same into a circular road and after its completion excavation to manage drainage. Sources said that the senior Sheikh compensated the junior Sheikh for the replacement of the ceiling of the Sheikh’s  private house  at Neduo's premises at the cost of the government exchequer. All technocrats were surprised for such a foolish Tagluki venture that would anytime sink the city in response even to a drizzle.

It is pertinent to say here that when Sheikh Abdullah was released in the year around 1962, Bakhshi paid a courtesy call on his erstwhile leader and said to him that if he was left at Lalchowk, he would get lost and would fail to locate his way to his home at Soura.

Such was the developed city that it would be a stranger's land to him.

Regrettable Visit to Nathdwara Temple at Udaipur

Shame on Udaipur Tourism

Please click: http://youtu.be/qCPfsEWzHO0

8^th October, 2014, I regretted my visit to Nathdwara Temple in Udaipur. I succumbed to the Tourism propaganda about the place. I narrowly escaped stampede. The priests managing the temple have drawn a four hourly timetable like the doctors’ four-hourly dose of medicine to make the devotees have view of the idol of Lord Krishna. It is being done to create artificial unmanageable crowd to cash the view. Touts in priest uniform offer their services for ‘Darshan’ through VIP rows. Vehicular roads that lead to the temple are too narrow to let pass two at a time. Besides, the dingy roads are repugnant enough to dissuade any tourist for any ‘darshan of the Lord.  

Final regret for the visit was the view of the common dining hall for human beings, dogs, pigs, insects and the sacred cows of Lord Krishna.

Travelogue continued ahead of Shaitan Nallah on 1st September, 2014

May please click the link: http://youtu.be/u6AWJxrh8dI1st September, 2014 the Home on Wheels after refreshment at Shaitan Nallah stop proceeded further at around 1330 hours. The cloudy sky gave way to drizzly downpour. The drizzle made the journey more pleasant. The speedometer, as I had already made up my mind did not cross the figure forty. Side to any vehicle and no overtake reminded me of Pundit Gopi Nath a transporter of bygone days from Zaindar Mohalla. We used to call him by the name Rajea, he was known to his family members. In our childhood, Rajea used to give us joyride in his bus from Zaindar Mohalla to Badiyar and pay one takka ( 1/32 of a rupee) to each one of us for fare to get ferried across the river. His bus was affiliated to KMD (Kashmir Motor Drivers’ Association). Rajea was known for his slow speed. His conductor, Jagar Nath, while on way to Pahalgam was often heard cautioning him: “Vosta tangus dhi mahra side” (Master: “Give side to tonga”).By the time I left Banihal town behind and was often changing the gear from 3rd to 4th and from 4th to 3rd to go ahead the steep upward slope of Digdol, the drizzle gave way to torrential rains. Viper did not let any droplet on the wind screen to make the view hazy. To share the view with others, left hand and the right hand shared the work. Eyes fixed on the road, left hand handled the camera and the right hand single handedly managed the steering. Slow speed gave me the advantage of being master of the otherwise heavily traffic loaded road. Heavy traffic had already gone ahead and left the road for the sole driver. Ahead of Ramsu at one of the blind corners a car in fast speed from the opposite direction appeared head on abruptly. The steering made fast oscillations with vibrations. Each vibration too oscillated in simple harmonic motion and transmitted sine curve to the entire Home along the horizontal wet road. Timely brake on the wet road gave the Home on Wheels a left turn at 90 degrees, failing which it would be a fatal plunge into the deep down gorge. It was nothing short of a close shave escape. Reassembled myself, I looked with a smile at my co passengers, my idol-my best friend Maha Ganesh and the pooja in roman script given by George at Ishvar Ashram Trust. Both seated on the front seat were in close harmony with a little dislocation caused by the jolt. I heaved a sigh of relief for Their survival, and expressed my gratitude to both of them for giving me life afresh. Surprisingly, no vehicle came from either side and the Home on Wheels escaped any fatal hit. Around 1400 hours, lunch at Peeda refreshed me. Peeda is known for serving heavily loaded Rajma+Rice or roti with desi ghee. By twilight, I reached Udhampur. I selected an open and safe area on the roadside to make the Home on Wheels a bedroom for me. The mattress from the rear seat was spread to make the two front seats a single unit and a comfortable cushioned bed for me. At such occasions I thank my god for the size He has given to me that fits in any cabinet. Soon my fatigue gave me a sound sleep with occasional snores.2nd September, 2014 early morning the Home on Wheels resumed its onward journey. 0730 hours, the Home on Wheels reached its destination. Ajay was already there to receive us all. The Home was alighted of its load after ninety-six days to make it a routine car again. Please click:
 http://youtu.be/hlsc0f7Fgnw

Note: I doubted correctness of the description of maneuvering of the steering, to escape head on collusion as sine curve. Luckily in a chance meeting I discussed the situation with the Professor of Physics who teaches Physics at IIT Mumbai. We mutually agreed to describe it as oscillation.

Ramsu and ahead 1st September, 2014

Travelogue continued ahead of Shaitan Nallah Travelogue continued ahead of Shaitan Nallah 1st September, 2014 the Home on Wheels after refreshment at Shaitan...

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