Justice Javid Iqbal Hindus made Pakistan, not us. We are incapable of cr...

Jag Mohan Canard

Characters: Abdul Qadir conferred IAS; height 4feet plus; retired Agrarian Commissioner.  

Abdul Sammad Patwari: renowned honest land broker, residing at Balgarden in his own house purchased from DIG Wattali and thus known as Watali House; well and highly connected.

B K Dass:

Year: March 1991

Venue: Some cheap hotel in a lane at Jewel Chowk, opposite fried and fresh fish sellers’ Market.

Mission: Purchase of Karan Bagh opposite Jammu Airport and to sell plots there from.

Presumption: Through the contacts of B K Dass, disposal of the plots could be quick.
Early morning, I rushed from my haunted one-room rented compartment at Bakshi Nagar to be in the queue at Geeta Bhawan, Bakshi Nagar to receive Bharat on the marriage of the daughter of Professor Dwarika Nath Pandita (Mathematics). I got a message through my elder brother Girdhari Lal that Samad Patwari wanted to see me. After reception of the Bharat, I rushed to the venue at Jewel Chowk. Samad Patwari and I greeted each other with Namaskar. Abdul Qadir in a worn-out and shabby fur cap was sitting on his toes stretching his little body to reach the other end of the pipe (nelicha) attached to the ‘terracotta huqa ’. A peon was putting half burnt cardboard pieces on the ‘chilim’. While sucking the ‘nelicha’ Abdul Qadir said: “Asi aes khebar batus chea broanth broanth akel, khaber aze kiazi vechekh ye godun munz (We had the impression that kashmiri Pundits are lead by wisdom, but know not why it has come down to their anklets.”
Without asking for any reason or explanation, I promptly said: “Ani dandus peth ketis kalus kerhav patch. (How long could we trust a blind Bull)?”

He promptly said: “Asi cha anie dandh (Are we blind bulls?)

I said:” From my childhood I am told that ‘akh ani dandh chu sasus dandus vaeth ravravan’ (One blind bull misleads a herd of thousand bulls.) 1947 one blind bull rejected the suggestion of R C Kak, the then Prime Minister of J & K and raised the slogan: “Asi kerav panie hakumat Ramea kak cha mam soan; ‘Hamla Avar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain teyar’”. Thousands of bulls followed him and raised the slogan “Hamla Avar khabardar, hum Kashmiri hain teyar(Beware raiders, we Kashmiris are ready to fight you out) to chase the raider right up to LOC’”

1953, one blind bull raised the slogan ‘Rai shumari forun kerav’ and thousands of bulls danced to the tune ‘Rai shumari forun kerav’.

1965, one blind raised the slogan of social boycott to the Congress; thousands of bulls followed the un- Islamic instructions.

1975, one bull buried the slogan of plebiscite, thousands of bulls danced to the tune ‘alea karengha vangun karengha dandh ka bub karengha dandh ka bub karengha’.

1975, one dandh withdrew the social boycott against the Congress and thousands of bulls appreciated the u-turn of the bull to occupy the seat of power left by the Congress for their Bull………

 1990, one bull invited the hamla-avers( raiders) who were chased out in1947 to throw out Kashmiri Pundits of their home and hearth, thousands of bulls danced to the tune ‘ asi gachi asun Pakistan- batav baghar…’.One blind bull coined the canard ‘Bhatea kadi’ ( Kashmiri Pundits were driven out by Jag Mohan)Jag Mohanun and all the bulls from peon to the Chief Secretary; Patwari to the Agrarian Commissioner say ‘Bhatea kadi Jag Mohanun’……What a tragedy! How blind you are!

Rafiq and I have son and father relations since 1990. He was in know of the plan of ethnic cleansing.

1988 to December 1989, he used to persuade me for the sale of my scooter, arguing that the sale of my scooter would be in my interests. (Faidus manz mahra ruziv). (Sir you will be gainer).

Rashid, while pushing Maruti 800 for its start in chill November 1989 said to his Pundit friend on wheel at a remote village in Bandipora at a Muslim feast: “Asi chu bhatun dhakea dunuie, chay dutie bronthie pahan (We have to push out Kashmiri Pundits. You are pushed a little in advance.) 

At Gateway of India, Mumbai, a salesman from Nawabazar expressed sorrow for our sufferings and finally said: “Mahra tohi ti kervea na galti. Tohi dhravea Jag Mohnenis ven nus peth (You too committed a mistake that you followed the instructions of Jag Mohan.) To him I said: “Yemun zalil Musalmanan peth kith keni kerhav bharoasea.”(How could we trust these unlike Muslims?)

Promptly he said: “The harbingers of terrorism were not Muslims. A Muslim can never be cruel and a terrorist.”
I agreed with him and said: “Good or bad; a whisper may come from the Imam of a Masjidi Sharief in the remotest village of Kupwara in Kashmir, the same whisper echoes from all Masjids of the world including that of Mecca Medina without any adulteration, crossing the barriers of party line.”
He said: “Your observation is hundred percent correct. We are ashamed of our misdeeds. To betray our inner conscience we use the canard.

