IN KASHMIR 'BAACHHI ' IS KEPT ON TREE TOPS FOR WINTER USAGE .

                      
 PHOTO  BY AUTAR MOTA 
NEAR LIDDER STREAM IN VILLAGE AKURA MATTAN     KASHMIR.                                                       

I had previously also uploaded a photograph of lidder  stream showing what we call  “Baachhi ”in kashmiri.Those who are familiar with the rural scenario of Kashmir valley  know what Baachhi means. Branches and leaves are cut from trees  (generally willow) and this entire stuff is stored on tree tops . This is a winter feed for sheep and goat. During winter season , bundles are brought down and placed before the cattle who devour the cold and generally wet leaves leaving the dry branches untouched . These branches are then burnt  as fuel in the kitchen or used in Kangri for fighting the winter . This charcoal so obtained (for use in kangri ) is known as “Baachhi Naar” .

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A VIEW OF DAL LAKE AND A KASHMIRI POEM

The Traditional feed being carried from Dal lake srinagar .
Photo Autar Mota
To this photograph i add my kashmiri Poem " Aiess Funkaar" ( We Artists ).The poem has been done to simple English as well                                                                           
(Aeiss Funkaar )


Burr Peuth Pokk Aessi Subhuk Vaavaa,
Graav Karaan Rooshithh Bezaar.
Burr Draav Saanie Taa Royee Badalovunn,
Chhakraan Guvv Shabanam Shehjaar.
Yee Guvv Deik Laaneuk Bazaar

Aeiss Funkaar Chhe Yaarunn Yaar

Teungaluvv Peiuth Nannavaarie Pakaan Aeiss
Zeivee Saeit Aeiss Chhaavaan Gulzaar
Burrgaameit Parachhein Armaanunn
Kuss Praatshei Tayee Kyaa Thhaavov Shumaar
Yaavunn Chhovv Naa Vuchh Lokachaar.

Aeiss Funkaar Chhe Yaarunn Yaar.

Tschaeti Ditaa Zakhamaa Chhokh Seenuss Peyath,
Akh Akh Hawuss Kar Missmaar.
Aessie Deuot Subhuk Gaash Zamanuss ,
Aessie Rott Siriyun Naar O Naar .
Maaguss deuot Soantukk Anahaar.

Aeiss Funkaar Chhe Yaarunn Yaar

( Autar Mota )


We Artists

This morning Breeze moved past us ,
Complaining in a painfully unfriendly way.
Behold ! it changed its style while departing from us
To spread Dew and freshness elsewhere.
Lo! This is our luck in the worldly Bazaar
.We artists are friends to one and all.

With bare feet , we move on Burning Charcoal,
And Our words bring spring season in gardens everywhere.
Our desires! Yes exiled and cut off,
Who seeks to know ?
And why should wee keep count.
We who neither enjoyed youth nor lived the sweet childhood.

We artists are friends to one and all.

You too come and put this heart to injury,
You too inflict a wound .
Come demolish each and every hope and desire within,
We , who labour to give the world a beautiful Dawn,
Alas ! just receive fire and Fury in return.
We always granted spring like ambience even to intense cold seasons .

We artists are friends to one and all.






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FAIZ AHMED FAIZ MARRIED ALYS IN SRINAGAR

                                                                       
FAIZ AHMED FAIZ WITH HIS WIFE ALYS. THEY MARRIED IN KASHMIR.

Poet Faiz Ahmed faiz met Alys a British national and his would be wife in 1938 at Amritsar. Alys was already associated with a group called “ FREE INDIA “ organized by late Krishna Menon in England and this Group had the blessings of Pandit Jawahar lal Nehru as well. They were married in srinagar in 1941 and the NIKAH was performed by Sheikh Mohd Abdullah in the house of shri M D Taseer .Faiz and Alys’s Nikahnama, the marriage contract, was  a copy of the  Nikahnama   of Christobel her elder sister , which had been drafted by Allama Iqbal . Leading Poets like Josh and majaaz were present at this ceremony . Alys was also connected with progressive writers Movement.

