CHAMAN LAL HAKHOO (1938-2021)): AN UNSUNG NOVELIST,
WRITER, BROADCASTER AND ARTIST
In Kashmiri literature, one finds
an acute shortage of novels. One can count the novels on the tips of fingers
and in all one can’t sum up more than 15 worthwhile novels written in toto.
Kashmiri literature has lagged in the novel genre.
However, this area achieved a breakthrough after Chaman Lal Hakhoo came up with
his 700-page Kashmiri novel titled,’ Wasturvanuk Seh’ or ‘The Lion of
Wasturvan’.About this novel O N Kaul writes this:-
“The
Lion of Wasturvan is an amazing tale of Ahmad Lone and Dina Nath in the
background of the happenings in Kashmir starting from the impacting incident of
July 1931 to the time when in 1948 Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah took over as the
prime minister of the J&K state. It is a candid and interesting story of
politically exploited Kashmiri people, their biased opinions, and unpredictable
characters. It is a story of their mutual love, hate, camaraderie, and
affection reflected in the joint political struggle they were caught in. The
novel is a blend of fiction and history. Many political happenings
make the tale. Notable is the incident of the 13th of July 1931 and the
rise of the Sheikh. Then other important events include the massacre at
Kanikoot, Jinnah’s and Gandhi’s visit to the valley, the Sher-Bakra conflict,
the Roti-Agitation, the tribal raid, the refugee influx and exodus of Kashmiri
Pandits and many other incidents that finally led to the appointment of the
Sheikh as the interim Prime Minister of the state. There was a
brief but interesting event: the unfurling of the Pakistan flag at the head
post office in Srinagar on the 14th of August 1947. There are other
interesting incidents.”
It is worth mentioning that Chaman
Lal Hakhoo was born at Badiyar Bala. a locality in Srinagar city that happens to be the birthplace of many
stalwarts in the fields of literature, art, social service, and other public
arenas. Eminent artists such as Shiv Nath Raina, Dina Nath Walli, Mohan Raina,
Som Nath Butt, and Bhushan Kaw hailed from this locality. Noted musicians like
Omkar Raina (sitarist), Krishen Langoo (composer), and Santoor player Tej Raina
also hailed from this locality. The area was home to notable figures such as
playwright and broadcaster Bansi Nirdosh, scholar and writer Prof Ratan Lal
Shant, community leader Pandit Hriday Nath Jatoo, poet and scholar Padma-shri
Moti Lal Saqi, and the well-known perfume maker Govindh Joo Navdhara, among
many other prominent names across various walks of life.
CHILDHOOD,
UPBRINGING AND FAMILY
Hakhoo was a brilliant child.
Pandit Rugh Nath Hakhoo, his father was a man of ordinary means and as
such, the boy was admitted to Jabri School (a free school opened by Maharaja
Hari Singh). After completing matriculation, he was admitted to Amar Singh
College where he completed his graduation in 1958 and later did his
post-graduation in Hindi in 1960 from the Kashmir University. About the Jabri
School, Hakhoo had this to say:-
“The
school at Gund e Ahalamar was the dirtiest place one could find in the city. We
were given brooms and ordered to clean the rooms before classes started. I have
some strange memories of the school days, the teachers and my classmates. I am
penning these memories in my forthcoming book. My playground was just a vacant
plot adjacent to the school building. Sometimes we would play in the lane
leading to the house of artist D N Walli or in the lane leading to the house of artist Shiv Nath
Raina.”
Young Chaman Lal Hakhoo was a
frequent visitor to the Raina family of Badiyar Bala. There were artists and
musicians in the family and a man of creative bent of mind had enough to remain
engaged in that house. Mohan Raina ( artist ), Shiv B=Nath Raina ( artist ),
Onkar Raina ( sitarist ), Tej Raina ( Santoor player ), Jawahar Raina (
musician and singer ), and many more creative people lived in that house of
Rainas.
He was married to Late Smt. Savita
Hakhoo, who passed away in 2020. They were happily married for over 58 years,
and he also left for his heavenly abode just 4 months after his wife's passing.
