ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 1949 , FIRST BABY SHOW WAS HELD IN KASHMIR

                                                                                             

                          ( WOMEN AT THE BABY SHOW HELD ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 1949 )

  FIRST BABY SHOW IN KASHMIR 25TH SEPTEMBER 1949.

25TH SEPTEMBER 1949 was a hectic day for Bureaucracy and leaders in kashmir . Pandit Jawahar lal Nehru , Raj Kumari Amrit kaur ( Health Minister ) , Sardar Baldev Singh , Shri N V Gadgil ,Smt Mridula sarabhai and many dignitaries were invited to a special session/ annual convention of National Conference party by Sheikh Mohd Abdullah . Indian and some foreign Journalists too attended this gala event. A mushaira was also held on this day . This grand Mushaira, presided over by Pandit jawahar Lal Nehru , was attended by all prominent urdu poets of the country .

                                                                      

     (Pandit ji presiding a grand urdu mushaira in Srinagar on 25th September 1949. Josh Malihabaadi is on Dais in a waistcoat.)

                        (KASHMIRI CHILDREN AFTER THE BABY SHOW.SEPTEMBER 1949. )

An “At Home” was arranged by Red cross society of J&K wherein a Baby show was also held .This baby show was held in collaboration with J&K State Govt's Health Department . Something that was held for the first time in Kashmir valley.

                                      

    ( National conference JALSA ( annual Convention ) 25th september 1949. pandit ji and sheikh Abdullah on dais.)

(Deputy prime Minister Bakshi Ghulm Mohd taking Journalists inside Transport Yard in srinagar on 25.09.1949.)

                                                  ( A VIEW OF JHELUM 1949 )

                                          

                                                          ( PADDY FIELDS  KASHMIR 1949 )

   All the journalists were taken to Mughal Gardens and sight seeing. They were also shown the newly set up Transport Yard that had a fleet of New Vehicles .The journalists were also taken to some orchards and rice fields .That year ,we had bumper crops of paddy and fruits in valley. Bakshi Ghulam Mohd ( Deputy Prime Minister ) organized visits and interaction of journalists . On this day, a Press Conference was also addressed by General Cariappa at Srinagar. Maj General Thimaaya also joined the Baby show , Gen Cariappa's press Conference and other events.

                                                       

                   ( Maj Gen Thimaaya holds the best baby in his hands while Raj Kumari Amrit kaur looks smilingly ..25th September , 1949 kashmir.)

                                                                              

 (Deputy prime Minister Bakshi Ghulm Mohd taking Journalists inside Transport Yard in srinagar on 25.09.1949.)      

During this visit,Pandit jawahar lal Nehru also attended the first convocation ceremony of jammu and kashmir university held on 24th september 1949.    

  

 (Dr karan singh sadar e Riyasat addressing gathering at the first convocation of J&K university held on 24th september 1949. Pandit Jawahar lal Nehru also attended the function.)                                                     

I end with two lines of Majrooh Sultanpuri's Gazal..

                                 

Ahle Toofaan Aao dil waalon ka afsaana kahein.....

Mauj ko gaisu bhanwar ko chashme janaanan kahein..

( Autar Mota )

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SHALIMAAR GARDEN OF KASHMIR AND MAJROOH SULTANPURI

                                                                                  

 INSIDE SHALIMAAR  GARDEN KASHMIR

(PHOTO Autar Mota  )

At daytime,  I was in the garden. A strange  feeling   took me over.  Truly, those rendered homeless , neither belong to the desert nor to the garden . But then  wherever they stay , these spots may also   turn to Royal  palaces .No surprise about that .

And as and when I returned  defeated from this path of love , You alone opened your welcome arms  .   So  here am I once again.

And Majrooh Sultanpuri also conveys similar sentiments  in one of  his Gazals. I add some lines …..

Teray Khaanmaan Kharaabon ka chaman na koyee sehra

Ye jahaan bhi Baith Jaayein Waheen in ki Baargaahein..

Kabhi Jaadaa e talab se Jo Phiraa huun dil shikastaa,

Teri Aarzoo ne hans kar Vaheen Daal dhi hain baahein..