Muslims are not at fault. They have mental block. They have to tread on the dotted line drawn 1400 years before. They are not allowed to apply their mind. Allah has Himself written a guide for them. Victim of rape has to produce four respectable citizens as witness to the crime. Unless she manages four witnesses, she is to suffer imprisonment as an accused of the crime. They are told how to sit to ease, how to meet the bride on the first night, how much money is to be put under the mattress for loosening of each knot of her trousers. When all is given in the guide, why should he apply his mind? Application of mind for them is to doubt Allah's capability.

School Dropout To Doctor Salma Bhat

Salma was one of the four siblings of Gulam Mohammad Bhat at M Dass Public School. Each was charged a fee of Rs. 15 per month. Ghulam Mohammad has a saw mill at Bemina crossing opposite to Police colony.

Their fees were generally paid by their mother. Ghulam Mohammad would often tell me in a joke: “You have deprived me of my two free labourers from my home. Both my sons could relieve me from outside labour on payment.”

Around 1984, Salma passed class v. The new session started and Salma remained continuously absent and did not join class VI. One day I was on way to the other branch of the school near Gole Market, Karan Nagar for a routine check. Ghulam Mohammad met me at Kanikadal crossing beside Bindroo Chemist’s shop.

 I said: “Ghulam Mohammad, where is Salma? Why did she not join class VI?”

Ghulam Mohammad said: “Sir ji, she will not continue her studies beyond V. She is now physically matured (balaingh).”

I said: “From your family there are at least 15 students on roll in M Dass. They have all become matured. You withdraw all of them. Salma is a promising student. She may turn out to be an IAS officer or a doctor or something still better. You are damaging her roots.”

Ghulam Mohammad did not change his mind. My persuasion did not work. We parted. He went towards Amira kadal and me in the opposite direction towards Medical College.  En route, I stepped into the house of Ghulam Mohammad and called Salma. Salma dressed in pheran and pootch came down with her new born sister in her lap.

I said: “Salma, why don’t you come to school?”

Salma burst into tears, said: “Daddy ‘kahtay hain tum balaingh ho ghaie ho’ (Father says, you have turned matured)”

With a commanding voice I said: “Tairay daddy ki aisay ki taisee. Forget about his ignorance; change your dress and accompany me to school to join class VI.”

My command worked. Today Salma as was envisaged is doctor Salma married to the son of Ghulam Qadir proprietor of ZAM-ZAM Hotel. Doctor Salma was followed by two of her brothers Dr. Khalid and Dr. Zarar who were given a direct jump from seventh to ninth class. 1990, the year of my exodus, her sister the late Dr. Mehbooba was in class tenth. 1992, to our surprise we did not find her name in the merit list for doctors and 1993; she too captured a seat in the Medical College on her merit. Unfortunately she died in MBBS third year due to heart stroke.

The new born sister in the lap of Salma’s lap is Doctor Firdos.

Late nineties, I stealthily went to their home to extend my heartfelt condolences on the untimely sad demise of Dr. Mahbooba. Their mother told me in sobs that her children had only one set of school uniform and she used to wash and dry the same daily to make them fit for schooling.

‘Madri Meharban ki Meharbanian- Ahmad ki topi Mohammad kay Sir’

Bilal was one of the promising boys in his class at M Dass Public School. His father Mohiuldin was a tailor master by profession. 

Mohiuldin was running his tailor’s shop at Kralkud. Signboard of the shop read “Oxford Tailors”. The locality was predominantly inhabited by Kashmiri Pundits. Majority of his customers was from Pundit community. Mohi-ul-Din was master of ready wit and humour. His behavior had earned him many friends from his Pundit clientele. He would often discuss prospectus of his son Bilal with his friends. His friends were extremely impressed by the academic performance of Bilal.

1983, Bilal took entrance examination for the Medical Entrance Test. His father’s friends were more impatient to know the result of the selection list. To their dismay, Bilal’s name was not in the list of selected candidates. Both his friends and Mohi-ul-din were upset. In the meantime Government headed by Farooq Abdullah fell down and Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister was replaced by his estranged brother-in-law G M Shah on 2nd July 1984.
Around February 1986, to usurp power, Mufti Mohammad Syed, the then State Congress President stage managed attack on Kashmiri Pundits at Wanpoh and around. Temples in South Kashmir were desecrated. Those days any communal disturbance in any Indian State was followed by replacement of the Chief Minister of the State. Intelligence Agencies reports exposed the conspiracy behind the communal unrest in the valley.
The Central Government took cognisance of the conspiracy and imposed Governor's Rule in the State. 6th March 1986 was the last day of GM Shah in his office as CM of the State.
March1986,one day Pran Nath (Name changed), his friend asked Mohiuldin about the future plans of Bilal.
Mohiuldin said, “Bilal is disgusted. He refused to take admission for BSc at S P College. He is no more interested in studies. He seldom changes his clothes. He is no more regular for Nimaz. He spends most of his time with shopkeepers playing carom by roadside at slack hours. We are all worried about him. He failed to fight trauma. He has become aggressive and psychic. "

