SMOKING IN KASHMIR

Kashmiris were great smokers . They used cigarettes and the rough tobacco for this purpose . We had and continue to have many shops selling Tobacco. The younger generation is surprised when I tell them that cigarettes were served to guests in a marriage . I have personally offered a cigarette to Kashmiri Poet late Shri Dina Nath Naadim in a marriage . Naadim sahib had come to that marriage for reception of the Baraat . Before anything was served , cigarettes kept tastefully in a plate, were taken to guests . 

Cigarettes were served to men coming for condolence . Cigarettes were sold inside cinema halls . Elderly Women also maintained Nicotine levels by using Hubble Bubble or Jejeer . Women who could not find Jejeer, smoked cigarettes secretly in presence of children or other ladies .Go to a cinema Hall and you returned with headache due to widespread smoking . This applied specifically to Shiraz, Naaz , Firdous, Neelam and Khayyam cinema Halls. Third shows or the late night shows in Palladium cinema lal Chowk were worst . Entire hall used to be full of smoke . .Some people in the lower stalls threw burning cigarette bits towards the screen .Smoking in buses . smoking in Parks . smoking in hospitals . Smoking in colleges .Smoking inside Tagore hall by men who were witnessing a Play or Musical item. None could escape the smell. Every one had to inhale the smoke directly or indirectly. .Charminar, Cavenders , Passing show,and Red Square and wills were Popular brands of common man . The elite smoked India Kings

Luckily all that is over . Smoking is not taken well in functions now. Thanx to aggressive negative publicity .The great Humanity used to smoke endlessly .See what Turkish Poet Nazim Hikmet writes about this great Humanity 

(The Great Humanity)

The great humanity is the deck-passenger on the ship
third class on the train
on foot on the causeway
the great humanity.

The great humanity goes to work at eight
marries at twenty
dies at forty
the great humanity.

Bread is enough for all except the great humanity,
rice the same,
sugar the same,
clothes the same,
books the same…
They are enough for all except the great humanity.

The great humanity has no shade on his soil
no lamp on his road
no glass on his window
but the great humanity has hope
you cannot live without hope.
( Nazim Hikmet )



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WHEN TOURISTS FROM EUROPE ALSO BUY FROM SUNDAY MARKET OF KASHMIR

                                                

The  Sunday market  of Srinagar attracts all. Tourists from Europe can not be an exception.To these images i add a  portion of short story written by me on a funny practice which has died its own death .    

PHOUKKA CHHA KINNA TOUKKA

( Is it just hollow for show or solid piece ? )

When Rupawati Dhar entered Baithak or the sitting room ,she was happy to see her New daughter in law seated on a raised platform with some pillows on her back . Embracing her affectionately , she kissed her forehead. That made both of them happy . Straightening the sheet underneath before sitting near her daughter in law ,she said

“ Guss Vaash Heu kudd Zangunn . Bih Bih Hayee Chhu Thakaan ”


“Go and just stretch your legs .One gets tired by sitting only ”

Then suddenly there was a knock at the door . Shaam Raani was in the house to have tea from Novv Nosh ( New daughter in law ) who had been renamed as Lakshmi . Prior to her marriage Lakshmi was known as Asha Koul. Now she could call herself Asha Koul Dhar . Shaam Raani was sister of Rupawati ‘s Husband affectionately called as Bai sahib . Bai Sahib Or Moti lal Dhar worked as Head clerk in PWD . He enjoyed respect and command amongst his relations . Every one was impressed to see his Boss Nazir Sahib ( Divisional Engineer ) in the marriage . Nazir Sahib had sent his personal car and driver for three days to Moti lal Dhar ‘s residence during the marriage days . The family felt grateful for this act.