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NEDOU'S HOTEL SRINAGAR KASHMIR

The Nedou’s Hotel was founded by Michael Adam Nedou,  an architect by profession who had traveled to India from port city of Ragusa ( Dubrovnik) to construct a palace for the erstwhile Maharaja Of Gujarat .
Michael Adam Nedou built his first hotel in Lahore in 1880 and this Hotel was the flagship of the Nedou’s chain. It was Michael Adam Nedou’s dream to expand his hotel chain into the picturesque Valley of Kashmir. The Nedou’s Hotel Gulmarg and srinagar were built in 1888.

Incidentally 1933 ,Sheikh Mohd Abdullah married Akbar Jahan, the daughter of Michael Harry Nedou, the eldest son of Michael Adam Nedou.Michael Harry Nedou had married a local girl namely MIRJAN. Presently Nedou's Gulmarg is doing good business while a major portion of srinagar Nedou's is in bad shape needing extensive repairs and renovation.The picture of Srinagar Nedou's is prior to the present turmoil in Kashmir valley.  Tragic is the condition of  such  heritage buildings at the moment .  Only a  few in Srinagar are now aware of the  glorious  history of this Grand hotel  . I add that Nadim sahib Immortal Opera" Bombur Te Yemberzal "was first performed in this Hotel only. This opera was witnessed by a select VVIP gathering consisting of the Russian leaders like Marshal Bulganin and Nikita Khrushchev.

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A VIEW AT DEVI ANGAN HARI PARBAT NEAR SANGEEN DARWAZA SRINAGAR .

                                                                           

A VIEW NEAR SANGEEN DARWAZA HAWAL .
VERY CLOSE TO DEVI ANGAN .
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA 

TO THIS PHOTOGRAPH I ADD MY BLANK VERSE IN KASHMIRI SOAN SHAHAR OR OUR CITY .

(Soan Shahar )

Taarukh Nubh , 
Chhalith Taa chhokith ,
Haayee taa zaayee.
Yemberzull sholaan Soantaa sulee.
Vattan Chhu taaf rovmutt.
Bemaar haawuss Leif Heyth.
Jaayee Jaayee Chhaa Hooeun Wofaan .
Akh Chhokh Iwaan taa byaakh Neraan.
Lobh Lobh Pukh,
Yenaa Naaeri Zaanga Zilnaai .
Baa kyaa Tshaandaan?
Hu Kyaa Kanaan?
Chhopp! Choopp! Pukh Paanuss.
Yuthh Maa sunn!
Hoarr Maa Vuchh!
Ya Kuss Shahar !
Baa Maa Rovuss!

(Autar Mota )


(Our City )

This Lovely sky ! 
Neatly washed in Blue, 
Bright and Starry: 
Alas ! A waste presently.
The Narcissus Blooming before springtime,
This pleasant sunshine gets lost on roads ,
O! These sick desires, Still bedridden.
Dogs barking at every place ,
One group coming this way ,
And the other moving away.
Be careful ! Be on safe side !
Lest these creatures jump at your arms or legs ?
What am I looking for ?
What does that man sell?
Silence ! Silence ! Hush Up!
Walk your way!
Don’t think about it !
Don’t look that way !
What city is this?
I think I have lost my path .

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FREDA BEDI AND KASHMIR

 THE GRAND WOMAN FREDA BEDI ((1911–1977) AND KASHMIR

She was Freda Houlston FROM Derbyshire UK before She married BPL Bedi at OXFORD in 1934. Both returned to India and plunged into nationalistic politics.Both were later active in kashmir against Maharaja's rule . This family was very close to sheikh Mohd. Abdullah . They  sided with National Conference openly.Freda is reported to have worn a BURQA and carried messages for Kashmiri leaders who were imprisoned by Maharaja.Freda later joined Indian National congress and served a six month prison term for participating in a SATYAGRAHA organised by Gandhi Ji . Her husband BPL Bedi or BABA BEDI is credited with being the main force behind the 'New Kashmir' manifesto of 1944.Bedis were equally loved in kashmir and Lahore.Both of them took distinct spiritual paths in later years of their lives.FREDA turned to BUDHISM (Sister Palmo, or Gelongma Karma Kechog Palmo )while in BABA"s case it was SIKHISM. In 1959 when Dalai Lama took refuge in India along with thousands of Tibetans, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru requested her to head the task force for support and settlement of these helpless people . SHALL I TELL YOU MORE ? HOLD ON !