Pran Nath tore one of the pages of the register meant for recording measurement of customers and wrote an application addressed to the Governor on behalf of Bilal . The next day along with Bilal, they went to Raj Bhawan, approached the Governor and submitted the application to him. The Governor referred the case to his advisor Jamil Qureshi, who investigated and restored his first rank.
Along with Bilal, one more dropout Khalid Bhat or Zarar Bhat (Both ex. Students of M Dass) brother of Dr.Salma took cue from Bilal and on the intervention by the Governor got medical seat at GMC Srinagar.

Call from 09419008834

13th July 2010 at mid day (1: 33 PM) my mobile phone buzzed to the song ‘Manz lajikh kamun kamun Manzi namun mubarakh. The caller was from an unknown number 09419008834. On the other end, it was reciting the ring tone ‘Om Buer Bavasva……I clicked the phone and from the other end it said in American accent: “Hello sir, I am Bilal, your student. Do you remember me?”
I said: “I remember many Bilal. Are you Dr. Syed Bilal?”
Surprised! He said: “Yes sir. How did you place me after such a long time?”
I said: “I have quoted you in a number of my write ups. You are one of the pearls of my treasure, how can I forget you. You are the worthy son of Master Mohi-ul-din tailor master proprietor Oxford Tailors at Kral Khud. You were being looked after by your elder brother who is working in J&K Bank. You are from Karfali Mohalla. One of the friends of your late father is Geologist Jawahir lal koul. Tell me the episode to refresh my information as to how you managed Medical seat”.
Dr. Syed Bilal one of the top most Heart Specialist in America said: “Sir despite my first rank in the list of competitors, Farooq Abdullah’s administration had dropped my name and sold the seat to someone else.
Soon to my good luck Jag Mohan took over as Governor. One of my father’s friends came with a piece of advice that worked. I along with my father approached the Governor. The Governor referred the case to his advisor Jameel Qureshi, who investigated and restored my first rank.
Governor’s Rule in 1984 was a blessing in disguise for me. Dr. Zarar Bhat also got seat only after the advisor to the Governor Jamil Qureshi investigated the bungling of Farooq’s administration.”
“Are you married?”: “asked I.
“Yes sir. I am father of one male and one female baby from a Kashmiri wife. This time my mother is accompanying me. I had planned to see all my friends and teachers, but I am almost imprisoned due to hartal and curfew. Sir how is Nisha Madam? Do you remember her?”
I said: “Nisha Madam is working as a teacher somewhere in America. Being my colleague in the initial years of my making, how come I should forget her.”

“The Communal card that rescued me while in distress”

The late Mohammad Amin Khan, Field Officer Oriental Insurance Company used to spend maximum free time with me. He was watching my activities closely. One day in September 1989, my landline 278777 buzzed and it was Mohammad Amin Khan on the other end. He expressed his outburst and accused me of being communal. He justified his charge for I used to give my total insurance business to Vijay Kaw instead to him, besides I used to send my vehicles for any breakdown to the workshop of Bansi Lal at Batmaloo.
Vijay Kaw was son of the cousin of my wife. Those days he was without any job. He was doing general insurance business as an agent of National Insurance Company and so he was my choice on priority. Besides, he earned my contract for electric fitting & fixtures of all my construction works.
Khan Sahab had never asked me for any insurance business. He carried the notion that his unspoken words should earn him my insurance business. My priority for Vijay Kaw, unemployed those days was to provide him with the little that I could manage. 
To cool fuming Khan Sahab, I checked all my insured properties and was delighted to find that insurance of our residential building was due for renewal. I paid for the renewal by an account payee cheque in favour of the Oriental Insurance Company. Roughed feathers got smoothened and relations became normal. The communal became secular with the little favourable business.
As usual four days before mass migration of Kashmiri Pundits, I left for Jammu on 16th January, 1990. Return was presumed to be by 1st March 1990, the first working day after winter vacations. Presumption proved wrong and each passing day till date evaded my return.
May, 1990 I got a phone call from Vijay Kaw from Srinagar. He informed me about the insurance renewal dates of my busses, matadors, and other vehicles. I told him that all my vehicles at Jammu were in the junkyard for want of fuel and usage and grew grass within. I requested him to let me know the insurance renewal dates of my immovable properties viz school buildings and bookshop. Those days in absence of mobile connectivity I repeatedly, in the hostile sun, phoned Vijay Kaw from STD booths, but he preferred not to oblige me. Now he had no business interests in me and I was no more Jija ji for him.
Insurance cover for all the properties insured by Vijay Kaw expired on different dates. Colossal financial loss was caused to me when the properties without insurance renewal were set ablaze by Jihadists on different dates.
August 1990, message came to me that our residential house at Zainakot Srinagar too was set ablaze by Jihadists. This was the only property that was not insured by Vijay Kaw. Luckily it had gone to Mohammad Amin Khan’s business. Somehow, the cheque book counterfoil was with me. I heaved a sigh of relief when I checked the counterfoil date pertained to September 1989. The insurance of the property was in force until September 1990 a few days ahead of the day it was reduced to rubble.
Till date Vijay Kaw did not disclose the reason of his betrayal and the same is a riddle to me.
Pray the Lord may prune my vices.