Coming close to Lakshmi, Shaam Rani kissed her forehead and said ,
“ Bajaah Guss . Mooss Nerinukh ”
“ Let you prosper .Let this family flourish with your arrival. ”

 Though relations between Shaam Rani and Rupawati appeared to be good but some insiders knew it well that they were actually not so intimate and considerate to each other . Now Shaam Rani came closer and started inspection of lakshmi’s Jewellery .She touched her ear rings , her necklace and the golden Bangles . She also took her dangling Dejhurr in her hand as if to weigh it . She inspected the Dejhurr carefully and then looked towards Rupawati . Her facial expressions conveyed some surprise. Suddenly freeing herself from Shaam Rani , Lakshmi gor up and went downstairs to prepare a cup of Tea for Shaam Rani . That was the custom or the tradition . Close relatives of the family were required to have tea served by the New Daughter in law. Finding that Lakshmi had left the room , Shaam Raani turned to Rupawati and said

“ Kuth Henurruss Chhekh Phatmeuch . Me Chhu Basaan sorruy Chhu Phoukka . ”


“ You have fallen  to dirt with  this marriage . All this Jewellery is just hollow and Light and meant for show only . Nothing solid ”

That made Rupawati pensive . She had nothing against lakshmi . But she also knew that Shaam Rani's observation was bound to disturb her position amongst her relations and neighbours.                      

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A POEM AND SELF POTRAIT BY TURKISH POET NAZIM HIKMET

                                                                                            
 A  self portrait: Nazim Hikmet in his prison cell, 1946 and a Poem .








Angina Pectoris


If half my heart is here, doctor,
the other half is in China
with the army flowing
toward the Yellow River.
And, every morning, doctor,
every morning at sunrise my heart
is shot in Greece.
And every night, doctor,
when the prisoners are asleep and the infirmary is deserted,
my heart stops at a run-down old house
in Istanbul.
And then after ten years
all i have to offer my poor people
is this apple in my hand, doctor,
one red apple:
my heart.
And that, doctor, that is the reason
for this angina pectoris--
not nicotine, prison, or arteriosclerosis.
I look at the night through the bars,
and despite the weight on my chest
my heart still beats with the most distant stars.
( by Nazim Hikmet)


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PEACE, PEACE AND PEACE ALONE IS NEEDED IN THIS WORLD: A VIEW NEAR PARIHASPORA RUINS AND A POEM OF NAZIM HIKMET

                                                                            

                    
PEACE ,PEACE AND PEACE IS NEEDED IN THE WORLD TODAY.
 I ADD A POEM OF  TURKISH POET  NAZIM HIKMET TO THIS VIEW.                             

( I Come and Stand at Every Door)



I come and stand at every door

But no one hears my silent tread

I knock and yet remain unseen

For I am dead, for I am dead.



I'm only seven although I died

In Hiroshima long ago

I'm seven now as I was then

When children die they do not grow.



My hair was scorched by swirling flame

My eyes grew dim, my eyes grew blind

Death came and turned my bones to dust

And that was scattered by the wind.



I need no fruit, I need no rice I

need no sweet, nor even bread

I ask for nothing for myself

For I am dead, for I am dead.



All that I ask is that for peace

You fight today, you fight today

So that the children of this world

May live and grow and laugh and play.
( Nâzım Hikmet )

                                  




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MY FAVOURITE TURKISH POET NAZIM HIKMET ;

                                                                                          

I admire many Turkish poets and certainly NAZIM HIKMET (1902-1963 ) is my favourite Poet from that part of the world. He had a cosmopolitan background with a Turkish , Polish and Circassian ancestry . Jean paul sartre , Paul Robeson and Pablo Picasso had to step in and organize a movement for his release after he was repeatedly arrested for his Political beliefs .A close friend of FAIZ AHMED FAIZ, Hikmet has written most of his poems in prison or in exile. Translated in all the major languages of the world, he remains a widely read poet world over. Despite his persecution by the Turkish state, Nâzım Hikmet was always revered by the Turkish nation . Five poem from Hikmet:

1 

Letters from Prison

Take out the dress i first saw you in
look your best,
look like spring trees
Wear in your hair
the carnation i sent you in a letter from prison,
raise your kissable, lined, broad white forehead.
Today, not broken and sad-
no way!
today Nazim Hikmet's woman must be beautiful
like a rebel flag...

