SNOW , SRINAGAR CITY AND FAIZ AHMED FAIZ

     

Snow near Partaap Park srinagar Dec 2010.

Snow , City and Faiz Ahmed Faiz

(Sochney Do)

Ek Zaraa Sochney Do

Iss Khayabaan Mein

Jo iss Lehzaa Bayabaan Bhi Nahin,

Kaun si Shaakh Mein Phool Aaye The sab se pehlay,

Kaun Be rang Huyee Ranj o Taab Se Pehlay,

Kiss Ghari kaun se Mausam mein Yahaan ,

Khoon Kaa Qehat Paraa,

Gul Ki Shah Rag Pe Kara Waqt Paraa,

Sochney Do,

Ek Zaraa Sochney Do

Yeh Bharaa  Shehar jo ab vaadi e  veeraan bhi nahin,

Iss mein Kiss waqt Kahaan ,

Aag Lagee thi Pehaley ,

Iss ke saf Bastaa dareechon mein  se kiss mein Avval,

Zeh huyee surkh Shuaaon ki Kamaan,

Kiss Jagah Joat Jagi thi Pehaley ,

 Sochney Do

Hum Se iss Desh Kaa Tum Naam o Nishaan poochhtey ho,

Jis Ki Taareekh Na Jugraafiya ab yaad Aaye ,

Aur Yaad Aaye To Mehboob e Guzishtaa ki tarah ,

Ruu b Ruu Aane se  Ji Gabraaye ,

Haan Magar Jaise Koyee ,

Aissey Mehboob Kaa dil Rakhney ko ,

Aa Nikaltaa hai Kabhi raat Bitaane Ke liye ,

Hum Ab iss umr ko Pahunchey hain jab hum Bhi Yuun Hi,

Dil se Miltay hain bas Rasm Nibhaane ke liye

Dil Ki Kyaa poochhtey Ho

 Sochney Do

( Faiz Ahmed Faiz )

Let Me Think

Let me think , Just a while ,

In this garden

Which at this moment is not even a wilderness,

On which bough sprouted the primal flowers

And which flower first blanched

With grief and fatigue ?

And before this _

At which moment , and during which season

Were we struck with the drought of blood

And the flower’s Jugular vein smarted

Under time’s harshness_

Let me think.

Let me think a little .

This teeming city ,now not even a desolate valley _

Here , when and where

Did the first fire breakout ;

In which one of its arrayed windows

Was first born the arc of blood drenched flames _

And where did the first light flash?

Let me think.

You ask me the whereabouts of that country

Whose history and geography now elude my memory

And , if at all recalled somehow ,

It’s like a beloved of the past encountering whom , face to face ,

The heart feels unnerved _

But yes , as if someone

Just to cheer up his lover ,

Shows up sometime to spend the night .

I have now reached at that point

When even if I go over to meet my beloved

It shall be just for a ritual’s sake .

What is there to ask of my heart ?_

Let me think

( Translation By Shiv K Kumar )

                                                                          

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EYES GET FOCUSSED TO THIS ALSO ; WHAT CAN ONE DO ?

Laut jaati Hai idhar ko bhi nazar kyaa keejiye ...................
TULAMULA VILLAGE KASHMIR
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA 2011.

Apne Afqaar Ki Ashaar Ki Duniyaa hai Yehi
Jaan e Mazmoon Hai yeh Shaahid e Maanay hai Yehi
Aaj Tak Surkh o Siyaah Sadiyon ke Saaye ke tale
Aadam o Havaa ki Aulaad Pe Kyaa Guzri Hai ,
Maut Aur Zeest ki Rozaana Safar Aaraai mein
Hum Pe Kyaa Guzri Hai Ajdaad pe kyaa Guzri hai

( Faiz )

This alone is the domain of my thoughts___
My verse , its sole quintessence.
Till today , In the shadow of centuries , Sanguine and sable ,
What has been the lot of Adam’s progeny ?
In the daily battle array of death and life ,How shall it fare with us ,
How had it fared with our ancestors ???
                                                                

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SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE POETRY OF AKHTAR UL IMAAN .

