JAGAN NATH SAQI : THE UNSUNG RADIO AND STAGE ARTIST FROM KASHMIR

                                       

UNFORGETTABLE  JAGAN NATH SAQI 

He was born and brought up in Khankaah e Sokhta locality of downtown Srinagar city. He lived close to the ancestral house of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and  accordingly , he was personally known to every member of Bakshi family . Due to his varied interests and traits like  acting, smoking, sitting on gossip shops ,travelling by a full Tonga, putting on an English hat, spending money lavishly and keeping close association with some  henchmen of Nawa Kadal , Pandits called him by nicknames like ''Jagir Gunda' and 'Raasa-kath'.Acting was his forte since his younger days. He loved singing and  music . He  joined Radio Kashmir Srinagar due to the direct  intervention of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who also intervened in the  allotment  a residential quarter to him inside  the Emporium complex close to the radio station . He remained careless in paying  the monthly rent of this government accommodation  for many years and it was again Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who waived these dues. Saqi had a comic side of his personality . One day, he attended  office wearing  his old  Pheran. Upon being  reprimanded by Mr Chawala ( the then Station Director) , Saqi is reported to have told him that since Pheran was the national dress of Kashmiris, he felt proud of it. I have been told by reliable sources that Saqi didn't hesitate to come to office in Pheran thereafter. Once he went to Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad' s residence on Eid day carrying a huge pumpkin that had grown in his quarters. Bakshi  burst into laughter and asked him to tell him the truth as to what had brought him to his place carrying the free grown pumpkin .   At this, Saqi smilingly put  his application for waiver of accumulated rent demanded by PWD Department . His accommodation at the corner of Emporium complex  belonged to PWD Department . 

Saqi was a close friend of Pandit Ved Lal Dhar Vakil, a progressive and rebel personality of Kashmir who pioneered theatre and drama in the Kashmir valley. Ved Lal Dhar had learnt acting and theatre when he worked in  Kolkata's Alfred Theatre Company  before 1947. Saqi learnt many skills of acting and drama from Ved Lal Dhar. The orthodox Kashmiri Pandit society looked with contempt towards all the young men who indulged in theatre , drama and music as late as the first quarter of the last century . A nickname ‘ Raas-Kath ‘ used to be given to young men who indulged in this activity They were taunted and discouraged by all means .  Most of the artists couldn't get married as no father was ready to marry his daughter to a "Raas-Kath" ( dancing lamb).

Saqi had a unique style of humorous  conversation that won him instant friends.He would play pranks and  convey many stories often light heartedly .

Saqi proved himself a versatile radio artist. His voice conveyed  a powerful pathos that touched the chord with his listeners. He was the greedy  Kaakh ( Machama's father ) of Pushkar Bhan's popular Machama series of Radio dramas . He was Rustom Chacha in another series of radio programme. He was 'Jagger Pension' of Zoonadab , Wali Mot in the popular play Taent-k'or and Afreet of the dramatised version of the opera Gulrez  He would present' "Gaami Baayen  Haendi Kha'tra' from Radio Kashmir. He also had a unforgettable presence on  stage . He had a great quality , never ever did he neglect his first priority ; theatre and radio drama even if he was unwell or down with critical illness.About him Padamashri Pran Kishore Kaul said  this :-

" Saqi had a flamboyant streak in everything he did . One could see it in his walk, his talk and his behaviour with his friends and colleagues. He was elder to me . I knew him before joining the Radio. He enjoyed somewhat notorious reputation in his youth. One day all of a sudden , he barged into  Radio Kashmir Srinagar and demanded his chair to sit . We were surprised to know that Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad in His capacity as the Prime Minister of J&K  had telephoned PS Bhatia , the then Station  Director to appoint him . Saqi had commendable talent .I included him in the cast of  film ," Shair e Kashmir Mehjoor ". He did full justice to the role of a poor peasant.He could have been a wonderful film actor but he had missed that bus  . I had  great admiration for Saqi's acting passion. As protagonist, he did some beyond expectation acting in Akhtar Mohiuddin's Kashmiri  play " Aadam Chhu Ajab Zaat " . On my enquiry, Saqi told me that he had lived the role. The play was selected for the National Programme of plays by AIR and we were advised to do a Hindi version also. Saqi begged me to let him act in Hindi version. I had my doubts about his accent.I took the chance as his acting skills were perfect for the role. In the meantime , he fell critically ill.He  couldnt walk . I was suggested to replace him. We had to complete the recording in a time frame. Saqi was deteriorating. And then one day he suddenly dropped in and asked for the script.After reading it, he asked me to start his recording. We went inside the studio. We were there for a long time recording Saqi, the protagonist of the story . He was flawless.He did all in one go. My joy knew no  bounds  . At the end , I embraced him. I could feel that he was running high temperature .  He was happy . We were equally delighted. After some days ,we heard the news that Saqi was no.more. That was Jagan Nath Saqi ."

Saqi was a bachelor .  It was Dr Ali Jan who treated him last and informed his colleagues at the Radio Kashmir that Saqi had some fatal lung disease. He was shifted from Emporium accommodation to his sister's house . His nephew O N Pajnoo looked after him with total care and dedication . Saqi breathed his last in 1973.  

( Avtar Mota) 

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