TONGAS IN SRINAGAR CITY IN OLDEN DAYS

“Hey  Raaz Baayee Buch saa ”

“Hey Bobu Ji Buch saa  ”

“Hey Shooshaa…. , Hey Jigraa…. Loabh Khuss ”

“Hey Khwaajaa Sahib…. Hatai Benee ….. Hutah Bee Zurr Chhuyee …… ”

“O! Redda …… Hey  cycle  Bacho Bacho ”

“O you queen like women, save yourself ”

“O You educated man , save yourself  ”

 “O my Lung like dear , O My liver like dear traveler  Move aside  ”

“ O Khwaja sahib  O sister  O You woman are you hard of hearing ?”

“  O Reddi man ,O  you man with a bicycle, save yourself ”

These words were often heard when we walked on roads having TONGA traffic .The Tonga happened to be the major source of transport in Kashmir . Tongas would take you to Anantnag from srinagar and vice versa . You could go to Baramulla  or sopore . You could have a full Tonga for individual ride . You had to hire a full Tonga to catch the morning bus to Jammu from any area in srinagar city .  Infact before the Motor vehicles started plying on Jhelum Road linking kashmir with Rawalpinidi, Tongas would be there to carry passengers on this long journey. 

In city we saw Tongas plying on all major routes . One  could go to Chattabal , Zainakadal ,Barzulla , Rainawari , Dargah , Pampore , Batmaloo , Nowhatta , Safa kadal , Ali kadal as also to adjoining areas like Ganderbal , Nunar , Pattan , Budgam , Harwan , Telbal ,and many  more  places close to srinagar city in a Tonga only . My father informed me that Horses would be brought to Srinagar from Peshawar  while the Tongas from Lahore would be a speciality . He also once informed me that previously Pathans would ply Tongas in srinagar city and later locals too picked this vocation .

I have also traveled extensively in Tongas  from Rainawari to Habba kadal ( Braikujan ) or from Lal Chowk to Zaina kadal . I always preferred to occupy  front seat.You had double advantage on this seat .One ;you enjoyed the gossip of the tonga wallah . Two; you were privy to the whistles  or words of the tonga wallah  who would  use lash and   communicate with and force   the animal to gallop. One had to lean while sitting on the back seat . That gave a little discomfort . You could keep anything under the seats. But the luggage had also to be held by hand as it usually slipped and came near the foot rest of the back seat. I vividly remember the galloping near  Sathu Bar Bar shah  or  Near Gawa kadal ( Badiyaar Bala ) by Rainawari and  Habba kadal Tongas respectively.Should the animal refuse to gallop , the tongawallah would cry

“KYAA GOYEE .   BASTAA   WALAY”

“What has happened to you ? I shall skin you off ”

Some times some elderly persons sitting on the Tonga would take  pity and request the Tongawallah to stop lashing the poor animal. The tongawallah would say

“ Pandit ji  Ye chhu vaen Chaal Baazi Karaan . Baa Tsenunn Kaenith ”

“Pandit ji , this animal is playing tricks with me . I shall now sell it .”

Sometimes the LASH known as KAMACHAA or CHHAANTA  locally would be taken away by the police man. The  Tonga Wallah would dig out a 25 paisa coin  from his pocket to be handed over tactfully to the  police man for release of the LASH. There used to be many shops in city dealing in Tonga parts . Some would do repair work . Many shops would present a painful scene with  a horse standing  and the iron shoe being nailed to its foot . Some Tongas had bells too  . Some Tongas had evening lights as well.  Then one day suddenly it was decided to give small Buses to Tonga wallahs . They were allocated a stand near Telegraph office . This Adda was known as Tongawallah Bus Adda . Those who were used to a lash now put their hands to steer wheels . The nearby KMDA bus drivers would look down upon  Tongawallah Adda Drivers calling them KAMACHA Driver .There used to be many skirmishes between the two driver groups .

 Now that Tongas have practically vanished from the city one can still enjoy a journey should one visit Baramulla , sopore , Anantnag or any other town in valley where these continue to ply with old glory .

So long so much for this post .  I conclude  this post with a VAAKH FROM SAINT POETESS LAL DED 

Nafsaa Myon Chhuy Hoss tai,

Ammi Haess monganum Gari Gari Bal .

Luchh Munz saas munz akhaa loss tai ,

Nataa heutanum Ammi Saari Tal.

( Lal Ded  )

These Material  desires  ( Nafas ) of mine are just like an elephant,

This elephant has always been demanding feeding material.

From its  grip just one amongst a thousand could survive

Else it trampled one and all in this world.

( Translation Autar  Mota )

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