I add lines from another Gazal of Majrooh that has some similar sentiments ..

Qadam ko Faiz e Junoon se woh Aabalaa hai naseeb,
Ke Khaar e raah ko bhi shamm e Raahguzaar karay .

Bahut hi Talkh navaa huun magar Azeez wattan,
me kyaa karoon jo teraa dard Beqaraar karay..

 (Autar Mota )

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A BEAUTIFUL KASHMIRI FOLK SONG HEARD FROM AN OLD WOMAN TODAY.

                                                                                       

                             

              AN ALMOND TREE IN FULL BLOOMS )

                                             
                                         

(APRICOT  BLOOMS)                                              

               ( ELDERLY KASHMIRI PANDIT WOMEN)

                                              

  ( A sparrow sitting on the branch of a blooming almond tree)

THE  VANISHING  FOLK LITERATURE HELD  IN THE MEMORY  STORE  OF OUR ELDERS...  

Heard an old Kashmiri Pandit  woman singing this folk song .Worried am I am , this precious folk literature that lies in the memory store of our elders is going to vanish  very shortly. I quote what I heard with my simple english rendering  for friends who do not understand Kashmiri.

 In this folk song a maiden   welcomes the arrival of  spring in a beautiful style , a style whereby she communicates with greenery and flowers around. Yes with flowers    ,brooks and. gushing water  springs that declare the arrival of spring season.She  also asks   her beloved to pay her a visit now as enough is enough or like saying."Bahut Din Beetay..Hum Haaray Tum. Jeetay"...

 

(1)

Gul phael tai phulayaa chhaavo,

Rozu bulbul lol tchon Aavo....

Rang kyaah rott aeimm rang Tcharey,

Sangdil yaar yueir Maa pheiray

Nanga Maa gatchhi harrdein vaavo..

Rozu bulbul lol tchon Aavo....

(Spring flowers bloom all over,

O Bulbul,come,stay here,

I pine  for you.

Look at this colourful sparrow ,

What a grand colour it acquired ?

Would that stone hearted beloved of mine

come this way now ..

The autumnal winds may also arrive later

And this beauty may soon vanish .

O bulbul,come,stay here,

I pine for you.)

(2)

Kulli Pyath ke badaam posho

Suul ka’rthhum thhuv ta gosho

Asta Asta Chashm Vaen Mutcharaavo

Rozu Bulbul Lol Tchon Aavo

( O   sprouting almond flower of that tree ,

 Listen ! have not you arrived so early this time ?

Now be slow in opening  your eyes over here .

O Bulbul, Come, Stay here ,

I pine for you.)

(3)

Aa’ar Posho Tcheir Kyaazi Gayyi -Yo

Munz Vanasaeyyi Nendhraa Peiyi –yo

Valla Vuchh Baaguk Chikka Chaavo

Rozu Bulbul Lol Tchoan Aavo

( O Plum flower , why so late this time ,

Were you under a sleep inside  the forest ?

Now hurry up and see the grandeur of the garden.

O Bulbul, Come, Stay here ,

I pine for you.)

(4)

Naagraadun Aab Guvv Jaar’ie

Baag Andeiray Gul phoel Saar’ie

Baag e Jannattuk Sabzaar chhaavo

Rozu Bulbul Lol Tchoan aavo…

( How good  to see water gushing out of the springs ,

And inside the garden, flowers thrive all over .

Now come and take pleasure in the greenery of this paradise .

O Bulbul, Come, Stay here ,

I pine forv you.)

(Avtar Mota )

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MAJROOH SULTANPURI " AHALE TOOFAAN AAO DIL WAALON KA AFSAANA KAHEIN "

                                                                      

MAJROOH SULTANPURI ( 1919-2000 ).

Bahaane aur bhi hotay Jo zindagi ke liye,
Hum ek baar Teri Aarzoo bhi Kho daitay....
Kabhi to yuun bhi umarraty sarashk e gham" Majrooh",
Ke meray zakhm e tamanna ke daag dho daitay..

