GOOD BYE ARVIND GIGOO

                                     

GOOD BYE  ARVIND GIGOO 

"I am where I am not,

therefore, I am not where I am"...( Arvind Gigoo)

Arvind Gigoo is no more . How could that be true ? I didn't believe it  when my friend I B Zutshi conveyed the sad news. I saw him on Monday , just two days back. He was certainly unwell and on medicines . He couldn't move and the laughter  of  Great Gigoo was absent. He spoke feebly .Agnishekhar and I were with him for about two hours . He was staying at Fortune Riviera with his wife and son  Siddharth Gigoo. He arrived on Sunday and   flew back on Wednesday to Delhi. He couldn't visit his house in this brief visit but expressed a desire to meet friends and well-wishers . Sarla Ji, his wife telephoned me and  I informed Agnishekhar . Together, we went to see him. He shook hands and  enquired the welfare of our familes in a feeble voice as his vocal cords were also hit by the neurological ailment. He had undergone prostrate surgery . He was diabetic. Getting up and walking was impossible for him.  After every five minutes, he  kept telling his wife to order tea which we firmly refused. Did he have premonition about what was going to happen ? Why did he desire to meet his friends ? 

Arvind Gigoo was the sharpest observer of men and matters that I happened to befriend in my life. He spoke one language and  that too fearlessly .No double talk. He was neither secular  and never ever a communalist .He didn't practice  spirituality or atheism. I didn't find him practicing rituals either . The terrorism in his native land  had made him to leave his home and take refuge in Udhampur and finally Jammu . He wrote  against the terrorists and their sympathisers in his  unique style . He wrote against many short sighted and petty  mainstream leaders   .  Exile had touched his soul yet he had retained his objectivity . Truth alone remained his tool.

                                              

               ( Avtar Mota with Arvind Gigoo)

( Ayaz Rasool Nazki, Shadi Lal Kaul,Avtar Mota and Arvind Gigoo) 

In his essays ,stories and cameos, he was  Manto reborn.His language and sentance construction matched V S Naipaul. At many places, I found his writing style coming close to P G Woodhouse.  His humour was intense and apt. His observation was  sharp and left nothing under the carpet. His scrutiny  was more revealing than what is known as  MRI in the medical parlance.  He was mentor to many . He corrected the manuscripts of many books even when he had issues of eyesight . I don't think he ever refused to read and  correct any manuscript brought to him. Manuscripts of my two books were read and corrected by him. He did some hobby art.  I saw and wrote on his beautiful  driftwood sculptures  

  Arvind Gigoo was a brilliant translator who brought new charm to the  verses that he took up for translation. He did some brilliant translations of poems of Dina Nath Nadim,Arjun Dev  Majboor,  Maharaj Santoshi, Suneeta Raina Pandit  , Agnishekhar,  Kshama Kaul and some more poets.

 

Meeting him was a pleasure .Talking to him was a delight. In conversation, he enthralled and enthused his listeners . Himself, he was a great listener  .He didn't keep age barriers. Like a true  Mastana, he spoke what he felt and detested double talkers. His conceptual framework about art, literature, music and  theatre was clear. He had scripted a  short film that he  wanted to shoot using Makhan Lal Saraf as lead actor. He narrated the brilliant script to me .Saraf  suddenly  fell ill. Then he himself was unwell. The project couldn't see the light of the day.

                                              

                                             

                                             

                 ( Photo , Jammu ..23.09.2024 )

Arvind Gigoo wil be missed by those who knew the man . I will certainly miss him .  With his departing, we are fast moving towards ," Aadam Qahat" or a drought  in the field of  fearless  sparkling minds . My heartfelt condolences to his wife Sarla Ji and his family and friends. My sincere sympathies are for Siddharth Gigoo his brilliant son . Sadgati and Moksha to the soul that touched many hearts  .

