19th century, during the reign of Mahraja Partap Singh, I am told that my grandfather Pundit Thakur Dass Bazaz was a merchant dealing in pashmina. In view of that profession some of our relations name our surname as Bazaz as well. His shop was on the bank of the River Jhelum in the close proximity of the then Mission School Habbakadal or say in the neighbourhood of the residence of the late Pundit Amar Nath Mattoo (Ex. Headmaster Biscoe School) Pundit Jagar Nath Mattoo (Retd. Education Officer), Pundit Tusli Nath Misri (Ex. Headmaster Biscoe School). My grandfather used to get his supplies in ‘khoetch’ (A large boat that was used to ferry goods). It is said that Biscoe Sahab used to visit Mission School Habba Kadal and Mission School Fateh Kadal in a boat. On way to Habbakadal Mission School, Biscoe Sahab usually used to have a brief stopover and exchange pleasantries with my grandfather and other locals around in Kashmiri language.
Pundit Thakur Dass used to gift ‘poetch’, shirt and trousers annually to some professional thieves. In return he was assured safety and security of his shop. Thakur Dass was extremely religious minded. Early morning he used to go for circumambulation of Hari Parbat. With little Bank facilities, he used to tie his daily cash in an indigenous cotton belt and wear the belt for 24x7 hours. One day while on routine circumambulation of Hari Parbat, he was greeted at Naidkadal by one of the thieves who was his beneficiary. After he reached his home, he realized that he had lost his belt somewhere. He was upset for the whole day. At sunset, the one who had met him at Naidkadal visited him at his shop. He asked him for the reason of his indifferent mood. Thakur Dass told him that he lost his belt containing cash of a few days. The man took out the belt hidden under his ‘pheran’ and returned it to him.
Every evening Thakur Dass used to visit Bairav Mandir at Batmaloo (Nursing Garh) . Those days Karan Nagar was a jungle and deserted area. One evening despite his futile struggle he gave in and the robber robed his ‘chader’.
A few days later the Naid Kadal man visited him. He did not find him clad in his usual dress. Thakur Dass narrated him the whole episode. The man within 24 hours recovered his chader from the thief of that jurisdiction and returned the same to him.
I asked one history sheeter, whether he does not have human heart to feel that his victim may die with his strike and the victim’s children may become orphans and his wife a widow. He said: “Have you ever heard that a Kashmiri thief committed a theft at the cost of life.” I said” No, never.” He said “We will spit at booty worth crores if it is at the cost of life.”1967, the history sheeter stood like a rock at the door of his barrack No:9 to save inmates of the barrack from goons let loose by Mr. Qureshi the then jail Superintendent. He challenged the goons to touch any of his guests. Hamid Voer a burglar was asked by Session Judge Sopore at Pattan whether he continued with his job. The burglar said: “No sir, the job was handed over to ‘revolutionaries’.
Unlike today’s non professionals who did not spare even their neighbour, these professional thieves were men of character
Pundit Thakur Dass used to gift ‘poetch’, shirt and trousers annually to some professional thieves. In return he was assured safety and security of his shop. Thakur Dass was extremely religious minded. Early morning he used to go for circumambulation of Hari Parbat. With little Bank facilities, he used to tie his daily cash in an indigenous cotton belt and wear the belt for 24x7 hours. One day while on routine circumambulation of Hari Parbat, he was greeted at Naidkadal by one of the thieves who was his beneficiary. After he reached his home, he realized that he had lost his belt somewhere. He was upset for the whole day. At sunset, the one who had met him at Naidkadal visited him at his shop. He asked him for the reason of his indifferent mood. Thakur Dass told him that he lost his belt containing cash of a few days. The man took out the belt hidden under his ‘pheran’ and returned it to him.
Every evening Thakur Dass used to visit Bairav Mandir at Batmaloo (Nursing Garh) . Those days Karan Nagar was a jungle and deserted area. One evening despite his futile struggle he gave in and the robber robed his ‘chader’.
A few days later the Naid Kadal man visited him. He did not find him clad in his usual dress. Thakur Dass narrated him the whole episode. The man within 24 hours recovered his chader from the thief of that jurisdiction and returned the same to him.
I asked one history sheeter, whether he does not have human heart to feel that his victim may die with his strike and the victim’s children may become orphans and his wife a widow. He said: “Have you ever heard that a Kashmiri thief committed a theft at the cost of life.” I said” No, never.” He said “We will spit at booty worth crores if it is at the cost of life.”1967, the history sheeter stood like a rock at the door of his barrack No:9 to save inmates of the barrack from goons let loose by Mr. Qureshi the then jail Superintendent. He challenged the goons to touch any of his guests. Hamid Voer a burglar was asked by Session Judge Sopore at Pattan whether he continued with his job. The burglar said: “No sir, the job was handed over to ‘revolutionaries’.
Unlike today’s non professionals who did not spare even their neighbour, these professional thieves were men of character
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