He is survived by his Son Rahul Hakhoo (Noida) and daughters Bhavana Kaul
(Delhi) and Shushi Hakhoo Gaur (Seattle) and their families.
CHAMAN
LAL HAKHOO AS ARTIST
Not many people know that Chaman
Lal Hakhoo had also learnt the art through his association with Pandit Shiv
Nath Raina’s family, S N Butt and D N Walli. He started with watercolours that
he had learnt from D N Walli but moved to oil paint and did some paintings that
are present with his friends, relations although a good number were lost in the
turmoil of the 1990s in the Kashmir valley. About his learning painting, Hakhoo
said this:-
“Mohan
Raina had a special aura. He was a very talented artist and a man of multiple
tastes. I would watch him as he painted. He smoked a pipe and looked like a
European in his immaculate dress. I was always scared of him. I would gossip
with Onkar Raina, the Sitarist. Then I would also visit artist D N Walli’s
house. I would keenly watch him as he painted with his watercolours. I have
seen him painting while sitting in his folding chair on the bank of the Marbal
canal on the backside of Gul Bhat. I was keen to pick up paintings but couldn’t
go beyond hobby drawing. Later, I tried my hand at watercolours and did some
paintings. These paintings are scattered like my community. Some are in
Kashmir, some with my relations, some were lost in the turmoil and a few are
with my daughter in Seattle USA. D N Walli also painted a portrait of my father
Pandit Rugh Nath Hakhoo which decorates the living room of my house at NOIDA. I
also frequented the house of Som Nath Butt. He was a great influence on me. I
learnt many things from him. Unfortunately, he would work in an irregular style
due to his alcoholism. But whatever he taught, is ingrained in my mind to this
day. He was kind enough to introduce my father to army officers (who were
buyers of his paintings) as an astrologist.”
CHAMAN
LAL HAKHOO’S CAREER PATH
Immediately after completing his post graduation in Hindi, Hakhoo joined Roopa deve Sharda Peeth Mahila
Mahavidhyalaya as a teacher. He remained there till 1962. About his days at the
Roopa Devi Sharda Peeth Mahavidhyalalay, he said this:-
“It
pains me to see the premier school turned into debris by terrorists in Kashmir.
The manuscript, the library and the entire school infrastructure turned to ash
when some miscreants set it on fire. It was a premier institution for the
education of girls founded by a saintly person Pandit Parmanand.”
After leaving the school, he joined
J&K Mineral’s department as a senior assistant but left the job to join the
Films Division, Mumbai as a scriptwriter. In between he also worked as an art
critic for the Times of India, Mumbai edition for about 3 years. He returned from
Mumbai in 1972 and joined Doordarshan, Srinagar. Serving Doordarshan for
about 24 years, he retired from this organization in 1996. From 1996 to 2005,
he edited DD-Arc, a monthly English magazine of the archive department of
Doordarshan. As an outside producer, he was commissioned by Doordarshan to
produce some very popular features and programmes like Viglan Him Ki and some
popular musical features on personalities like Sufi poet Sochha Kraal, modern
poet Dina Nath Nadim, G R Santosh, Poet Mehjoor, and Bhakti poet Mahatma
Parmanand.
PRODUCTION
WORK AT DOORDARSHAN SRINAGAR AND OTHER KENDRAS
Chaman Lal Hakhoo joined Srinagar
Doordarshan and thereafter moved to Jalandhar Kendra, and in 1992, he was
transferred to CPC Delhi where he retired as Deputy Director. Initially, he
joined as a producer (staff artist category). Later, he cleared UPSC for his
selection as Programme Executive.As an executive producer in Doordarshan,
Hakhoo is known for producing more than 300 Children’s programmes, about 160
programmes on rural subjects, 700 sports-related programmes, more than 400
popular folk music programmes, apart from light music programmes, series on
saints and Sufis of Kashmir, programmes on the environment, health-related
programmes, quiz programmes, Kavi Sammelans and Mushairas.