BOLLYWOOD ACTOR KABIR BEDI IS THEIR YOUNGER CHILD.   Born in 1946, Kabir Bedi had his initial schooling in kashmir only whereafter he moved to Sherwood College, Nainital.                                                     





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SUMMER VIEW OF PRESENTATION CONVENT SCHOOL SRINAGAR

       
 PRESENTATION CONVENT SCHOOL SRINAGAR AND A POEM BY ALI SARDAR JAFRI
Photo Autar Mota  .  


( My Journey )
A poem By Ali Sardar Jafri 

Such a day will arrive again
when the lamps of the eyes will get extinguished;
the lotus of the hands will get withered
and each butterfly of speech and voice
will flee from the leaf of the tongue.
All faces that blossom like buds,
chuckle like flowers,
the circling of blood, the beats of heart,
all such symphonies will go to sleep
on the bed of a dark ocean.
And, this grinning diamond particle,
this paradise of mine, this earth
that is laid out on the velvet of the blue environ,
its morns, its evenings
will, unwittingly, unconsciously,
pass on shedding the tears of dew
[on the demise of] a handful of dust of a man.
Everything will be forgotten;
everything will be removed
from the exquisite idol-house of memories.
Then no one will ask:
Where is Sardar in the congregation?

Yet, I'll come here again;
I will talk with the mouths of the tots;
will sing in the tongue of the birds.
When seeds will grin beneath earth
and the sapling, with its fingers,
will vex the crusts of earth,
I'll open my eyes
in leaves and buds;
will take, in [my] verdant palm,
the dew drops.
I'll turn into the colour of henna, the tune of ghazal
[and] the style of poetry.
[I], like the hue of the cheek of a bride,
will filter from every stole.
When the winds of winter
will bring along with them
the season of autumn'
my laughter will be heard
from the dry leaves that will
be trampled under the robust feet of the passerby.
All the golden rivers of the earth;
all the azure lakes of the sky
will get filled with my being.
And the world will see
that every tale is in fact my tale;
here every lover is Sardar
and every beloved is Sultaanaa

I'm a fleeting moment
in the enchanting-house of time;
I'm a restless drop
that travels
from the pitcher of the past
to the wine-cup of the future.
I sleep and get up
and again go to sleep.
I'm a play that's many centuries old.
I expire and become immortal.
Such a day will arrive again      .
( Ali Sardar Jafri )                                    




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WILLOWS OF LIDDER STREAM AT AKURA( MATTAN) KASHMIR

  
LIDDER STREAM AT AKURA NEAR MATTAN KASHMIR 
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA

Rutton ka qaaedaa hai waqt par yeh aati jaati hein,
hamaare shehar mein kyon ruk gaya faryaad ka mausam

Qafas ke baam-o-dar mein raushani si aayee jaati hai,
chaman mein aa gaya shaayad lab-e-Aazaad kaa mausam.

( Amjad Islam amjad )




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A VIEW OF VILLAGE KRUNGSOO NEAR MATTAN IN ANANTNAAG DISTRICT OF KASHMIR

                                                                              


AT VILLAGE KRUNGSOO IN ANANTNAG DISTRICT
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA


Dil ke dariyaa ko kissi roz utar jaanaa hai
itanaa besimt na chal laut ke ghar jaanaa hai .

Me khilaa huun to issi Khaak mein milanaa hai mujhe ,
Woh to Khushbuu hai usse agale nagar jaanaa hai .
( Amjad Islam Amjad ) )




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A SHORT STORY AND A VIEW OF SNOW CLAD BANIHAL ROAD .

    
 DRIVING DOWN BANIHAL SLOPES  ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR .
Photo Autar Mota Dec 2010.                    