    

( Avtar Mota )

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COPPER MINES IN KASHMIR

COPPER MINES IN KASHMIR 

                                    

( Images carved on the copper alloy Prabhavali)

                   ( A bronze Nartaki sculpture from 9th century Kashmir )

( The 9th century copper alloy Prabhavali from Kashmir )

Kalhana  confirms that copper was mined in Kramarajya or present day Baramulla and Sopore area or areas to the North of Srinagar . I quote 

" Having drawn copper from the hill which was situated in Kramarajya , struck a hundred crores Dinars less one stamped with his own designation . "

(Verse  617 Taranga IV Rajatarangini)

Numismatic evidence supports that copper was mined in ancient Kashmir . And surely Kashmiris were in know of smelting and forth floatation methods to extract metal from ore. In Devsar ,Kulgam, the massive copper alloy  Prabhavali  relating to Avantivarman's period was dug out by ASI  in 1931. The Vishnu Prabhavali weighs aroun100 kg and is exquisitely carved . First of its kind in the sub- continent, the Prabhavali establishes beyond any shade of doubt that Kashmiris had not only perfected the technique of copper extraction from its ore but   had also mastered the art of alloy making. This bronze Prabhavali is on display in SP S Museum ,Srinagar along with many bronze and copper sculptures from Kashmir  relating to ancient /  mediaeval period .

( Avtar Mota )

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THREE KASHMIRI ADMIRERS OF POET EHSAN BIN DANISH.

            

THREE KASHMIRI  ADMIRERS   OF POET EHSAN BIN DANISH

                                          

                          ( Ehsan Bin Danish)

( Shyam Lal Bhat)

                    ( Dina Nath Nadim )

                             ( D P Dhar )

  

Ehsan Bin Danish (1914.1982) was also known as Shaayar e Mazdoor ( poet of labourers  ). He holds the unique position as one of the great  poets of all times, with fine, romantic and revolutionary, but simple style of poetry.He struggled very hard to earn his living. He worked as an ordinary labourer for years in odd jobs, finally becoming a poet of excellence. His autobiography, Jahan-e-Danish, is a classic and has inspired many people.Danish has written more than 80 books and hundreds of articles about and including poetry, prose, linguistics, philology, autobiographies and the famous interpretation of "Diwan-e-Ghalib". Much of his literary work is still unpublished.

Before  1947, three persons from Kashmir were  his friends and fond of his poetry . All the three had met him in person and continued to correspond with him for some time  even after 1947. The persons are,  politician DP Dhar,Hakim Shyam Lal Bhat and  poet Dina Nath Nadim. A sample  of poetry of Danish is as under:-

                        (1)

Ab kaho karwaan kidhar ko chale ...

Raaste kho gaye chirag jale ....

Ishq ġham ko ubuur kar na sakaa

Raaste karwaan  ke saath chale ....

Hum pe guzri hain hijr ki raatein 

hum jahannum mein  thay magar na jale...

(2)

Kahaan mehfil mein mujh tak

baada-e-gulfam aata hai 

Jo mera naam aata hai 

to khaali jaam aata hai ......

Zamaane mein nahin  

dil-daada-e-mehr-o-vafa koyi

 tujhe dhoka hai aey  dil

 kaun  kis ke kaam aata hai .....

Hakim Shyam Lal Bhat was not only a reputed Hakim but a philosopher and lover of Persian, Arabic and Urdu poetry. He was equally proficient in Sanskrit. He would quote Hafiz and Rumi frequently. He would also quote Ravish Siddiqi ,another well known Urdu poet. Hakim Shyam Lal had  profound knowledge of ancient Greek philosophy and astronomy. I believe he must have met Ehsan Bin Danish in Lahore, Punjab where he graduated  in Unani Medicine after his BA degree. He had studied Persian and Arabic in his BA. He was also known as Gaazi e Guftaar for his scholarly communication .While Hakim Shyam Lal Bhat could recite  any Shloka from Bhagwat Gita and make its meaning clear, he was also known as Qaari and Hafiz e Quran for his knowledge of the Holy Quran . He was a Bhakt of goddess Sharika and Shiva apart from a  follower of Khwaja Lassa Sahib of Nowhatta  and Saint Gopinath Ji of Habba Kadal. In fact  Hakim Sahaz Bhat was also visiting Khwaja Lassa Sahib . This roaming Darvesh had granted the title of Dast e Shifa to Hakim Shyam Lal Bhat.