NAZIM HIKMET 4 December 1945

2

Today Is Sunday 


Today is Sunday. 
For the first time they took me out into the sun today. 
And for the first time in my life I was aghast 
that the sky is so far away 
and so blue 
and so vast 
I stood there without a motion. 
Then I sat on the ground with respectful devotion 
leaning against the white wall. 
Who cares about the waves with which I yearn to roll 
Or about strife or freedom or my wife right now. 
The soil, the sun and me... 
I feel joyful and how. 

(Nazim Hikmet)

3

Letters to Kemal Tahir from Prison


This world will grow cold,
a star among stars, 
one of the smallest,
this great world of ours 
a gilded mote on blue velvet.
This world will grow cold one day,
not like a ball of ice,
or even a lifeless cloud -
but like an empty walnut it will roll around and around 
in pitch dark space for ever.
You must grieve for it right now,
and endure the sadness,
for you must love the world this much 
if you are to say,
'I have lived'.
( Nazim Hikmet ,February 1948)

4

Optimistic Man

As a child he never plucked the wings off flies
he didn't tie tin cans to cats' tails
or lock beetles in matchboxes
or stomp anthills
he grew up
and all those things were done to him
I was at his bedside when he died
he said read me a poem
about the sun and the sea
about nuclear reactors and satellites
about the greatness of humanity .

(Nazim Hikmet)

5

Thinking of You

Thinking of you is pretty, hopeful,
It is like listening to the most beautiful song
From the most beautiful voice on earth...
But hope is not enough for me any more,
I don't want to listen to songs any more,
I want to sing.
( Nazim Hikmet )

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ANOTHER VIEW OF SPRING IN BADAAM VAARI GARDEN KASHMIR.

            
 IN BADAAM VAARI GARDEN SRINAGAR .

  PHOTO AUTAR MOTA MARCH 2010.


Ye Fizzaa hai Phool o Mehak Bhari ,
Ye darakhat hai Yaa ki Apsaraa .
Mujhe Maal o Zurr Nahin Chaahiye ,
Mujhe zindagi Yahin Chhod De.
( Autar Mota )

                                                                           




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SINDH CANAL NEAR GANDERBAL KASHMIR, WILLOWS AND THE JUNGLE NEARBY .

SINDH CANAL NEAR GANDERBAL, WILLOWS AND THE JUNGLE NEARBY .
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA 2009 SERIES.
 
I ADD LINES FROM A POEM WRITTEN IN 2006 TO THIS PHOTOGRAPH.

 
HAMEIN ZINDAGI BHI KAHEY TO KYAA ,
JO CHAMAK RAHEE MERI AAG  SE.
HUVE RAAKH PHIR BHI WATTAN MERE ,
TERI YAAD KO TO BACHAA LIYAA.
(autar mota )
                                   

 

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CHINARS , HOUSEBOATS AND VITASTA RIVER.

CHINARS , HOUSEBOATS AND VITASTA .
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA 2010.

SOME LINES WHICH I WROTE IN 2006, APPEAR TO ME AS APPROPRIATE FOR THIS VIEW. I ADD THEM



Naa Rukkey kahin Teri Yaad Mein ,
Woh Shahar Ho Ghar Ho Ki Aastaan.
Kabhi Uss Muqaam se Uth paddey ,
Kabhi Iss Muqaam Se Chal Diyye.
( autar mota )

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A CHINAR IN KOKERNAAG GARDEN KASHMIR AND A POEM OF TURKISH POET NAZIM HIKMET.

                                    
A CHINAR IN KOKERNAAG GARDEN KASHMIR AND A POEM OF NAZIM HIKMET .

