TEARS AND SMILES HIDDEN IN FIVE ANNECDOTES FROM KASHMIR

                                        

 ( The blogger with well-known theatre artist Makhan Lal Saraf)

              ( Bhaand Pathar  artists at a performance ) 

(1)

THE INDIA -PAKISTAN  CRICKET MATCH AND KASHMIRIS

When India lost the match, the street urchins danced in Mallapora, Rainawari. Suddenly, two boys picked up stones and flung them on the galvanised tin sheets of the roof of Roshan Lal’s house. Chanda Jigir, his wife, opened the window and cried:-

“Why are you throwing stones at our roof when Pakistan won the match? You should be happy and enjoying.”

One urchin replied:-

“Bhabi, we are not against you.  We are happy and excited.  “

When India won the match, Ali Tailor closed his shop at midday with this shock. He threw the transistor set on the road and the boys cried, “Imran Khan Murdabaad". Imran Khan was the then-captain of the Pakistani cricket team. The boys proceeded towards the nearby house of Roshan Lal. They picked up two stones and flung them on the galvanised tin sheets of the roof of Roshan Lal’s house. Chanda Jigir, his wife, opened the window and cried:-

“What will the Indian team give us? Why do you throw stones at our houses? “

The street urchin replied:-

“Please close your windows and sit inside. We don’t want to hit you. In the morning, Roshan Lal had said to Ali Tailor that India would win the match. You get all the information in advance. We want to break that secret wireless set hidden in your house?”

(2)

COMMEMORATING KASHYAP  BANDHU IN PHERAN AND NERIWAAR

The Camp School of the exiles organised a programme on Kashyap Bandhu, a leader of the Kashmiri Pandits known for  spearheading  the Social Reform Movement in the community. The children, mostly girls, presented a dance drama wearing traditional Pherans. Someone from the audience cried:-

“Stop this. This is not a real tribute to Bandhu Ji. He had started an aggressive ‘Social Reform’ movement before 1947, as a result of which Kashmiri women discarded Pheran and Neriwaar and shifted to Sari. He led the Sari movement. And you are reviving the Pheran for our women, discarded under the leadership of Bandhu Ji.”

Someone from the organising committee replied on the microphone:-

“As exiles, we have to revive all the discarded rituals, customs and traditions.”

A girl from the troupe wearing the Pheran and presenting the dance drama came to the microphone and said:-

“Sir, it is difficult for us to dance in Pheran and Taranga. It is very hot and unbearable. Can’t we present the dance drama wearing Shalwar Kameez?

(3)

 ALL ARE LEADERS HERE

When Kishen Ji saw an assembly of Kashmiri Pandits outside the Press Club, Jammu, he forgot he had come to collect monthly medicines from the nearby CGHS dispensary. He also joined  the gathering. He was the chairman of the 'Jal Shakti Party (Hand Pump cell).  Exchanging pleasantries, he suddenly stood up and said,” Listen, friends, we must strive for our rights. Our goal is not far off. We are almost there. Tomorrow we are meeting the Relief Commissioner. Thereafter, we shall hold a Press Conference. You will come to know all through our party’s Publicity Secretary after two days. I have to be brief as we are having a book release function today at 4 pm in K L Saigal Hall. Jawahar Zabardast is releasing his latest poetic collection,’ Kul Ta Coolie “. It is good to see poets emerging from all corners of the community after 1990. Tomorrow we are having the 10^th day assembly of Karamyogi Onkar Nath at Muthi Ghat. Day after tomorrow, we are busy with the Hawan and Prasad distribution. So see you after two days here only.”

A young boy got up from the gathering and said, “You are addressing leaders. All assembled over here are leaders. We are waiting for the media to arrive to give individual press statements from each party in that room. We have been advised to wait outside and enter one after the other for the media. There is one common issue upon which all of us have agreed, and that is pooling money for the entertainment of the media. We will give statements that suit our party and our interests. There is no audience here; only leaders.”

(4)

RAY OF LIGHT THAT GANDHI JI SAW IN KASHMIR

A prominent political leader from Kashmir said this:-

“In 1947, Gandhi Ji saw Kiran (ray of light) in Kashmir as the rest of India was caught in communal frenzy. “

A refugee living in Muthi (Jammu) tented accommodation said this:-

 “I wish Gandhi Ji had visited Kashmir in 1990 to see the actual Kiran (ray of light). The Kiran of 1990 was used to torch houses of Pandits, burn bridges and educational institutions. The candles lit with the Kiran of 1990 were used for plundering deserted houses of Kashmiri Pandits at night. The Kiran was carried by some brokers to Jammu, who put all pressure on the tented Kashmiri Pandit exiles to execute “Power of Attorneys” empowering them to grab their property for peanuts. "

(5)

THE QUESTION OF FOUR MILLIONS IN KASHMIR

The Public

They cried this in the rallies before and after the elections:-

“Zindabaad me haz bus chonuai sreh

Zindabaad tse pyokha, adha haz pe”… (Poet Dina Nath Nadim)

 

(Zindabaad! I have a deep attachment to you alone,

Zindabaad! Have you lost? Then get lost.)

 (First line before elections and second line after the results were out.)

 The Leader

 The leader was asked many questions and he said this:-

 “How many people are with you?’

“Four million “

“How many are with your rival?”

“Four million “

“How many want to live in India?”

“Four million “

How many want Pakistan?”

“Four million “

“How many want Azadi?”

“Four million “

“What is the population of this place? “

“Four million “

(Avtar Mota)

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