Hakim Shyam Lal Bhat's brother Dr Niranjan Nath Bhat(  LMP Lahore ) has done exemplary service to Kashmiris during the Cholera outbreak of 1935. He was also a lover of literature . Possibly this taste has passed on to this illustrious family from Hakim Sahaz Kak Bhat ,who, apart from being a Hakim,  was also a Sanskrit and Persian Scholar . Along with Pandit Govind Kaul, Hakim Sahaz Kak  Bhat has translated many Sanskrit manuscripts for Aurel Stein .  Even Dr Raj Nath Bhat ( MRCP) and son of Hakim Shyam Lal Bhat who was an eminent   professor of Medicine  in J&K had scholarly interests in poetry. Philosophy ,astronomy and literature . One needs to read diary of Aurel Stein to know his praise for scholarship of Hakim Sahaz Kak Bhat .

 Not many people know that  D P Dhar (India’s ambassador to Moscow , The architect of Indo Soviet Treaty, Advisor to PM, Planning Minister Government of India and  Chairman Planning commission )  was also writing Urdu poetry using  pen name  "RAUNAQ".It was a happy chance for D P Dhar to come in close contact with a Faquir poet of mysterious origin known as   Aamil Darvesh. Aamil was a tall but lean  mystic  who lived in a wooden coffin on the bank of Dal lake in an orchard that belonged to one Girdhari Lal Bhan. And this Girdhari Lal Bhan was  DP’s maternal uncle. Many leading poets from india came to meet Aamil Darvesh and thereby DP Dhar also came into contact with Hafeez jalandhari, Ehsan-bin Daanish , Ravish Siddiqui, Sagar Nizami and Anwar Sabri. Aamil was DP's poetic Guru. A couplet written by DP Dhar " Raunaq " goes as under :-

"Bazm e Khoobaan se Mujhe Soo e Biyabaan le chali

Kis Qadhar Vehshat Talab Taseer iss ki Dekhnaa"

Quite often , Aamil Darvesh stayed at D P Dhar's residence .

( Avtar Mota)

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WAQT, SAHIR AND AFGHAN MUSICIAN BRESHNA....(1907-1974)

                                         

                  ( Kabul Bazaar by Breshna )

  ( Sketch of Sher Shah Suri by Breshna );

                      ( A sketch of Breshna) 

   ( Balraj Sahni singing ,Aey meri Zohra jabeen )

WAQT, SAHIR AND AFGHAN  MUSICIAN BRESHNA....(1907-1974)

Some great music emerged from Afghanistan during  good old days. I need to say something about Breshna .For Waqt, lyricist Sahir Ludhianavi had  suggested to B R Chopra to engage Afghan painter cum musician , Abdul Ghafoor Breshna for composing song' Aey meri zohra jabeen'. And that proved correct. The tune set by Breshna became instant hit with Sahir's magical verses. All other songs were composed by music director Ravi. Breshna was a poet ,painter,singer , playwright and fantastic musician from Afghanistan. He was trained in Germany where he married a German girl. Most of his paintings have been destroyed and lost in the four decades of turmoil and war in Afghanistan. Amongst some great paintings of Breshna that were lost in the Afghanistan turmoil , one can include the' Bamiyan Buddhas 'painted by him.  

Breshna was born on April 10, 1907, in Kabul. In 1921 he was sent by King Amanullah and other teenage students to Germany for higher education. There he studied painting and lithography at the academy of arts in Munich, Leipzig, and Berlin, among others. In Germany, Breshna became acquainted with his future wife –Marguerhee, whom he married in 1928. In 1931 Breshna returned with his wife and the first son to Kabul. Breshna started as a teacher and later director of the college of arts and crafts into Kabul (1930-1939) He introduced a new understanding and drawing techniques. From 1939-1943 Breshna served as general manager of the National Press of Afghanistan. He and his wife translated  and illustrated from German language many books for Afghan children .

