BAT MAKERS OF BIJBIHARA

Right from the saffron Fields of Pampore upto Sangam Bridge ( The bridge on the confluence of Vitasta and Vishav stream ) the Jammu- Srinagar highway is dotted with shops selling willow Bats . Heaps of willow clefts kept for seasoning on rooftops or in open on roadside can be seen on this highway right upto SANGAM bridge . This area is now known as BAT HUB OF KASHMIR. These BATS are manufactured in BIJBEHARA, SANGAM, HALLMULLAHA, SETHAR, PUJTENG, MIRZAPUR and CHARSOO villages situated on the southern parts of Srinagar . Willow grown in the lower ares of LIDDER , VISHAV , JHELUM and other water logged ares of Valley is ideal for the BAT industry of Kashmir. Kashmir Willow is known around the world as second only to the famous ENGLISH WILLOW grown mostly in ESSEX and THAMES valley. Willow was introduced in Kashmir as a fast growing source of wood for fuel , packaging and wickerwork by the british in 1927. It grows rapidly and a two year old sprout of willow can be even 12 feet tall. A research project is in full swing at Shere Kashmir University of Agriculture Science and Technology to break the monoply of high grade English willow in World Market and produce SILEX ALBA COERULEA or the high Grade Variety of willow in Kashmir as well.

A grade English willow Bat costs between 150 to 250 puonds while the most expensive kashmiri willow bat sells for 40 punds in Britain . In the domestic Market these Bats are sold from Rs150= to Rs1500= at the most. Cricket Bat Industry of Jalandhar in Punjab is also dependent on kashmir willow clefts .BATS used by Sachin Tendulkar , Mohinder Singh Dhoni , Saurav Ganguly , Steve Waugh , Mark Waugh ,Ricky Ponting , Sayeed Anwar , Arvinda De Silva , Salim Malik, Ijaz Ahmed and even Justin Langer are usually from Jalandhar. Lately there has been a Ban of Export of Kashmir willow Clefts and this has forced the Jalandhar Bat industry to import the same from Singapore or shift to Mulbery wood from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab . Enjoy the views of SANGAM BRIDGE , A Willow Groove below Sangam Bridge and the bat Industry of Bijbihara .

The Willow Grooves of Kashmir locally called VEERI_VAAR have been mentioned with beauty by Abdul Ahad Azad and Mehjoor in their poems .The VEERI VAARs of village NANIL and AKURA on Lidder stream are etched in my memory as i worked in this area in late eighties . They are as magnificient as they were two decades back. I visited this are recently when i visited AishMuqam ,Seer and Salia in Anantnag District. To me They echoed the message of Mehjoor which goes as under :-

Malaal Travith Tse Saal Ikh Naa

Ba Maal Poshun Karai Ha Lalo

Khayal Tsaney Me dil Chhu Toshun

Be Pyal Muss Ke Bharay Ha Lalo

Me Chhunee Sombharaavi Khuni Dil Tse

Rachhaan Ruzis Bhi Raeti Raetus

Hallum Sambhalith Nishaan Baaput

Timai Tse Naallus Jaray Ha Lalo

( Leaving the Misgivings aside i wish you come once again

I shall weave garlands of flowers for you my love !

My heart pains at the thought that we are separated

Come love i shall fill wine in cups to welcome you.

I have assembled the pearls of the pain of my bleeding heart

I have been saving them for you all along the night of separation

My Bosom is full of these pearls and as a token of my love

i shall decorate your neck with a Garland these pearls my love."