A mention needs to be made of some
documentaries produced by Hakhoo that became quite popular and were telecast
from all the Kendras. In this category, one can include his documentaries like
Raag Roop Rang, Pilgrimage Places in Himachal Pradesh, Customs and Traditions
of People Of Haryana, Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Doordarshan,’ High
Altitude Warfare, Deccan Horse ( The Tank Regiment of Indian Army ), BSF
Operations, Human Sacrifice Festival in Himachal Pradesh, Sports Industry In
Punjab, Operation Blue Star In Amritsar and ! 984. He also led the
Doordarshan team that covered Operation Black Thunder in Punjab (Awarded by
Japan) and live telecast of all the hockey matches in the Asian games in 1982.
For Srinagar/Jalandhar Doordarshan,
he did some prolific work like producing Dr Faustus and also writing its TV
adaptation. He wrote and directed some TV serials like; Dr Zeero ( 6
episodes-1977 ), Aadmi ( 4 episodes 1978 ), Vugrai ( Moti Lal Kemu ), Lal Ba
Drayas Lo Lare ( Moti Lal Kemu ) and Rang Vich Bhang ( 35 episodes in Punjabi
introducing Jasbir Bhatti ). He also did the TV adaption of Akhtar Mohiudin’s
story Dandh Vazun, Hriday Kaul Bharati’s Yi Ti Akh Inquilaaba, Ali Mohammad
Lone’s Adam Hawa Ta Iblees, Anton Chekhov’s Ward No 6, Stevenson’s Markheim,
Grand Rehearsal, Chameleon, Six Characters in search of the Author, Death of a
Clerk, Honey Talk, Jung, Sehar, Mujrim and many more. He scripted and
produced the documentary Baraf Paani Aur Pahaad. For Jalandhar Doordarshan, he
wrote and produced Manto’s ‘Ganje Farishte ‘.It was sent in the chain for the
All India telecast. He was also a Guest Lecturer at Punjabi University, Patiala
while he worked with Doordarshan in Jalandhar, Punjab.
He devised a set format for the
agriculture feature programme, “Butraat “with a stock character Hassan Rather
who became a household name in the Kashmir valley. The programme is continued
in the same format.
Fayyaz Sheheryar, former Director
General, Akashvani had this to say about Chaman Lal Hakhoo:-
"As
the World saw the advent of Television in 1929, India received it with an
astounding inquisitiveness in 1959. All India Radio sprouted an adventitious
branch and TV began sending terrestrial signals in parts of India as a new
department of AIR. With Television in India assuming the name “Doordarshan”,
separation of the two became inevitable resulting in existence of
Doordarshan Kendras (Television Centres), initially in some major capital
cities which included Srinagar. Professionals of Radio on a careful selection
basis were earmarked to run Doordarshan. The government imparted, in batches,
training to them in the then-prestigious FTII, Pune. The areas included
production, direction, set design, and videography /aesthetics to name a few.
Thus, a galaxy of television professionals appeared in India's broadcast landscape. A young mind of Kashmir who had traversed barefoot, the diverse
fields of pedagogy, creative writing, Films Division, and print media started
emitting his unique light in a glamorous platform of audio-visual broadcasting.
By now, you would have got the inkling, he was none other than Chaman Lal Hakhoo. He came with an ingrained belief, originally postulated by John P
Robinson & endorsed by Geoffrey Godbey that “Television is clearly the 800-pound
gorilla of free time”. He would, therefore, often advance the hypothesis that
television viewing would steadily decrease creativity which established the
wide perception among the then-available upper middle class that Radio created
healthy images without letting its audiences divert their attention from life’s
multifarious fads necessary for them not to lose sight of, come what may. He
conceptualised issues for television adaptation, made many enthralling shows,
and earned applause but remained more devoted to the table in his office and
the table in the edit suite. He held his pen and contributed more through his
prolificacy. He ardently aspired for an
undefiled television, an opinion that shot up his credence, especially among
the hardcore professionals. The turmoil in Kashmir broke his courage beyond
redemption. He watched the upheavals from a distance. This grieving destruction
of his motherland which he had enjoyed as a cradle of tranquility could not end
his wait for the return to the valley of his ancestors. He will be missed by
his friends and well-wishers today and every day."