In 1968 for his services to the German Language, he received the distinguished honor of "large Distinguished Service Cross with star of the Federal Republic of Germany". Presented by Federal President Heinrich Luebke. 

Breshna's surviving   paintings are on display in many museums across the world.  He made a serious attempt to reconnect to themes and genres that had previously been lost or neglected.Breshna used his Western training to restore Afghanistan's traditional visual and literary arts. It is difficult to define his oeuvre as purely ‘modern’ or ‘traditional’.

Breshna died in Kabul in 1974 .He had composed the national anthem of Afghanistan that was used in 1970s. 

( Avtar Mota )

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ADVICE OF A FATHER TO HIS SON

                                      

        ( Cannon ski slopes in White Mountains, New Hampshire ) 

                                        

             ( A waterfall in White Mountains )

           ( White Mountains area )

      ( An adventurist in White Mountains )

WHITE MOUNTAINS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE  AND ADVICE OF A FATHER TO HIS SON

The major part of the White Mountains in the US falls in the New Hampshire  State. The “Live Free Or Die” state has the iconic Mount Washington and Tuckerman’s Ravine, the burly Presidential Range, and plenty of busy ski resorts. The State is home  to several popular and diverse downhill ski areas including Attitash Mountain Resort, Cannon Mountain, Loon Mountain Resort, Wildcat Mountain, Bretton Woods, King Pine, Waterville Valley Resort, and others.During our visit to White Mountains in August 2024, I met Mark who had many stories to tell  about White Mountains . But the loveliest story that Mark told me relates to his father.Mark said  this :-

" I am belong to a family that migrated   from Canada to the US. I mean the French  speaking part.

" Vous parlez francais ? " ( Do you speak French ?)  

" un peu " ( A little ).

 Fine ,so I speak English. My father came from Canada and he was illiterate. He worked in White Mountains area when ski  slopes  were laid  . Very hard life he faced here as migrant but he never lost his cool a d courage . He built his house. He would say this to me :-

' Mark, treat everyone you meet the way you would like to be treated.Strive for excellence not perfection. Perfection kills your peace of mind . Return borrowed things promptly and in better condition than these were handed over to you. Say' thank you, please, grateful, obliged , have a great day, I appreciate ' liberally.It costs nothing but pays you in return. Never ever forget your mom. She did 100 times more for you than me. Wear polished shoes and tidy dress. Have a pet. Plant a tree. Look to flowers and plant them in your garden or pots.Wave at kids in school buses. Help elders . Be there when people need you. Don't be afraid to say ' I made a mistake' or ' I don't know '. Marry only for love.Past and future will trouble you, live today. To live in a relation, accept people as they are  . Give space and have it also. Look people in the eye. Make new friends but cherish the old ones.Family is above all. Sing as you shower. Remember birthdays of your friends and family members.Be the first to say ,"hello " . Have a firm handshake. Drink wine.Love music and art. Play golf . Love the innocence of kids . Respect  ,support and try to lessen  helplessness of elders and weak. Never forget your teachers .Avoid smoking and hard liquors.Write what you feel . Sleep 7 hours . Tomorrow is going to be a great day . Keep this thought in mind and move. "

( Avtar Mota )

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A VISIT TO MOUNT WASHINGTON SUMMIT IN

Photos in White Mountains National Forest 

                                        

Photos of Conway And North Conway towns 

                                              

                                        

                                           

                                            

PHOTOS OF VISIT TO MOUNT WASHINGTON

                                      

    

                                         

                                          

                                         

                ( Rockpile , a path for trekkers )

WINTER PHOTOS OF LIFE AT MOUNT WASHINGTON

                                         

                                     

A VISIT TO MOUNT WASHINGTON IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Mount Washington, located in the White Mountains range  is about 55 miles from Lake Ossipee . A straight nonstop car drive of about 99 minutes.  The White Mountains are a  mountain range in the New Hampshire and Maine  State. These rugged mountains of New England have several  alpine  tundra peaks  amongst which Mountain Washington happens to be the highest and coldest.  