      Akhtar ul Iman (1915–1996) was a noted Urdu poet and screenwriter in Hindi cinema, who had major influence on modern Urdu nazm..He happens to be  my favourite modern urdu poet . Credit goes to him for shaping the contours of modern Urdu Nazm . He has been a trend setter and an exponent of Philosophical Humanism. A sample of his Modern Nazm . A nazm wherein passionate humanity has been put into the effort of realizing GOD. Lines from His poem Naya Ahang:-

Loghaat alfaaz Ka ek Dher hai Lafzon Pe mat Jaana ,

Nayaa Ahang Hotaa Hai Moratab Lafz o Maani Kaa ,

Mere Haq Mein abhi Kuchh Faisalaa Saadir Naa Farmaana ,

Mein Jiss Din Aaoongaa Taaza Loghaat Hamraah Laoongaa .

( Akhtar Ul Iman )

The dictionary is nothing but a heap of words,

Be Cautious and discreet !

A fresh design is in the offing to define everything anew.

Pray , Don’t pass any judgment at the instant .

The day I come my Lord ,

I shall bring along with me the new Lexicon.

Akhtar Ul Iman comes close to Franz kafka 's character GREGOR SAMSA ( Novel "The Metamorphosis" ) in below lines

Mein Rubber ka Bana aisaa Babwaa hoon jo

Dekh sunataa Hai mehsoos kartaa hai sab,

Peit mein Jis Ke sab Zehar Hi Zehar hai ,

Peit Meraa Kabhi Gar Dabaaoge tum,

Jis Qadar Zehar hai ,

sab Ughal doonga tum sab ke chehron pe mein.

( I am like a doll of rubber

i watch , listen and feel everything .

My belly has nothing but poison ,

See if you ever press my belly ,

I shall vomit the entire poison on all of you ,

Just straight on your faces ! )

I have also attempted to translate one of his poems

“At the last stop Before My Destination ”. The poem goes as under :-

“At the last stop Before My Destination ”.

I shall continue moving like this only,

Yes treading this red , white , green and black earth.

Listen You ! Whosoever is over there ! Listen!

Let me know if any one is with me.

None! Okay let it be None !

I make myself free from even the dust

That came to my feet

In this journey .

Now I have returned what ever was yours ,

Let any one lodge his claim and I shall redeem it ,

Tomorrow no one should link me to falsehood,

Tomorrow don’t doubt my intentions ……

Another poem that I like has been beautifully translated to English by Mr Mehmood Jamaal

(Pride of Cities)

How can you hear a scream in this huge city

among the clamouring buses and thundering trains ?

There is a buzzing of bees in the constant crowd.

Catch someone and murder him in broad daylight, if you please !

Go rob a woman of her chastity, she's yours !

Who will hear a scream in this vast city ?

Big cities, my friend, are for big projects :

speeches of honoured ministers, processions of leaders,

marches, demonstrations, unity and all that.

This is the place for night people, decadence ---

whoever told you this was a centre of learning ?

Look ! just freshly arrived, a royal personage ---

and all the important city gents will lick

his boots and present him with a petition;

then, after that, some president of a bank,

some new ambassador, some new leader,

some manager with plans for industry,

a delegation for cultural exchange,

big plans, big sacrifices, big talk,

functions, parties, big hotels, big big tricks ---

Big cities, gentlemen, are for big people.

But there are those in here who are nameless;

came to laugh at the golden city

but they had a long way to go,

those who came to build this world.

They all had big hearts, big souls,

were full of knowledge, wit,

but in the politics of the world were small.

A big city is for big works my friend !

A breaking heart is not a rocket that you can see;

in a big city, who can hear a scream ?

( Urdu to  English Translation by Mehmood Jamaal )

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HOW IS THAT DEAR CITY OF OURS ?? YES SRINAGAR ( KASHMIR )..

                                   
RANDOM VIEWS OF SRINAGAR CITY

PHOTO AUTAR MOTA 2011

Woh shehar jo hum se chhoot gayaa Ab uss kaa nazaara kaisaa hai,

Har dushman e jaan kiss haal mein hai Har jaan se pyaara kaisaa hai .......

Aey des se Aaney Waale bataa....                                                


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THE NARROW LANE LEADING TO THE SHRINE OF RESHI PEER AT ALI KADAL SRINAGAR AND A POEM OF URDU POET AKHTAR UL IMAAN .