This is what noted broadcaster Brij
Nath Betab had to say about Chaman Lal Hakhoo:-
“I
first heard this name from Akashwani Delhi, from where I heard his drama in the
popular programme "Hawa Mahal".I was a college student then. Before I
joined Doordarshan as a staffer, I was doing programmes as a "casual
talent.". Hakhoo Sahib was the producer. He was very helpful and always
guided me. I vividly remember that one day he invited me to his room where he
gave me about a dozen photographs and asked me to prepare a Photo Feature for
the telecast. Those days DD would use many photographs. As he sensed my
discomfort, he asked me to sit down and dictated to me the entire script for
the feature. That was his greatness. He was deeply respected for his talent as
a producer of Documentaries and Dramas. When he published his books Nange
Pather and Vasturvanuk Sehh, he remembered me and sent me the book on both
occasions. He was a great human being. I miss such great human beings.”
Rajesh Kaul, a very senior
official from Doordarshan had this to say:-
“He
was honest to the core and a very affectionate person. He would love his
juniors and share his knowledge and experience with them. He was a great
teacher who taught many who later did very well in DD, especially in sports
productions. Apart from being a lively conversationalist, Hakhoo Sahab had a
remarkable sense of humour. He excelled in every field where he tried his hand.
His contribution to Kashmiri folk music changed the presentation style of
Chakkar-te-Ruff to a grand folk ensemble wherein a single folk party was
replaced by 3 or 4 folk parties in colourful rural costumes to perform on a
single stage. This enhanced visual elegance and added sound resonance to an
otherwise dull programme. He was a helpful human being and a good friend. As a
critic, he was sincere and truthful focusing on the subject and ignoring the
person. His criticism was always for improvement.”
BOOKS
AUTHORED BY CHAMAN LAL HAKHOO
Hakhoo had been contributing
to magazines and periodicals right from his college days. He was a regular
contributor to Partap (a Magazine
published by S P College, Kashyap
(the first Hindi magazine published from Kashmir, Yojna –Tameer ( J&K Government ), Times of India ( Mumbai edition), Navbharat Times ( Mumbai edition ) Saptahik Hindustan ( New Delhi), Sheeraza ( Cultural academy J&K )Samkaleen Bhartiya Sahitya – Indian Literature Today ( Sahitya
Akademy ), Free Press Journal ( Mumbai
)Miraas ( New Delhi) and Naad ( New Delhi ). Some well-known
books authored by Chaman lal Hakhoo could be listed as under:-
1 Wasturvanuk Seh
(The Lion of Wasturvan) ..Kashmiri novel
2 Nanga Pathaer
(The Naked Drama).. Kashmiri novel
3 Juloosan Hund
Shahar (A City of Processions) ..Stories Collection in Kashmiri
4 On the Balcony
…Novel in English
5 Ode to the Vines
in My Backyard …Novel in English
6 Valley of the
Naked …Novel in English
7 Darling of the
Russian Soldier’s Wife …Novel in English
8 Filling Between
Graves … Essays and Stories on the Exile of Kashmiri Pandits.
The exile forced upon him and many
others from his community was always painful for him. He always missed his
birthplace. Possibly his talent and contribution remain unnoticed in an
environment driven by values of expediency and utility. Wasn’t his contribution
worth any recognition from the establishment? I end this write-up with some
lines from a Gazal of Urdu poet Juan Elia.
‘Jo guzaari na ja saki ham se
ham ne vo zindagi guzaari hai
Oss se kahiyo ki dil ki galiyon
mein
raat din teri intizaari
hai’…..(Juan Elia )
(Now tell him that for all the days and nights
The lanes and paths within this heart
have been waiting for him to arrive.
And I have simply lived a
life,
that was impossible to
live for me.)
(Avtar
Mota)
PS
(1) ( This essay is a registered copyright material published in Avtar Mota's book, 'The Bright Stars Of Foggy Nights )
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.
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