The Wolf & the Lamb Replayed

The photograph of 1988-89 took me back to the dark period in the history of Kashmir. Some organization was bent upon to harm the peaceful process of education in M Dass Public School. They tried their level best to harm the institution clandestinely.

One day my school telephone buzzed intermittently from all the six institutions under the M Dass banner and reported that teachers did not report for their duty. I immediately deputed my brilliant students to all the schools to conduct the school. The student-teachers were instructed that the school must function normally and efficiently. The work must be as on normal days and the Parents must not notice any change. I was delighted to see the results. Student –teachers assigned ‘home-work’ and corrected the previous work. They ensured that the previous lesson was learnt by the student.

It was a strike without notice instigated by an outsider. Without losing any cool, the school functioned well. The strike failed and the staff reported back on duty. I maintained cool and behaved as if nothing had happened.

A few days later, News column appeared in the News paper published and owned by Shafi Khan son of Majnun Khan of Karan Nagar that M Dass administration compels girl students to come to School in skirts and almost naked. I challenged his News as rubbish.

One day all the Muslim girls in all the six schools came to school in scarf. I whispered instructions to all the schools that no comment be made against the scarf. Within one week the scarf barring a few disappeared. Scarf was retained by Mahtalat daughter of Mohammad Aslam (Star Printers) Miss Raja daughter of Ghulam Rasool Raja (both are in the photograph); two nieces of Imtiyaz Majid Malik, who finally shifted to Iqbal Memorial.

I called Rifat Bhat and said to her: “ Rifat, why do you come as you used to come earlier? Why did you not continue with your scarf? Mind it on the day of resurrection as many ‘gunsea’ (venomous snakes) will fall on your head as many uncovered hair you keep today.”

Rifat begged: “Sir let me come to school without scarf. I will face and tolerate those gunsea that day but not the scarf today”.

One day Students suggested that they be allowed to go for Nimaz at the nearby mosque. I gave them two options;

1. Let during the month of Ramzan, the School start earlier. Let there be no recess period and the Morning Prayer. By 1 PM, English, Mathematics and Science periods would be covered and I PM their School would be off.
2. The second option was that during the month of Ramzan, they would have summer vacations and their classes would be conducted when others would be away on vacations.

Students agreed to both the options and said that they would consult their parents and decide accordingly.

Unfortunately, the parents did not agree to either and asked their children to concentrate on their studies.

The school was on the National Highway that was heavily loaded with heavy traffic.  Any parent coming personally to take his ward for Nimaz was allowed. This facility was availed by a few local students.

 The wolf tried his best to catch the lamb on the wrong foot, but failed. The only twist in the story is that the lamb escaped alive before the wolf could pounce upon him. The wolf declared that the lamb was killed. Yasir Qadri (student in the photograph) was excited to break the news of the killing of the lamb to his classmate Arvind Razdan (In the last row). Panting he, said to Arvind: “Fitnea ha mokliav”.

People came to mourn the death of the lamb, little knowing that the lamb was already away before mass migration.

Moral: Jis ko rukhay Sainee-mar ne sukay koyee. Man proposes & God disposes.

Bríjû dàss te Girdass chhú vanàn låsív tû båsív.

Herath Mubarakh! Shivratri and other festivals!

Prosperity and career at a  heavy price!

Activity to celebrate Shivratri would start a fortnight in advance.  In absence of washing machines and cooking gas, sawdust stoves were made operative to make chill cold water lukewarm. I used to get cow dung from Gashea-Guri Bahie. My elder brother Girdhari Lal and I used to give clay mixed with cow dung wash to the whole building including the two staircases. One corner of one of the three rooms was apportioned for the pooja.  It was separated from the rest by a carpet to curtain the rest. Fresh grass mat (Vaguvie) was spread to maintain sanctity of the apportioned area. Fisherman, vagvie walie and other hawkers had a brisk business. I still remember the shape of the fisherman with a fish tub with live fish in the tub calling “Gadea ma bi heive”. The fisherman was called upstairs and live fish @Rs.1 and two annas/seer was purchased with a small fish extra to oblige the youngest one in the family. Know not why his sincerity was doubted. His weights were checked and all around would keep a vigilant eye on lest he weighed falsely.
Knife was sharpened afresh to clean the fish. Ladies used to be busy in making veg and non-veg dishes. Despite heavy work schedule each member of the family used to be excited.
Two days before Shivratri, married women in the family would return neat and clean from their parental home after a bath.
 One day before Shivratri, the lady potter called ‘krejie’ would arrive with all the paraphernalia in a big basket on her head.  The senior most lady in the family would welcome the ‘krejie’ with ‘alueath’ (rotate a glass of water over head of the ‘krejie’. Besides price for the pottery the ‘krejie’ was paid in cash and some rice in kind as ‘zangh’ (Good omen)
Next day, on the day of Shivratri around sunset womenfolk with their earthen pitchers filled with walnuts used to go to their respective Ghats on the River Jhelum to fill Vaguer. 
Pooja would continue until late in the night. Sumptuous dinner followed the conclusion of pooja.