Planned and organised by Sandeep,  we paid a visit to Mount Washington on 30th  September 2024 . Starting from our Lake  Ossipee accommodation, we halted at the White Mountains National Forest Park to see the water stream  moving down through forest  over boulders. . The place is located in the Kancamagus area known for the finest Fall foliage in the US. The Kancamagus Highway  in White Mountains stretches over an area of about 35 miles from Lincoln to  conway .One needs to buy a  ticket for 5 dollars  to enter this highway. 

The moutain range including the  Mount Washington is known as White Mountains .

Established after public outcry over uncontrolled logging and fires, the the White Mountains Forest   has grown to almost 800,000 acres in New Hampshire and Western Maine that now supports upwards of 6 million visitors annually.

Mount Washington Valley region, including the towns and villages of Conway, North Conway, Intervale, Glen, Jackson, Bartlett, Hart's Location, Albany, Eaton, Effingham, Freedom, Madison, Tamworth, and Ossipee.

While nearly the whole mountain is in the White Mountain National Forest, an area of 60.3 acres (24.4 ha) surrounding and including the summit is designated as Mount Washington State Park.The landscape of the White Mountain National Forest ranges from mountainous hardwood forests to majestic alpine peaks.

Our second halt was at  North Conway town bustling with hotels, restaurants, lodges, inns ,motels and restaurants serving food from all  the continents. I saw two restaurants serving Indian food. North Conway has possibly been developed as a tourist destination and is close to the old Conway town. It has a railway station and some parks . The town is dotted with elegant summer houses .There are gorgeous historic buildings, quaint antique shops, bookstores, bakeries, big-name outlet stores and ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. North Conway is a 4-season vacation wonderland unique in character and landscape.

North Conway is a one-stop destination for those visiting the White Mountains of New Hampshire and has a little of everything for every outdoor adventurer or culinary enthusiast, as well as those looking for a unique treasure to bring home.

North Conway is in the White Mountains, with Mount Washington to the northwest. The rugged terrain became popular in the 19th century with artists. Their paintings were known collectively as White Mountain art, which in turn attracted tourists to the area, particularly after the Portsmouth, Great Falls and Conway Railroad extended service in 1872 to North Conway.

In North Conway, the attraction are multiple and varied suiting all age groups .One can see the historic Conway Rail Station, Cranmore Mountain Adventure Park , Ham Ice Skating Arena, New England Ski Museum, Mount Washington Cog Train,  Art Museum,  theatre plays, Country Club Golf Course or simply enjoy some event in the Schouler Park. 

Finally we arrived at Mount Washington Auto Road ,Gorham and engaged a 4/4 vehicle to take us up parking our car over there. The Tour company has an establishment on the highway just at the base of the mountain. A journey of 8 miles uphill with Mark as our driver cum guide was a rich experience .Mark is a wonderful person, well informed and perfect driver. He kept us enthused with his information and communication style.  We drove up through changing landscapes from tree lined road to bushes and shrubs and finally rocks. We saw the mini trains chugging up and down the mountain .

Firstly I need to clarify that extreme cold climate is not determined by altitude from sea level alone but by distance from equator and proximity to North / South pole. Even an altitude of 2000 feet may have minus 20 degrees  because being away from equator and closer to North/ South  pole. Mount Washington, at 6,288 feet, is the Northeast's tallest peak. It is also simultaneously home to the “world's worst weather” and the observatory that records it, and one of our most popular tourist attractions. From the summit, on crystal clear days, one can see into five states from Mount Washington, including New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New⁶ York—even into Canada.Mount Washington is justly famed for its weather extremes. The highest surface wind spreed ever observed by man - 231 miles per hour, was recorded there on April 12, 1934 by the Mount Washington Observatory.Mount Washington also has the record for the lowest recorded wind chill in the U.S., -109°F (-78°C), set earlier when the ambient temperature was -47°F (-43.9°C) and the winds howled at 122 mph (196 kph). Such conditions would cause exposed skin and the underlying tissues to freeze in a couple of minutes.