                                                                                    

The narrow lane leading to the shrine of Reshi Peer in Alikadal srinagar 

photo autar mota . To this photo i add a poem of late Akhtar Ul Imaan noted modern urdu poet .


( At the last stop Before My Destination )


I shall continue moving like this only,
Yes treading this red , white , green and black earth.
Listen You ! Whosoever is over there ! Listen!
Let me know if any one is with me.
None! Okay let it be None !
I make myself free from even the dust
That came to my feet
In this journey .
Now I have returned what ever was yours ,
Let any one lodge his claim and I shall redeem it ,
Tomorrow no one should link me to falsehood,
Tomorrow don’t doubt my intentions ……..
( Urdu poem of Akhtar Ul Imaan Translated by Autar Mota )


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THIRD CLASS TICKET WINDOW OF PALLADIUM CINEMA LAL CHOWK SRINAGAR

THE   THIRD CLASS TICKET  WINDOW OF PALLADIUM CINEMA ,LAL CHOWK, SRINAGAR.


                                                      
THIS USED TO BE  THE THIRD CLASS TICKET COUNTER OF PALLADIUM CINEMA LAL CHOWK,  SRINAGAR  . THE CROWDS .THE SMALL WINDOW. MANY HANDS INSIDE . NOISE . EVEN IF YOU HAD THE TICKET IN YOUR HAND BUT HOW TO TAKE OUT THIS HAND SAFELY ????? ADD TO THIS ONE COULD ALSO GET A LASH FROM MOHAMMAD  ISMAIL THE WATCH AND WARD EMPLOYEE  OF THE CINEMA HALL.HE WAS     ALSO  KNOWN  AS  ISMAAL BLACKER .........

THAT IS WHAT PALLADIUM CINEMA WAS .

(Avtar Mota)


 (Photos.   Avtar  Mota)

   
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MILK IS NOW EASILY AVAILABLE IN KASHMIR

MILK COLLECTION AT GANDERBAL KASHMIR MORNING TIME 19.10.2011. MILK IS ABUNDANT IN KASHMIR NOW . NO MORE MILK IMPORTS FROM PUNJAB ( AMRITSAR ) 
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA




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KASHMIRI SHAWLS AND THE TAXES

                                                                                       

It was in the first quarter of 19th century when Napolean was in Egypt that he picked up a kashmiri shawl and presented it to his wife Josephine whence it became an article of fashion in rich circles of France .

Popularity of kashmiri shawls tempted the rulers to earn revenue from this trade. Shawl trade was heavily taxed . Every shawl was taxed 24% of its value . Heavy duty was also imposed on wool . So much so that this Taxation brought this industry very very close to closure and the poor artisans had begun to starve . The government earned a revenue of 12 lacs from DAG E SHAWL or shawl tax alone .It was Maharaja Ranbir singh who remitted this Tax altogether enabling the Industry to revive and the artisans to survive . The Maharaja taxed goods imported from Punjab and Yarkand instead at a flat rate of 5 percent to make up for the loss of revenue.Heavy tax on shawls is also confirmed by Moorecroft who visited kashmir in 1824 A D .

( Autar Mota  )

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EVENING TIME IN DAL LAKE , SRINAGAR KASHMIR ...28.10.2011.

                                                                                                  
EVENING TIME IN DAL LAKE , SRINAGAR KASHMIR ...28.10.2011.
photo autar mota

Zindagi Failee Huyee thee Shaam e Hijraan ki Tarah
Kiss ko itanaa Hoaslaa thhaa Kaun Jee kar Dekhataa...........

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A POEM AND THE SNOWFALL OF JANUARY 2011 IN SRINAGAR CITY.

                                                                             

                                                               
 SNOWFALL ,SRINAGAR , JANUARY 2011
TO THE ABOVE PHOTOGRAPHS , I ADD MY  POEM  AJEEB DARD..

( AJEEB DARD)

Ajeeb Dard Thhaa Milaa

Mile Jo Tum Dabaa rahaa

Jo Zakhm Thaa Bharaa Nahin

Jo Waqt Thaa Guzar Gayaa.

Sulagh Gaye _ Bujhe Rahe

Gilaa Bhi To Kiyaa Nahin.