Wishing Shivratri Greetings has almost become a ritual. Gone are the days when in our childhood, we used to enjoy SHIVRATRI right from the day the schools would close for winter vacations for a period of two and a half month. We used to call these holidays as Herath holidays. Summer vacations of one month used to be named as Amarnath vacations. It was probably because the KP students were in majority.

The day was a long awaited day. In each family, the family members, irrespective of age eighty to eight used to play with sea shells. At times the atmosphere would reach the flashpoint followed by a hot atmosphere.

The next day after the Shivratri, on Salam, elders from immediate relations and family friends would pour in to convey greetings & pay @ Half a rupee as Heratch Kherch to each child waiting with expectations. The amount of the Kherch used to be paid to new brides and others not exceeding Rs. 5 each.

Thereafter, would start the picnic session. We used to accompany our mother to her mother's place wherefrom we used to accompany our grand mother to her elder sister’s place for a picnic to the nearby mandir garden or Shiwalun or Badamwari. This function is known as Zang-trai. It was a get-together for both children and elders. At the picnic we were served with shiri-chai & kehwa with a telwore and kulchwore respectively. Children used to get 50% of the size the elders would get. This was probably because that time there was not hum Dho & Hemarey Dho. The number being the large, the size had to be reduced.

Nawreh used to assure new clothes to children, picnic to Badamwari, and so was welcome with open arms.

Today's children, the careerist can't dream the enjoyment that we have relished. Prosperity and career have been at a heavy price.

‘Dedh te Shodhuen hunz Dedh’

Dedh was a common name among both Kashmiri Pundits and Kashmiri Muslims to give honour to elderly ladies. Ruheat Dedh, Runiem Dedh, Gonear Dedh, Zoon Dedh, Lal Dedh, Divea Dedh among the two communities had Dedh common to both.

 Dedh te Shodhuen hunz Dedh were two sisters in eighties. Dedh was my maternal grand mother. For others they were Arinimal and Kuej respectively; pure Kashmiri names on local trees and plants.

My mother died in 1949 at 37 when I was ten. She was Sanpeakuej for her parents and Kakenie for her children. Kuej means a young tree. She was survived by her husband, my two brothers elder to me, my younger brother and my younger sister hardly one year old.

Elderly ladies in our neighbourhood, our well-wishers as they were, successfully persuaded Dedh to take care of us the orphans including the infant ones.  

The aunt of my deceased mother, Shodhuen hunz Dedh would often visit us. Both in eighties, the elder used to treat the younger one as her daughter and the younger treat the elder as her mother. I often used to miss school to get ‘Dumbie-kulpush’ and brain for the Massie from the ‘sikea puej’. Tathie-Pudit Prasad Joo Kaul, the nephew of Dedh used to pay a monthly pocket money of Rs.7 from his pension of few rupees to his aunt Dedh, my maternal grand mother.

21^st Century, pocket money to parents has become obsolete and to aunts and uncles is out of question.

Despite modest plenty of those days, the life was lively. Festivals were loaded with festivities. Birthdays; Khetchie Mavus, Gardea Butea, Puen, family picnics for weeks in ‘Doonga’, frequent havens, Hurie Athuem havan at Parbat, Zungea trie, Nawreh at Badam Varie, Baishakhi at Nishat, zerea kasie, kahnether, frequent sondhear, shishuer, Dupean butea , Durie butea and many more occasions were reason for get-together of different families under one roof.

Heratch Mubarakh

Wishing Shivratri Greetings has almost become a ritual. Gone are the days when in our childhood, we used to enjoy SHIVRATRI right from the day the schools would close for winter vacations for a period of two and a half month. We used to call these holidays as Herath holidays. Summer vacations of one month used to be named as Amarnath vacations. It was probably because the KP students were in majority.

The special event of Heratch was ‘harea-zaar’; playing of sea-shells. In each family, the family members, irrespective of age eighty and eight used to play with sea shells. At times the excited atmosphere would reach the climax point followed by a hot atmosphere that ensued exchange of hot words also.  The two Dedh sisters used to be partners or opponents of a big circular circle of players consisting of players from eighty to eight age-group. To describe the scene in words is beyond my capacity. May be this was the reason of no heart trouble those days.