MY SHORT STORY "BANK LOAN GUARANTOR "


Bank Loan Guarantor

“Sir! Question does not arise ; Perhaps you then don’t know Dhar family . Dhar family is known for their word.. So are their children .Atul Ji shall complete his MBA 2006 and the loan shall be cleared Upto 2007 or at the most by June 2008 from his earnings .” said Ram Krishen .

Ram krishen had come to the Bank along with his brother in law seeking an Education loan of 4.30 Lakhs for MBA degree of his nephew. He had actually been made to accompany Father and son duo by his own sister . He had casually gone to his sister’s house where he came to know about the selection of Atul ji in a Mumbai College . His sister had told him
“ Yiman Gusstaa Bankuss Saaet . Bemunn Chaaen Chhunay Taapuss Muss Chhetarrovmut. Amiss Chhaa Tagaan Kaanh Kuthh Karein”
“ Accompany them to the bank please. Your brother in law has just wasted life. He can not even speak for himself ”
Obviously Ram Krishen had to initiate the conversation in the Bank now. Listening to this conversation , Atul’s father Bushan lal Dhar also nodded approvingly to the commitment demonstrated by Ram Krishen with regard to total repayment of the loan by the boy from his future earnings . After listening all this ,I handed over the list of formalities required to be completed for sanction of the loan. Ram Krishen put forth his hand to receive the list and started reading the paper.
“ This is done . This is also done . O! all this is done .Sir who can be the Guarantor ?Father can also give the Guarantee of his son. No problem from our side . ” said Ram Krishen .
“ Let me make things clear . Father can not be a Guarantor . Father has to be a co borrower or Co- Obligant in this type of loan. Guarantor has to be a different person . “ I clarified .
“ No problem sir . Why you worry ? I have signed many papers as Witness in Banks. As many as 50 Savings Bank Accounts have been opened under my signatures in your Bank. If I can sign for strangers why not for our own child. We come tomorrow with complete formalities . We should be made free in two hours .” he continued .
“ No! No! It is not a witness that you are supposed to sign . It is an Agreement of Guarantee. By virtue of signing this deed , the Guarantor undertakes to bind himself for repayment of the loan and interest thereupon should there be any default from Principal Borrower . Legally the liability of a guarantor is co extensive with the principal Borrower . Things should be clear to you . Witness is nothing but seeing some document being executed . There is no pecuniary liability of a witness .The guarantor remains financially liable and tied to a loan till it is fully repaid by the principal borrower. ” I clarified .
Ram Krishen nodded in agreement , moved his right hand fingers through his hair and rubbed his hands .I felt as if he wanted to smoke a cigarette at that moment . But then he never smoked in presence of his elder sister’s husband. At this point of time Bushan Lal Dhar and Atul looked expectantly towards Ram Krishen .


“Sir , Why you worry ? We are there for Atul ji . What is this 4.30 lakhs ? For this boy I can sign Blank papers and Give guarantee for one crore.” Ram Krishen clarified . He gave the list of formalities to Bushan lal Dhar ,got up from his chair ,shook hands with me and came out of the room along with his nephew and brother in law.

Next day at about 11 AM i found Ram Krishen inside the bank hall and came straight to see me .This time he was alone .
“ So fast in completing the formalities . What is the last date of the admission in the college ? ” I asked
“ What formalities sir ? Can I make some personal request ”He said
“ Sure ! What is the request . ” I replied .
“ Sir sitting on this seat ,You now know all about our community . You also know Chuni Lal Pandita’s son Rahul Pandita and his Education Loan story . He also raised Education loan from this Bank. The boy married a girl from Pune and forgot the Education loan .Chuni Lal is now coming to your Bank every month depositing the loan instalment . Sir do you know that he is repaying from his pension and his tuition Income. Poor old man is doing tuitions in this age and this Bushan Lal ji my brother in law can not even do tuitions . He is still not understanding that managing a Grocery shop in Kashmir was one story and living on Government relief cheques and some bank interest in Jammu is another story. What has he for the rainy day? Just rupees 4 lakhs that he received as sale proceeds of his Natipora colony Plot .See he has to marry his daughter Sonia ji yet. The family has no house. What is Mumbai MBA? I do not understand . MBA from Jammu or Punjab university is also MBA . See every Kashmiri Pandit boy now wants to go to Pune, Mumbai or Banglore for studies . Go if you can afford . What is so great about going by putting all in trouble? I should not have said it but then I care for my sister. And time has also changed. ”Ram krishen said in a non stop voice.
“ There is a world difference in terms of Employment potential for degrees procured in Jammu and Mumbai. We are dealing with these issues through various Education Loans disbursed by the Bank . We know all this difference ” I clarified .