(Majrooh )

" Majrooh is a poet of GAZAL.Trained by Jigar Moradabaadi, he gave a New dimension to GAZAL.Apart from words like saqi,Zulf,Bahaar, Khizaan ,Mehboob,Aashiq,Maashooq, ,Maikhana,Shama , Parvana,visaal,Firaq,shaame Gham,sabaa, Mehfil, Paimaana , Sharaab , Gul , Gulistaan , Sayyaad so on and so forth,you find his Gazal also has issues that are purely social and political in content. And very skillfully he uses them through this traditional format. I should say he put a new wine in the old bottle that Gazal is.That makes him areal progressive poet."
Writes noted poet Ali Sardar Jafri .
                                                                                 

                       ( Naushad Ali , Sardar jafri , Majrooh and  Kaifi Azmi  in Mumbai )

Tu Aey bahaar e gurezaan kissi chaman mein Rahay.
Meray junoon ki mehak teray pairhan mein Rahay..
Na hum kafas mein rukke missale boo e gul sayyaad,
Na hum misaale sabaa halqa e Rassan mein Rahay
(Majrooh)

Born at Nizamabaad in 1919 , Majrooh became a trained Hakeem and set up his practice at sultanpur in 1938.How this Hakeem,whose father was a police constable, became a Gazal writer and thereafter the most prolific and successful lyricist of Bollywood ( Hindi Cinema ) is a brief and  interesting story. Jigar Moradaabadi persuaded him here as well. 

In 2013,Government Of India released a special commemorative  postage  stamp of five rupees in honour of Majrooh Sultanpuri.
                                                                         

Majrooh once said,

" It was in 1941 when Jigar sahib heard me in a Mushiara.He was happy.He took me to many mushiaras thereafter.He kept guiding me and told me that I should write only what I feel and never copy style or thought of any other poet. I came to Mumbai in1945 and got offers to write songs for some films.since then I am here and connected with films. In 1947, I joined Progressive Writers Association. Gazal continues to be my favorite medium of expression."

Me akela hi chalaa thhaa jaanibe manzil magar,
Loag saath aatay gaye aur kaarwaan Banataa gayaa.
His taraf bhi chal parray hum aabalaa payaane shauq,
Khaar se gul aur gul se gulsitaan banataa gayaa.
(Majrooh)


For his contribution to Indian cinema ,he was also awarded Dada saheb Phalke award .

Ahle toofaan Aao Dil waalon ka afsaana kahein,

Mauj ko gaisu bhanwar ko chashme janaanaan kahein,

Woh shah e khoobaan kidhar hai phir chalein Uss ke huzoor,

Zindagi ko Dil kahein aur dil ko nazaraana kahein

( Majrooh )

Chaak e jigar mohtaaj e rafoo hai
Àaj to daaman sarf e lahoo hai,
Ek mausam thhaa hum ko rahaa hai
Shauq e bahaaraan tum se ziyaada..

Zanjeer o deewar Hi dekhi
Tum ne to" Majrooh" magar hum,
Koocha koocha dekh rahe hain
Aalam e zindaan tum se ziyaada...

(Majrooh)

                                                 

As a lyricist ,he worked successfully with so many music directors from Naushad to Anu Malik and wrote some  immortal songs. Yes some sweet and  melodious songs like..

(1). Ye lo me haari piya......

(2). Chali gori pee se Milan ko chali..

(3) Hum hain raahi pyaar ke him se kuchh na boliye..

(4) Rahein na Rahein hum mehka kareingay ban ke Kali ban ke sabaa baagh e wafa mein......

(5) Thandi hawà kaali ghata aa hi gayii jhoom ke....

(6) Ek din bik jaayega Maati ke mol..

(7) uthaaye ja unn ke sitam..

(8) Chhupa lo yuun dil mein pyaar meray ke jaisay mandir mein lau diye ki.

(9) Hum hain mataaye koocha o bazaar ki tarah

(10) Thhaday rahiyo o baanke yaar..

(11) Vikal Mora manwaa tum bin haaye

I conclude this brief post on Majrooh with lines from his Gazal... 