My personal group consisted of both Muslim and Pundit boys. The venue to play was Zaindar Sabuen Murguzar or kathleshwar Temple courtyard. The players would pour from Tankipora to Purshyar, Habbakadal. One of the group Sheikh Ghulam Nabi Haji retired as executive engineer some retired as teachers…. and some as Rehman Kanduer continued to be in business as baker. One of them in eighties used to wish me while driving his horse driven cart.

The Muslim lady-potter with ‘sonie potuel, pervas, sunivarie,duel dulijea noeat and other audinie gudinie in a big basket called ‘phoet’ on her head used to give a call before she would enter into our courtyard to be welcomed by the eldest lady in the family with a glass of water for ‘aleath’. For vatuk pooja, a brand new ‘Vague’ a mat woven of grass from the Dal Lake was delivered at home by the Dal Huenz. Fish too was a home delivery item. I still remember the contours of the ‘gadea voel’ who used to come to us with the fresh fish.

The next day after the Shivratri, on Salam, elders from immediate relations and family friends would pour in to convey greetings & pay  

@ half a rupee as Herach Kherch to each child awaiting with expectations. The amount of the Kherch to the new brides and others was not exceeding Rs. 5 each.  

Thereafter, would start the picnic session. We used to accompany our mother to her mother's place wherefrom we used to accompany our grand mother to her elder sister’s place for a picnic to the nearby mandir garden or Shiwalun or Badamwari. This function is known as Zang-trai. It was a get-together for both children and elders. At the picnic we were served with shiri-chai & kehwa with a telwore and kulchwore respectively. Children used to get 50% of the size the elders would get. This was probably because that time there was no hum Dho & Hemarey Dho. The number of children in the family and the size of the telwore or kulchwore were inversely proportional.

Nawreh used to assure new clothes to children besides varieties of mutton preparations and picnic to Badamwari, and so was welcome with open arms.

 Today’s children, the careerist can't dream the enjoyment that we have relished despite modest plenty. Prosperity and career has been at a heavy price.

Double-Roti-Biscuit

In my childhood, there were no antibiotics. Mortality rate of mothers and infants was at a very high rate. Had the penicillin been invented a little earlier than 1948 and come to the market well in time, my mother could have escaped her death at the age of 37 when I was in 6^th class. Mothers used to deliver many more to ensure survival of the few. My mother was not an exception. She had a score of eight; six male and two females. Two males and one female went back before their first birthday.

Mothers would mostly die of delivery for want of any gynecologist around and proper diet and medical facilities. Option for remarriage was open choice for the Pundit ji. To get a mother for his infant orphans used to be an excuse. Very often offspring from the new bride would be cause for miseries to the motherless orphans. Murran and a few villages around were the pockets readily available to wipe the tears of the widower.

Infant mortality was mostly due to chickenpox and smallpox besides other diseases. For want of antibiotics and other medical facilities the medical assistants with little education used to subject his patient to starvation until normal temperature would get restored. Temperature would not come down to normal before three to four weeks. After four weeks, the patient was put on ‘brinjabea’-(rice water). In case of static normalcy, a piece of bread was prescribed.

Those were the days when no bakery was around. I vividly remember the face of one Sardarji hawker who used to shout at the pitch of his voice: “Double-Roti-Biscuit”. The whole city was his area of operation. He was tall and slim with a desk type box on his head carrying doubleroti (bread) and biscuits. The box top had slope on either side. The top and sides were transparent through glass fittings. Sunken eyes of the patient reduced to skeleton due to starvation and prescribed a piece of bread after three weeks

of fasting used to be fixed on the door. His ears were eagerly awaiting and vibrating to the call “Double- Roti-Biscuit”.

Once in mid fifties, I was taken ill. I was on the treatment of Asli Hari Krishan, typist in the Education Department. For more than one week mixture prescribed remained ineffective. In the meantime a doonga trip to Tulmul matured. One litre mixture was taken along with as safeguard. It was presumed that once we reach Tulmul, a little of soil at the outlet of the spring water (Padh-feet of the deity), rubbed on my body would have a miraculous healing effect. A number of examples in support of the miracle were cited by those who were interested more in the trip than in my life and survival. Unfortunately the blind faith turned a myth and did not work. After three days stay when the doonga finally turned its back towards the deity for return, mutton was purchased from the nearby shop on the marshy land. It was a wonderful view through the water channel with paddy fields on either side. Fragrance of different dishes of meat was additional curse for me, the patient put on starvation. While crossing the River Sindh to go to the other side of the bank of the river Jhelum our doonga amidst the confluence was almost glued to the boat of a fisherman. The doonga was finally anchored at the ghat across Shadipore ghat to dress the fresh catch of fish purchased from the fishermen ferrying around the holy confluence of the river Jhelum and the Sindh. My temperature continued to be 101 degrees Fahrenheit, but my appetite for the fish could not be resisted any more. My father yielded to my cries and finally the fried fish leveled my temperature down below normal at 97 degrees Fahrenheit.  In view of my normal temperature the dinner at weir was no more denied to me. Roganjosh, keliae, meatch te muji gadea did miracle by the next morning. Today’s dollar salaried youth can’t imagine taste of the dishes prepared in terracotta ‘ledge’ on the flame of firewood. With the entry of the pressure cooker and LPG gas stoves in our household items, my father used to say: “Yeth ne pakh su gav na pakh.”(Any dish that is not given due simmer on gentle flame of firewood in an earthen pot, is not worth.” Next day the doonga was rowed through keteakoal to the river Jhelum and by 5 in the evening we were back to our swinging palace at Zaindar Mohalla.