“Sir sixteen boys from Government College of Engineering Jammu have been selected by TCS and WIPRO this year . .It is all luck whether you study in Jammu , Pune or Overseas . Don’t misunderstand me . Atul is my son but then this Guarantee you are asking from me ? Can this not be changed ? Ask for Guarantee of Atul’s uncle Ashok Kumar Dhar. He is a 10+2 Government Lecturer . When there some feast or function in the DHAR family , Ashok kumar is the chief guest and when there is any problem , they catch hold of me. Please do not misunderstand . I have highest respect and regard for my brother in law and his family. But then I am not that rich to become Guarantor for 4.30 lacs. And if he does not pay for say 3 years , the loan amount can go upto 7 lakhs with interest application.I know all Interest calculation methods of the Bank .Even if I sell all my property, I can not clear the debt. Why You want my children to get ruined with this guarantee? I just beg you that Neither Atul nor his Father should know what for I came here again. ” Ram Krishen continued .

“ If you are so sure about the intentions and sincerity of the boy , there is hardly any worry in being a surety for the education loan. “ I retorted .

“ Manager Sahib , I am also a father . I have two small children . And then if my wife comes to know about all this Guarantee , there shall be a Mahabharat in my family. She is also right . I have to keep this Guarantee issue for my own children . Now sir I request you to tell my brother in law that I have already given Guarantee in some other loan case and I can not give another guarantee. If you do not say it then I am finished .Your words can only save this poor man. ” He added
I said nothing . Ram Krishen sank into the chair opposite my table. I wanted him to leave the room. I observed that he kept looking towards the floor and the ceiling of the room and also kept biting his finger nails . I pressed the bell and sought two glasses of water. Offering one to Ram krishen I said
“ Shall You have tea? ”
“ My tea is only your help for this guarantee issue. ” he replied
He was in no mood to leave my room. Suddenly he received a call on his mobile phone and I heard him saying
“ Do not wait for me and I do not feel like having food today. You are only worried about my food and not my worries . ”

Then Mr Keshav Singh Incharge Loans section of the branch entered the room and noticing Ram Krishen , He said
“Pandit ji ! What happened ! Was my solution not acceptable to you? ”
Ram Krishen looked in such a way so as to give an impression as if Keshav was not addressing him. I asked Keshav how he knew Ram Krishen .
“ Sir he came to my residence yesterday and explained everything to me . I gave him a solution . Let them raise a loan of 4 Lacs only and in that event the father shall be a co-borrower and the Bank does not need a Guarantor.” Keshav clarified and left the room taking my signatures on some papers ..

“Manager Sahib if you can save the poor man I shall give you a solution. Tell them I have already given guarantee in one loan case which is now in defaulter category .Tell them that I am not reliable and I have no credit worthiness. Tell them anything but save me.” Added Ram Krishen .
“ But yesterday you volunteered to be a guarantor . And then the boy is your close relation , if you also run away who else shall come to their rescue at this critical juncture. You should not panic so much .And then it is your own decision. Tell your brother in law plainly that you do not want to be a guarantor and he shall immediately find some one else suitable to the bank or decide what he has to do . ”I clarified .
Ram Krishen kept silent and started reading HINDU Newspaper lying on my table.
Then to my surprise I found Bushan Lal Dhar also entering the room in a hurry with another person possibly a Kashmiri.