Mujhe manzilein woh sehal huyee ki havaa ke rukh badal gaye..

Tera haathh haathh mein Aa gaya ke chiraag raah mein jal Gaye..

Woh lajaaye meray savaal pe ke uthaa sakay na jhukaa ke sar,

Urri Zulf chehray pe iss tarah ke shabon ke Raaz machal gaye...

More on Majrooh later.....

(Autar Mota )

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Dr KARAN SINGH'S POEM "CLOUDS "

                                                                                           

                                                      
 A Childhood photograph of Yuvraj Karan Singh son of Maharaja Hari Singh  ( Ex Ruler J&k )      .                                                            

Dr karan Singh not only writes well but his imagination too is superb. And he not only quotes Indian sages but the entire galaxy of western intellectuals most frequently in his write ups . One may not consider  him  a great  politician but none  can  overlook or ignore his  scholarship .

   (  Photo ..Prithvi Raj Kapoor Dr.karan Singh )

"You may be a painter,a poet , an actor ,a musician ,a writer or a dancer and if your art makes people happy ,you are actually doing a great service to humanity. And service to humanity is service to god.Nar seva Narayan seva."

Dr Karan Singh ..

                                                                                                 

                                                                   

                                          ( Dr Karan Singh with Lal Bahadur Shastri )

 

To the above  photo i am adding a Poem   "CLOUDS'  by Dr Karan Singh former Regent /Sadar e Riyasat /Governor J&K State ...

(Clouds )

Airy sprites that roam at will
Upon the soft blue firmament ,
Twisting and turning in the wind ,
Dissolving into Nothingness
Or taking shapes and forms unheard of ,
Bending castles ,
Toppling spires ,
Misty cities ringed with fire;
Filmy wisps and finest spray ;
The wind cascading through soft hair ,
Flying with gay abandon
Through the depths of liquid space ,
Gazing proudly into the mirrors ,
Lakes and rivers ,
Streams and ocean,
Now retreating ,
Now advancing ,

Like a charger ,
Proudly prancing ,
Like a slender Maiden dancing ……

( Avtar Mota )

                        


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WHEN KHAN ABDUL GHAFFAR KHAN , NEHRU AND SHEIKH ABDULLAH STAYED TOGETHER IN CHOPRA HOUSE AT JAMMU

                                                                       

LEFT TO RIGHT 

SHEIKH MOHD ABDULLAH , BADSHAAH KHAN , PANDIT NEHRU AND SHRI PREM NATH CHOPRA AT CHOPRA HOUSE JAMMU IN JUNE 1940..WAITING FOR THE DINNER 

My friend Rajeev Chopra ( Advocate ) informs …

“ In 1924, Our family had the first Ice Factory in Jammu . My grand father, Prem Nath Chopra would tell my father that we possibly had second or third Ice factory in entire North India( Punjab , HP , J&K and present day Haryana ) during those days. He would recall having seen one in Lahore but None in Sialkot ,Amritsar , Ludhiana or jalandhar.

On 30th June 1940, this very house had some special guests .These guests stayed with us for a night for their onward journey to Lahore . Disobeying Maharaja’s strict orders that “ No one shall entertain them in Jammu city “, My grand father went out of the way to receive them and make them comfortable in our family house.Col. Chopra was also from our family. Two brothers of my grand father had studied in Cambridge in 1899. “

 My grand mother has told me that my grandfather had already kept a stock of 333 cigarettes that Pandit Ji smoked.Badshah khan was fond of pickle ,Mathi and Lassi.While Pandit Ji used fork and knife at dinner,Badshah khan ate with hands.When they were about to leave for Sialkot, my grandmother put some China clay plates ,Mathi ,Parantha and pickle in a bag.At this Badshah khan said that he will eat in the Parantha wrapper so  why waste a plate. He removed his plate while Pandit Ji looked at what was happening.

My grand mother also told me that Badshah khan was child-like simple man.

 You can have the scanned copy of the phorograph Autar Ji "

(Autar Mota)

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