Pundit Kanthea Kak And Gaffar Sabh

1960 and thereafter Pundit Kanthea Kak was residing at Safakadal Crossing until 1990. He was grandfather of the children of his four sons and head of the joint family consisting of more than two dozen mouths. The hearth used to be live from dawn to dusk. The family was most disciplined one with respect for elders. The Head was master of clean habits clad in neat and clean white toned ‘pushmina pheran’, snow-white turban, snow-white overall cotton cover, snow-white ‘chudidhar’ pajama. He and his eldest son aged mid sixties were petition writers. Lalea as we the youngsters used to call Pundit Kanthea Kak had mastered Shariat law, IPC and RPC. He was capable of quoting and referring the act meticulously at verbatim. His calligraphy was like a print. Impressed by his calligraphy and methodology, I once asked him about his academic qualification. I was surprised to know that he was a third primary school dropout.

Lalea a brilliant student in his class was in third standard when the English alphabet was introduced in the valley schools. The Pundit purohits and Maulvis declared that anybody writing or learning the English alphabet will get distanced from their respective religions. Lalea preferred to skip his schooling rather than to get distanced from his religion.

M Dass Public School Kanikadal started on 5th March 1973. It was a period of ‘Aes-Senghea’ when no Kashmiri Pundit would admit his ward in a school, when marriages don’t take place, when no auspicious function is performed. Er.Chaman Lal Hashia requested me to reserve admission for three children from his family. I assured him admission after the inauspicious period was over. One day in the midst of inauspicious period Chaman Lal entered into my office hurriedly, filled in three admission forms and admitted his wards in the class with all the fervour needed for fresh entrants for school education.

I said to Er.Hashia: “Why did you admit them in the midst of the inauspicious period of ‘aes-senghea’?”

He said: “I saw the children of the priest who cautioned me of the aes-senghea period already admitted in the school. When I asked him the reason for not observing auspicious and inauspicious period, he told me that there is no inauspicious period for acquiring education. It was a hurdle to overtake others who kept them backward in all walks of life.”

The fatwa against female education pronounced by Mufti Bashir-ul-Din Sahib reminded me of the episode concerning Gaffar Sabh and Shaban Sabh.

Gaffar Sabh and Shabhan Sabh were colleagues in a High School. Daughters of both Rozy and Daizy respectively (Names changed) passed 8th class. Daizy the daughter of Shaban Sabh stood first in the district. Shahban Sabh consulted his colleague for the subjects his daughter should opt in IX class. His friend cum colleague convinced his friend that higher education was not advisable for girls. It was better to marry them and be free from responsibility. So Daizy despite her meritorious academic record was married to her mediocre cousin. Gaffar Sabh and Shaban Sabh soon parted on account of their new postings. During a gap of seven years one moved from school to school in the north and the other in the south of the valley. Both lost contact with each other. In the meantime Shahban Sabh became grandfather of a number of grand children from his daughter Daizy.

One day, Shaban Sabh called on his friend Gaffar Sabh. Soon his daughter Rozy returned from her college with a white apron on her arm. She wished aslam ve alaikum to her high school teacher Shaban Sahib  the colleague cum friend of her father. Shahban Sahib reciprocated. It was a big shock to Shaban Sab to know that Rozy was a third-year student at Medical College Srinagar and his brilliant daughter Daizy a shattered children producing machine. It was too late to mend.

Gaffar Sab was a controversial character. He usually used to give sermons on do’s and do not’s.  One of the sermons was for using ‘burqa’ and covering of head by Muslim girls with sari. One day he was on the road and his daughter without burqa and naked head was coming from the opposite direction. One Muslim boy nearby pretended and said with all obnoxious words: “Know not which devil’s daughter this brazen faced Muslim girl with naked head is marching like a man?”

In villages, rustic villagers go to their Peer Sahib for giving name to their new born baby. He names them as Sulea; Gulea; Nurea; Zunea ….etc. while he names his own as Peerzada Ishtiaq Ahmmad; Peerzada Shafaqat Ahmmad, Peerzada Amin Shah Sahib…. I have seen people in the village calling their family members as ‘Oh Sulea kharev ho’ and in response he says “Ho zuntea kunee ho” Though neither is ‘khoer nor koen’.

Professor Shahmiri, once as Director Women Education held a mass meeting of female teachers at Sheri Kashmir Park. She beat her forehead with remorse and cried: “Kashmiri Pundit lady if enters into department as middle pass acquires post-graduation qualification while in service and retires from a gazetted cadre and you Muslim lady teachers if enter Middle pass, you retire as middle pass.