PHOTO AUTAR MOTA SEP 2009.

I admire many Turkish poets and certainly NAZIM HIKMET (1902-1963 ) is my favourite Poet from that part of the world. He had a cosmopolitan background with a Turkish , Polish and Circassian ancestry . Jean paul sartre , Paul Robeson and Pablo Picasso had to step in and organize a movement for his release after he was repeatedly arrested for his Political beliefs .A close friend of FAIZ AHMED FAIZ, Hikmet has written most of his poems in prison or in exile. Translated in all the major languages of the world, he remains a widely read poet world over. I quote a sample . 

 (Letters from Prison)

Take out the dress i first saw you in
look your best,
look like spring trees
Wear in your hair
the carnation i sent you in a letter from prison,
raise your kissable, lined, broad white forehead.
Today, not broken and sad-
no way!
today Nazim Hikmet's woman must be beautiful
like a rebel flag...

NAZIM HIKMET 4 December 1945


                                                    


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A POEM OF PADMA SACHDEV . STALWART DOGRI POETESS FROM JAMMU.

            

PADMA SACHDEV.I LIKE AND ADMIRE HER POETRY.

Padma sachdev is a stalwart among modern Dogri poets from jammu.In 1969 ,She published her first collection of poems with an introduction by well known Hindi poet, Ram Dhari Singh Dinkar.He wrote :

 “Padma ki kavita sun kar mujhe laga mein apni kalam phaink doon kyoonki jo batein Padma kahati hai, wahi asli kavita hai”.

(Reading the poems of Padma, I felt I should throw away my pen because the things Padma says is real poetry.)

 Thereafter she published five more collections of her poems at regular intervals — Tawi Te Chanhaan in 1976, Nehriyan Galiyan in 1982, Pota Pota Nimbal in 1987, Uttarbaihni in 1992 and Tainthiyaan in 1999. The titles of her books are tell-tale, symbolic and significant.

Box of Pain 

This head
That you see on my shoulders
Is not my head
It's a box of pain
It jingles like a jinglebox
Pain moves in it round and round
Smoke rises 
It smells 
Like the smell of a pyre.
There are other pains too
Several of them
Some of memories
Some of secrets
That cannot be kept
Nor thrown away
Some pains of today
Some of yesterday.
But
There is another pain also
Which doesn't make a sound
Which is only there
This pain is of that suffering
Which I do not share with you any more.
- (BY PADMA SACHDEV )

           

Translated from Dogri by Shivnath

                                                                       



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POET DINA NATH NAADIM AND THE COMMON MAN

                                                                           

 POET DINA NATH NAADIM AND THE COMMON MAN.
 (  PHOTO AUTAR MOTA 2010.)

  In 1964, Naadim wrote a poem “.Radhee Vaalei Sunz Hakh ”. or “The call of the old news Paper and Waste Paper Buyer” or the Radhee walla’s story. The poem may sound ordinary to a casual reader . To a serious reader this is a painful story of the helplessness of common man .Yes a common man to whom the system wants to sell all and be silent . The system decides his fate .This is the story of the man who is supposed to overlook how some turned rich overnight . This common man trapped in the commodity market that requires to overlook someone selling short .This painful market  is  driven by utility and expediency concept alone . If  any one amongst us  has no utility and is  not expedient , he  should think himself a fool to be sold like the waste of old Newspapers . Great poetry .

Zeiv rehunn kariv Guftaar Kaeniv
Radhee kagaz Akhbaar Kaeniv
Heumm Kaetee onn Ath Kathie Sannie Beqal
Yaemm Kunn Chhonn Yiss Kuthh Vannie Beqal
Khonvuth Khodd Kyaa Kyaa Khannie Beqal
Praeth Kaanh Kuthh Chhuvv Phir Phyaar Kaeniv
Radhee Kagaz akhbaar Kaeniv.
( Dina Nath Naadim )


Mortgage your tongue and sell your conversation,
Sell this waste ! Sell it like Old newspapers or used Paper.
“How that man gained this wealth !”
Whosoever thinks this issue is a fool.. .
“This man sells less in this Trade ! “
Only a fool shall say so .
O Yes that man who works hard unnecessarily is also a fool ?
All these words are foolish and are beyond our understanding ,
So why not sell now.
Sell this waste !
Sell it like Old newspapers of used Paper.


