Elections! 1977?

Elections! 1977?

Excuse me to add a little to what I claim few are abreast with.

Kh.G M Shah, son-in-law and cabinet colleague of Sheikh Sahib was in charge of a big Brigade of ‘seirie valie’ from Pather Masjid the Head Quarter of National Conference since thirties. One of the Brigadiers of the Brigade was Gulea Hoer, a condemned criminal but a perfect human being to the best of my knowledge.

I along with my eldest brother the late Trilok Dass had the privilege of knowing Gulea Hoer closely while  being one of the inmates of Barrack No:9 adjacent to his Barrack No:10 in the Central Jail in 1967.

On his arrival, Trilok Dass started cultural activity to give colour to the dull life in the gloomy environment away from one’s kith and kin. He changed it into a colourful environment. Gul Hoer was discovered a good singer. While singing emotional songs, his eyes used to turn into a fountain and tears would stream down, Balak Ram Sharma (Dismissed Teshsildar from Punjab)   , one of the inmates, with white trimmed beard, to give him a saintly look, besides, to be incognito when clean shaved outside the jail played tabla on a plate.

On our release, Gulea Hoer turned emotional, hugged Papa tight and expressed his remorse for our release and full stop to the changed environment.

Ten years later, December 1977 an unknown to him said:” Papa namaskar.” Papa was managing Bookshop of M Dass after his office hours.  Papa took him for some parent to purchase books. He casually responded:”Adab.”

The man in a leader’s clothing-nimazi cap, kurta-pajama and waistcoat rightly guessed that Papa did not recognize him and said:”Papea bea mahra chues Gulea Hoer (Papa I am Gulea Hoer)”

Papa stood up to hug him and said:”Chea kerue trovhokh (When have you been released?”)

Asie mahra treviekh Sheikh Sab zenea navnea khetrea. Yuem searee Minister mahra chi cheani noker. Kenh keam agher yemuen nish chea te vean mahra vunie kernavekh  (We have been released to ensure Sheikh Sahib’s success. All these Ministers are at your service. I assure you help from any of these Ministers. Tell me if you need any.)”

Papa thanked him and offered a cup of tea at Kumar Sweets a teashop across the road. Gulea Hoer declined the offer and said: “Yem mahra tohie (you) vuchn(see) mai setie(with me) chaie chevan(taking tea)  tim mahra depuen Dass sub chue zehira chorea mal kenan (Those who will see you sharing a table with me will think that Dass Sahib is probably selling stolen goods.)

Deputation of Setarwala an observer from Delhi to ensure fair election caused a furore in the concerned political wing of the National Conference. One of them cooled down others when he claimed: “We are atharawala and we know how to make him zerowala”.

On his arrival, he was provided with the services of the brother of National Conference candidate from Kargil as his personal Private Secretary. He used to bell the cat before he would visit the rats.

One of the observers a Kashmiri settled outside was heavily drunk at Broadway Hotel while the polling was on. He failed to recognize his classmate, the late Triloki Nath Dhar, SE Doordarshan who had gone to tell him that he was not let cast his vote by the goons who claimed that his vote was already cast in favour of a ‘right ‘candidate.

In the meantime ‘Sona chea kuer penenie kuem’ Sona did his job.