If the advice to keep women at home and not to give them education is adhered to, it will be a colossal loss to the community and the society as well. It will push them towards backwardness and a miserable life of poverty. Educated mother is a great divine gift to the whole family. Dr.Sir Syed Khan owes his stature to his mother.

Brijdass chu venan lasiv te basiv.

‘Madri Meharban ki Meharbanian- Ahmad ki topi Mohammad kay Sir’

Bilal was one of the promising boys in his class at M Dass Public School. His father Mohiuldin was a tailor master by profession. 

Mohiuldin was running his tailor’s shop at Kralkud. Signboard of the shop read “Oxford Tailors”. The locality was predominantly inhabited by Kashmiri Pundits. Majority of his customers was from Pundit community. Mohi-ul-Din was master of ready wit and humour. His behavior had earned him many friends from his Pundit clientele. He would often discuss prospectus of his son Bilal with his friends. His friends were extremely impressed by the academic performance of Bilal.

1983, Bilal took entrance examination for the Medical Entrance Test. His father’s friends were more impatient to know the result of the selection list. To their dismay, Bilal’s name was not in the list of selected candidates. Both his friends and Mohi-ul-din were upset. In the meantime Government headed by Farooq Abdullah fell down and Farooq Abdullah as Chief Minister was replaced by his estranged brother-in-law G M Shah on 2nd July 1984.
Around February 1986, to usurp power, Mufti Mohammad Syed, the then State Congress President stage managed attack on Kashmiri Pundits at Wanpoh and around. Temples in South Kashmir were desecrated. Those days any communal disturbance in any Indian State was followed by replacement of the Chief Minister of the State. Intelligence Agencies reports exposed the conspiracy behind the communal unrest in the valley.
The Central Government took cognisance of the conspiracy and imposed Governor's Rule in the State. 6th March 1986 was the last day of GM Shah in his office as CM of the State.
March1986,one day Pran Nath (Name changed), his friend asked Mohiuldin about the future plans of Bilal.
Mohiuldin said, “Bilal is disgusted. He refused to take admission for BSc at S P College. He is no more interested in studies. He seldom changes his clothes. He is no more regular for Nimaz. He spends most of his time with shopkeepers playing carom by roadside at slack hours. We are all worried about him. He failed to fight trauma. He has become aggressive and psychic. "

Pran Nath tore one of the pages of the register meant for recording measurement of customers and wrote an application addressed to the Governor on behalf of Bilal . The next day along with Bilal, they went to Raj Bhawan, approached the Governor and submitted the application to him. The Governor referred the case to his advisor Jamil Qureshi, who investigated and restored his first rank.
Along with Bilal, one more dropout Khalid Bhat or Zarar Bhat (Both ex. Students of M Dass) brother of Dr.Salma took cue from Bilal and on the intervention by the Governor got medical seat at GMC Srinagar.

Call from 09419008834

13th July 2010 at mid day (1: 33 PM) my mobile phone buzzed to the song ‘Manz lajikh kamun kamun Manzi namun mubarakh. The caller was from an unknown number 09419008834. On the other end, it was reciting the ring tone ‘Om Buer Bavasva……I clicked the phone and from the other end it said in American accent: “Hello sir, I am Bilal, your student. Do you remember me?”
I said: “I remember many Bilal. Are you Dr. Syed Bilal?”
Surprised! He said: “Yes sir. How did you place me after such a long time?”
I said: “I have quoted you in a number of my write ups. You are one of the pearls of my treasure, how can I forget you. You are the worthy son of Master Mohi-ul-din tailor master proprietor Oxford Tailors at Kral Khud. You were being looked after by your elder brother who is working in J&K Bank. You are from Karfali Mohalla. One of the friends of your late father is Geologist Jawahir lal koul. Tell me the episode to refresh my information as to how you managed Medical seat”.
Dr. Syed Bilal one of the top most Heart Specialist in America said: “Sir despite my first rank in the list of competitors, Farooq Abdullah’s administration had dropped my name and sold the seat to someone else.
Soon to my good luck Jag Mohan took over as Governor. One of my father’s friends came with a piece of advice that worked. I along with my father approached the Governor. The Governor referred the case to his advisor Jameel Qureshi, who investigated and restored my first rank.
Governor’s Rule in 1984 was a blessing in disguise for me. Dr. Zarar Bhat also got seat only after the advisor to the Governor Jamil Qureshi investigated the bungling of Farooq’s administration.”
“Are you married?”: “asked I.
“Yes sir. I am father of one male and one female baby from a Kashmiri wife. This time my mother is accompanying me. I had planned to see all my friends and teachers, but I am almost imprisoned due to hartal and curfew. Sir how is Nisha Madam? Do you remember her?”
I said: “Nisha Madam is working as a teacher somewhere in America. Being my colleague in the initial years of my making, how come I should forget her.”