“ Manager Sahib i have a cheque for 2.47 Lakhs in my name but the cheque is drawn on State Bank of India Residency Road srinagar .This cheque has been issued by an Insurance company. This is the fire claim of my gutted house in kashmir. My friend Bashir Ahmed Wani took personal pains and brought the cheque today only . He came straight to my residence in Tata Sumo from Srinagar. The cheque was delivered to him only yesterday. In case I get just 40 thousand within three four days to enable me to Pay admission fee of Atul ji I need only a loan of 2 Lakhs then and I may need this loan next year only. God comes to rescue but man has to go through the torture also ”

“Let me see the cheque” I said . and Bushan Lal Delivered the cheque to me .

“ No issue . You can take the entire amount of 2.47 Lakhs right now. You have to pay some nominal charges and we shall purchase the cheque and get the amount from SBI Srinagar at our own level. That is a normal job for the Bank. Now that you need Loan of 2 Lakhs only, no guarantor is needed.” I clarified.
Ram krishen was listening to these sudden developments carefully and I could feel that my words had brought a refreshing smile on his face. He now threw the news paper on my table and looking towards his brother in law he said
“Namaskar Mahraa . Baa Ossus Loan Chee Kuthh Karaan. Ishtaam Anivaah guarantee Baaput ”
( Namakar Sir ! I was just discussing the Loan case Only . Have you bought the Non Judicial stamp papers for my Guarantee ? )
Turning to me Ram krishen said
“ Now Manager Sahib please release our loan in hassle free manner . I may have to go to Jaipur for Marriage of my wife’s sister . If you desire I can sign in advance on any paper I have to sign. Atul ji must get the loan. I have already given my consent to sign any paper anywhere in any capacity .”
He got up and went to Bank’s canteen room and paid the waiter Rs30= ordering 4 cups of tea and biscuits for all guests in the room. He also brought two glasses of water and offered one to his brother in law and the other to Mr Wani. Then coming close to my table he said
“ Baa Gouss Nokraa Manager Saahb ”
“Manager sahib , treat me as humble servant ”
From his breath I could feel that he had smoked a cigarette in the canteen room .He then went to “ May I Help You Counter” and brought a New Account Opening Form . He now asked his brother in law to immediately go back to his residence and bring 3 photographs , photo copy of his ration card and copy of the scooter driving license . He ensured that his brother in law and Mr Wani leave immediately for bringing the papers to open a new account. He then turned towards me and said
“ Sir do you believe in God ? God is great . . Let us not talk about the education loan now.” .
Now he picked up the land line telephone lying on my table and dialed some number and said
“I am coming for the Lunch . Has Pinkoo Ji come back from his school ? We have to go to Bagh e Bahu Garden in the evening . I shall be bringing half Kg of mutton for Rogan Josh and ask Pinkoo ji to collect ten special Ghee Roti ( Bread ) from Roshan lal ’s kashmiri Bakery shop . ”I looked at Ram Krishen and kept noticing the sudden change in his behaviour .                                              
(AUTAR MOTA )


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COLLECTING DRY CHINAR LEAVES AT NASEEM BAGH.

                


 COLLECTING DRY CHINAR LEAVES AT NASEEM BAGH SRINAGAR BEFORE BURNING THE SAME FOR WINTER CHARCOAL TO BE USED    FOR KANGRIS .
PHOTO AUTAR MOTA

I HEARD THE MEN SAYING

“ Are you from Forest Department ? We are not cutting any Chinar Tree . We are just sweeping the dry fallen leaves and shall burn them to make Charcoal for winter.Why do you need to take our Photographs ?”

“ Hey Ghulam Mohd! Run away , He must be from some newspaper. Tomorrow our photograph shall be published with some story. Don’t stand in front of his camera. ”

“ Noor Mohd ! He is a kashmiri . No worry . He says that he is clicking for fun"


.Ab bhi Khizaan kaa raaj hai lekin kahin kahin ,
Goshe rah-e-chaman mein Gazal-khwaan huye to hain
( Faiz Ahmed Faiz)

The autumn still rules the garden, yet we also hear some stray singing notes in some corners .                                                            






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