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YELI TOMULL VAATIE MYON KASSAM CHHUYEE ME VANIZI ( WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE RICE FOR THE FUNCTION , DO REMEMBER TO CALL ME FOR THE CLEANING. )

                                                                                    


KASHMIRI PANDIT WOMEN CLEANING RICE FOR THE MAL MAAS BAAN MASS LANGAR AT MARTAND TEERTHAA Kashmir 
PHOTO May 2010 by Autar Mota 

YELI TOMULL VAATIE MYON KASSAM CHHUYEE ME VANIZI 

( WHEN YOU RECEIVE THE RICE FOR THE FUNCTION , DO REMEMBER TO CALL ME FOR THE CLEANING. )

Any marriage in Kashmir is a big event celebrated jointly by relatives and friends. Buying rice for the guests and then cleaning the same used to be an auspicious task . In fact the marriage function would begin with Rice cleaning and repacking the same for the feasts to follow. It was a get together for the ladies . Gossiping , Sipping tea , singing folk lores on Tumbak Naari , ladies would enjoy this work.

Where has this culture gone? some lines for this great culture and the land that created it .


Tere badan ke pasiney say mushk boo hai libaas,
Tere libas ki khushboo badan se aati hai,
Tere baghair mujhe chain kaise padtaa hai,
Mere baghair tujhe neend kaise aati hai
( Jaun Elia )




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A VIEW OF BUND NEAR SHEIKH BAGH SRINAGAR KASHMIR.

                                                                               

 I AM TEMPTED TO ADD SOME LINES FROM A BRIEF POEM OF KASHMIRI POET DINA NATH  NAADIM.


 Enjoy Another brief poem of Poet Naadim from “Haersaath”. I again add that these six or eight line poems have not been done in Sonnet or Haiku format as usally commented by many critics . This is Naadim’s unique contribution by way of adding dimension and innovations to the existing form and format of kashmiri poetry

Ainaa Khundaa akh Adaa Ghur Madda Ghur
Chhoatt Derruss Peuth Traavaan Gaah .
Gaavaa akh Paech Mudayaa Karnuss
Huneyaa akh Paech Deutnuss Haah
Maetsee akki Tuujjee Thaaevv Zaechee Troprith
Ammi Aurr Kammie Vuchh Kuss Vanaa Kyaah.
( Dina Nath Naadim )

A mirror piece shapely and cute ,
Lay on a heap of dust and rubbish reflecting light
A cow passed close by and looked at it for some time .
A stray bitch came close
and exhaled breath over its surface .
An insane woman passed by , picked it up
and placed it safely in her tattered apparel pocket.
After that who saw what happened and what I shall tell.

Utility of every object gets enhanced , enlarged or diminished with location. A cute piece of mirror should have been in the hands of a maiden for dressing and adding charm and grace to her personality . It could have also been fixed on some ceiling or wall in pure Rajputana style of architecture . It could have been In a house where every one would come before it everyday at least where it could have reflected truth ; An ultimate purpose and utility it is supposed to deliver. .Once thrown on a heap of dust and rubbish ,its location has been altered to a disadvantage . It may reflect stray light but surely irritating any passer by . At this location it turns to be an object of dislike . A cow too looks at it thinking what to do with it . A stray dog gets irritated possibly with the light it reflects. This dog comes close and breathes out hot air over its surface making it blurred . Ultimately a mad woman picks it up for no apparent use .
Howe true of human existence as well ?

 
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