Zubaan Pe Geet hi rahay 

Go  Dil Thhaa kab ka mar Gayaa

Bataao Kyaa karey Koyee

Kissay Kahay Kahaan Kahay

Jo Baat Tum Ne naa Sunee

Jo Baat mein Naa keh sakaa.

Woh Aashanaa Woh Meharbaan

Naseeb se Hamein Milaa .

Hamaaray  Ghar Mein Hi Rahaa

Hamein Magar Ganvaa Gayaa.

( Avtar Mota )

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BOLLYWOOD ACTRESS PATIENCE COOPER AND KUMAR PAASHI'S POEM

                                                                
Photograph of Anglo Indian actress Patience cooper ( 1905-1993 ) from Calcutta .


ACTRESS PATIENCE COOPER, MANTO'S SAUGANDHI  AND POET KUMAR PAASHI..

MERE SAATH ZAMAANE  TOONE  ACHHAA NAHIN  KIYAA  HAI....( O World  , You have been unfair to me )



Patience Cooper  is remembered for her roles in movies like NAL DAMAYANTI , VISHNU AVTAAR , CHANDI DAAS, FAKHR E ISLAM, NAKLEE DOCTOR , DURGESH NANDINI, PATNI PRATAAP, ZEHRI SAANP , BAAGI SIPAAHI , MOHINI,MERA PYAARA ,KASHMIRI SUNDARI, GAREEB KI DUNIYA ,HOOR E ARAB,TURKI HOOR ,SATYA VAADI RAJA HARISH CHANDRA , ALLA UD DIN AND THE WONDERFUL LAMP,ALI BABA AND FORTY THIEVES , ANOKHA PREM and LANKA DAHAN. She acted in about 44 films in total.she acted in movies of the silent era and later in movies with sound .Sadat Hassan Manto had recommended her to his film producers as a lead actress for a movie based on his own script.Patience is reported to have declined saying that she was too old for the role .
In 1926, She married Mirza  Isphahani , a tea-estate owner, when she was 21, but the marriage fell apart although they remained friends. In 1930, she  married Gul Hamid Khan, another actor, who died of cancer six years later. After Independence she emigrated to Pakistan along with her first husband Mirza Isphahani  and changed her name to Sabra Begum. She fostered and/or adopted 17 children during her life time. She died in 1993 at Karachi.

NOW SOME LINES FROM  URDU POET KUMAR PAASHI'S POEM ON SAUGANDHI, A CHARACTER CREATED BY SADAT HASSAN  MANTO IN   HIS STORY  HATAK .

If SADAT HASSAN MANTO created SAUGANDHI for his story HATAK and gave her immortality , urdu Poet Kumar Paashi stepped in and dived deep into her heart to express the hidden Pain , sorrow and anguish of this lonely character condemned to live a life of falsehood , self deception and exploitation . I share some  lines from Kumar Paashi’s poem SAUGANDHI……

Door khade meray  aangan dwaare

Pal pal paas bulaayein,

Kaho hawaaon se ab unko

Door kahin le jaayein ,

Jhoot ki yeh  chaaron deewarein ,

Jhooth ka farsh aur chhat hai,

Jhooth ka bistar ,

Jhooth ke saathi,

Jhooth ki har sangat hai,

Jhooth bichhaaoon  jhooth lapeitoon,

Jhooth utaaroon pehnoon,

Jhooth pehan kar jism ke veerane mein Daudatee jaaon,

Such ki titalee bol kahaan hai ,

Kab se tujhe bulaaon,

Ek lambi tareeq sadak par kab tak chalti jaaon,

Kyon nahi zehan Ki deewaron se takraa kar mar jaaon.

Ek mausam meray  dil ke andher

Ek mausam Meray baahar ,

Kyaa jaane mujh janam-jali ne kyaa apraadh Kiyaa hai

...........MERE SAATH ZAMAANE TOONE ACHHAA NAHIN KIYAA HAI………

"Manto has systematically projected the life of Saugandhi and laid bare her sentiments, the soul, the inner and external situation . After going through 'Hatak' one doesn't have a feeling of malice towards these hapless and poor women. Innocence of 'Sugandhi' and her womanhood--all these elicit new feelings, those of sympathy. This is the hallmark of a great litterateur".
Krishen Chander Urdu writer.