Native Americans called it "Agiocochook" and didn't climb it, believing that its summit was the home of the Great Spirit. Giovanni da Verrazano was the first European to see it, from the waters off New Hampshire's seacoast, in 1524. Darby Field was the first European settler to climb it, in 1642.Early settlers Abel Crawford and his son, Ethan Allen Crawford, built the first footpath to the summit in 1819; today it is the oldest continuously maintained footpath in the US. Ethan Allen Crawford later improved the path, making it a bridle path for horses, and completing the work in 1840.The Mount Washington Cog Railway, the world's first rack and pinion railroad, was completed eight years later. In 1861, when the Mount Washington Auto Road opened as a carriage road, it was considered America's first man-made tourist attractions.On July 3, 1869, the first train reached the summit of Mt. Washington and the Cog Railway became the first mountain climbing railway in the world . 

Spine chilling winds blow at the summit. I had to search for something to cover my body. Luckily.we had carried an extra ladies shawl that I used to cover my body. There is a  restaurant , a Wether Observatory, Mount Washington Museum, a human and natural history museum , rest rooms and   located on the summit , all in one complex . The complex has an elevator facility also. One  can also learn about the mountain at the Observatory's Weather Discovery Center in North Conway town. Mark,our tour guide told us that Mount Washington  summit  is visited by over a quarter of a million people from all over the world each year. He also informed that during winters, the summit could have 20 feet snow and it is closed for tourists till the snow melts. The specially designed snow cars  move over the surface of the snow and carry some adventurist to the  mountain when the road is closed to regular  tourists . I saw 25 feet tall poles fixed on road boundries which serve for identification of the  route to the mountain after a  heavy snow fall. Driven by 4 tracks rather than wheels, the Mount Washington Snow Coach transports guests to treeline on the Mount Washington Auto Road, at approximately 4,200 feet, into a sub-arctic world for a truly unforgettable adventure.

                                       

                                          

                     (Our tour guide Mark ) 

Mark , our tour guide told  us this :-

" I am an immigrant from Canada. French speaking part." Vous parlez francais ? " ( Do you speak French ?)  " un peu " ( A little ). Fine ,so I speak English. My father came from Canada and  worked  for laying that  Ski slope that you see over there. Very hard life he faced here as immigrant. He built his house.  My son studies in Washington.  You folks from India. I know the  Himalayas. The great mountain range . Very young still. You folks lucky. Today is a sunny day. Do you carry woolens ? It will be chilly up above.

We need to drive with care and caution.Steep uphill and downhill grades may put an extra strain on your vehicle's main components, from your engine to your brakes. You need to  take certain precautions to help your vehicle, whether you're going up or down a mountain road.
Over more than150 years, there have been three fatalities on the Auto Road. In 1880, a stage overturned (in the hands of a drunk driver), and a passenger was killed. In 1984, a vehicle experienced brake failure about a mile up the road and was unable to make it down safely. So  there are many spots to stop and cool your brakes. Hiking to the summit of Mount Washington is a tough  challenge that requires a certain level of physical conditioning. Much of the route involves hopping from rock to rock or quad-busting giant steps or hand-over-hand crawling up lichen-covered boulders. You see those rock piles. These serve as both guideposts for hikers (the pointer stone points the way) and aesthetically appealing objects. Call them cairns, piled up rocks, or stone johnnies. 

 This bad and windy  weather over here happens primarily for three reasons, the summit's prominence, its exposure and its storm tracks. At 6,288 feet, the summit is the highest point in the northeast. Normally, wind is slowed by friction from the ground."

( Avtar Mota )

                                        

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