Said my maternal grandfather to me . I went to him complaining sudden redness and pain in one of my toes. He said “ Ye Chhuyee Shooh Gomutt. ” Meaning this is frostbite . With his rubbing , I felt warmth and a little comfort. The pain turned mild . I heard him singing in kashmiri
“Bisht Bisht Braaryo
Khotakho Vunn .
Torraa kyaah Voluth
Babri Punn.
Su Kamunn Chhokuth
Kottarunn.”
I do not know when I slept and where the pain went . May be the lines of the song had played their role effectively. This and many similar songs were meant for children . I was always amused when I heard some one singing them. Whenever I played with my Maternal cousins , we would sing
“Raaja Bhaai Raaja
Kyon Kotwaal
Srinagar Me Chor Aayaa
Kiss Raaste
Iss Raaste”
A cousin sister of mine would play with us and sing
Okuss Bokuss Tillwaien Tsokuss,
Onumm Batukh Lodhum Deghee,
Shawl Kich Kich Wangno.
I am certainly talking of a period when only some families had the privilege of having the radio sets or transistors . My Father had bought this luxury for us . Radio Ceylon with Amin Sayani as the announcer was quite popular. I still remember the advertisement for LOMA hair oil. Television was totally unheard of . We did remember many hindi songs but friends in school and my cousins would frequently sing the kashmiri children songs while at play. Money was a scarce commodity. The state government clerks would be offered a special selection grade on promotion satirically still known as Rs 70-6-130. we had a community radio set in Jogi Lanker chowk . Generally people would come out and listen to news over there. I remeber some boys in our locality singing
“Kaav Butt Kaavo
Khechri Kaavo ”
We had a teacher in DAV school Rainawari Radha krishen By name . He was Tall and would spend some time in his class on issues not connected with studies . He would ask two boys to get up and do “GUFTGU ”. The boys were supposed to curse each other in choicest words or call nick names . Entire class and the teacher would join them with their sadistic smiles on this so to say one act play .One day I heard Radah Krishen saying
“Tsrind Grindumm Te Mong Daal
Okhun sahibuss Khatan Haal ”
I did not know the meaning of these words but they some how caught my fancy . later I heard many relatives also using these lines while playing with their children. The lines actually mean that a teacher( Okhun ) is generally poor . So When he performs circumcision of his child he just cooks Daal and ordinary food. No Mutton or lavish dishes .These songs had enormous effect on young minds . Mothers would lull their babies to sleep with these songs. These were sung by children while playing . Elders would humour them with young kids. No Kashmiri of my age can say that he does not know them . Some other songs which we used to sing as children are
Habba kadal loraan
Zaina Kadal Ladhaan
Bisht Mouj vadhaan
Hop Lop Chhop Kurr
Mauj Gayee Greit bal,
Torra anni Saut Pull
Audd thaav Chunduss
Su Poshee Vanduss
Audd Thaav Aaliss
su Poshee Reit kaaliss
In DAV school ,We had a class fellow whom we called Nikka Razdaan .He would sing Ladee Shaah . Here goes what he sang
LadeeShaah Ladeeshaah Daari Kin Pyaav
Pyaavanai Pyaavanai Haaptunn Khyaav .
Budd Mauj Budd Mauj Kenh Nai Guvv
Tse tulum Trum Tai Baa Tulai Nai
Vataan vataav Naavid Khai
Bakshi Sahib Naavi Munz Saer Karaan
Musaafir Aayoss Bataah Mendiss
Chonch Dhubb Loynuss khor Tendis .
Somtimes our neighbour Ritch Maal would come to our house and gossip with my mother . Once I heard her singing smilingly
Tul Paluvv Tul Paluvv
Voth Tseluvv Voth Tseluvv
Baani Haali Buth Chhaluvv.
My sisters studied in Vishwa Bharti college Rainawari. I vividly remember them saying that a person by name Sarva Nand had a shop in the college and many girls would tell him
Sarvananduss Kokur Chanduss
Vanduss Karaan kuk Du Koon.
These lines always created a desire in me to see Sarvanand Physically . Alas I could not
On shivratri day I would wait curiously to see my mother with a pitcher full of walnuts (soaked in water ) on her head knocking our main door and singing
Thuk Thuk
Kuss Chhuvaa.
Raam Brorr
Kyaah Heuth
Anna Heuth
Dhann Heuth
Roozi Heuth
Rozgaar Heuth .
Ghar Heuth
Gupan Heuth
Nosh Heuth
Koor heuth
Munz Kuss Chhuv
Shiv Naath Te Paarvati
So long so much .
visit me also at http://yemberzalkashmir.blogspot.com/
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