Those who haven't read it, need to read Manto's  HATAK to know SAUGANDHI.........

( Avtar Mota )

PS

KUMAR  PAASHI (1935-1992)  is the pen name of Shankar Dutt Kumar. Born   in Bahawalpur, in what is now Pakistan, he  spent his life in Delhi. He  was a prominent voice among the Urdu poets of the modernil generation.
Kumar Paashi was a poet of Nazm but he also  wrote Ghazals .
                                                                       

                             ( Kumar Paashi )

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DEJHURR HAS CHANGED ITS GEOMETRICAL SHAPE AND ATTAHURR HAS BECOME COLOURFUL AND ATTRACTIVE .

DEJHURR has changed its Geometrical shape and ATTAHURR is now available in attractive colours.

Mobile Photo Autar Mota

Attahurr is a part of the Dejhurr that kashmiri Pandit women wear as a symbol of peace, prosperity and happy married life . The hexagonal ( Shatkona ) dejhurr has a definite geometrical shape comprising of Bindhus and triangles linking it to Tantra.Dejhurr has to be made from gold as kashmiri pandits identify gold with goddess sharika having her abode at Hari Parbat srinagar.Some elderly pandits say

“ It represents a  “ Deukk Budd ” or Suhaagin. Dejhurr is not a mangal sútra worn by married hindu women.It is a yantra based on sri Chakra a symbol of Sharika. The original shape of the DEJHURR is Hexagonal or a shatkona .Sharika is Durga who not only grants happiness,prosperity and bliss to a married woman but also remains her protector.It is totally kashmiri in concept ,origin and usage.A symbol of kashmiri culture and ethos.“

A DEJHURR  is suspended from ear by an auspicious thread called Atha.Atha is now being replaced by a golden chain.And finally the ATTAHURR  is tied to the golden Dejhurr .Attahurr is made of salma or silver thread.A kashmiri pandit woman wears new Attahurr on some auspicious day ,a function in the family,a religious ceremony and essentially on birthday of her husband.Attahurr had only silver colour previously but now it is available in attractive colours. In kashmir a paettigorr had the traditional skill of making Attahurr ,Teik Taal,Zooji,Taranga,Manan Maal etc. etc. for kashmiri pandit women. We had many Paettgorru shops in srinagar city . i vividly remember this shop in Rainawari near Vishwa Bharti College. I also remember another such shop at Badyar Bala . Perhaps these skilled artisans are now engaged in some other activity to earn their livelihood .

( Autar Mota )                                                           

DE                                

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SAFFRON FLOWERS OF PAMPORE KASHMIR

  (A Girl showing  saffron flowers at Galandhar Pampore  , kashmir   )

  ( The saffron flower )                                                

        (Saffron flowers with  Bulbs  )                                    

         ( Three crimson stigmas of the flower )                                                                  

   ( saffron being dried at Kadalbal Pampore  )

  ( saffron being dried  in Pampore )

      ( A Man standing near saffron fields of GALANDHAR PAMPORE )  

     ( The crimson  stigmas  after being removed from the flower )      

              ( The Dried saffron ready for sale )

Saffron is actually the crimson  stigmas of   the Saffron flower . Saffron crocus  Bulbs are planted in fertile lands  and these bulbs produce flowers only after one year . It  is grown on plateaus ( Known as Wudar  in Kashmiri ) near Pampore town in Kashmir Valley  . Experiments were also  carried out at other places for saffron production but the results were not satisfying . Subsequently, the people in other areas preferred other crops especially  fruits over saffron.Each flower produces only three 3 stigmas and each saffron crocus bulb will only produce 1 flower. Flowers plucked are then dried and the stigmas removed .

 Sold at Rs150- 170  per gram currently , the price of this rare agricultural produce skyrocketed to Rs500 per gram some time back . The saffron produced in Kashmir has excellent aroma and colour .It is known world over  for its purity and quality . Used mostly as a coloring agent for foodstuff  , it is also used as medicine , spice and in temples and religious ceremonies by Hindus  . Kashmiris also use it for making KEHWA TEA know as KONG  KAHWAA.

In Kashmir ,  

( Autar Mota )
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