EVENING TIME IN CHASHME SHAHI GARDEN

Dears
One of my readers has asked me as to why I brought some Blog photographs under Copyright Act restricting free download. Another reader wants to know whether permission is needed for all the photographs . A request has come from Mr Inam Ud Din from Dubai to upload some thing about Amir Khusro . Mr Rahul Sapru from UK wants to Know whether any Dramas or short stories have been written in Kashmiri.
I shall comment on all the issues one by one.

last week I was pained to find my photographs in a magazine with a total out of context story developed on them. I also saw my photographs used by a Delhi Magazine without my knowledge. My photographs are born out of a feeling and I am attached to them . I believe that presenting something which has neither been felt nor experienced is just telling a lie. I have not put any restriction on a large number of photographs which also include Mosques , temples , Ziyarats and abodes of saints . Yes some photographs are being qualified under copyright Act in view of the fact that a PHOTO EXHIBITION is proposed by me in New Delhi some time in 2010. Still I am open to any specific request . Mr Aalok Aima from Dubai , Dr Wilson from New Jersey approached me for some photographs and I readily agreed because I know the purpose and the context of their usage . I again request the down loaders of my photographs of Non copyright segment not to put them to any commercial use nor develop out of context stories . These photographs have been taken to bring smiles on faces of all kashmiris and any usage otherwise is painful to me. Once more I request every one not to do so else I shall be left with no alternative but to close the blog. I hope I am clear on this issue .

Inam Ud Din JI has asked me to write on a subject which needs a little serious study . Still I shall attempt. Abul Hassan or Amir Khusro Lived in late 13th and early 14th centuary . Khusro’s father Amir Saif Ud Din Mohd came to India from Central Asia and joined as Commander in Chief with King Shams Ud Din Altmash at Delhi . Because of hios knowledge of Music , history , Persian , Hindi and varied interest , Khusro was picked up by King Alla Ud din Khilji as his Minister.Amir Khusro composed poems , Pahelis and Mathanavis . The Poetic story of Rani Padmini and the attack of Alla Ud din Khilji on CHITORE ( Rajasthan ) has been composed by Amir Khusro . He wrote beautiful poems on Raas Leela of lord Krishna . He also wrote in praise of lord Rama of Ayodhya . He also wrote beautiful and touching NAATs on Prophet Muhammed ( PBUH ). In his Book NUH SIPHAR , Khusro is all praise for the culture , art , music and the architecture of India .He also served in the court of Ghias Ud Din Tughlak as a minister. His language is pure Hindi laced with Persian words .He had profound knowledge of Hindustani Clasical music .Many Ragaas are attributed to him. Qawali, Taraana ,Saazgiri Khayaal , Baakharand Sohal are his creations . He put three strings in VEENA and converted it to a SITAR. DHOLAK is his creation. Though connected with the kings of his time , Amir Khusro was a pious man and lived a simple life. Abul Hassan or Amir Khusro was attached to his childhood PEER or sufi saint Hazrat Nizam Ud din Aulia. In later part of his life Khusro renounced everything and lived like a Faquir. He lies buried near the Mazaar of his peer Hazrat Nizam Ud Din Aulia in Delhi. Now enjoy some lines from the poetry of Amir Khusro.


1 Bahut Kathin Hai Dagar Panghat ki
Kaise Mein Bhar Laon Madhuva se Matki
Khusro Nizaam Ke Bal Bal Jayiyo
Laaj Rakho More Ghunghat Pat Ki



2Kaahe ko Biyaahi Bidesh
Sunn Babul More
Hum To Babul Tere Bagon ki Koel
Kuhkat Ghar Ghar Jaon
Hum To Babul Tere Kheton ki Chidiya
Chhuga Chhugat Udi Jaon

3 Gori Soye Saij Par
Mukh par dale Kesh
Chal Khusro Ghar Aapne
Rein Bhayee Chahu Desh .
( On the Death of Hazrat Amir Khusro )

4 Ek Naar woh Aushad Khaaye
Jis par Thhooke woh Mar Jaaye
Uskaa piya jab Chhati laaye
Andhha nahin kaana ho Jaaye.
( This is a Paheli . GUN )

5 Ek Kahaani Mein Kahoon
Sunn le Mere Poot
Bin paron ke woh udd gaya
Bandh Gale me soot
( A Paheli KITE )

6 Aankh Chalaavey Bhoun Latkaavey
Naach kood ke Khel Dikhaavey
Munn me Aavey le jaon Andher
Aey Sakhi Saajan
Naa sakhi Bandher
( Poem on Monkey )

Now coming to Rahul ji: kashmiri like any other language has a rich treasure of literature consisting of poetry , Short stories and dramas. In our Youth most of the Dramas were written for the radio and most of them are dumped in the Radio Archives. I wish our younger generation had access to plays like SUYYA written by Late Ali Mohd Lone . Plays of Dr Shanker koul , Sajood Sailaani and Hari Krishen Koul are grounded to the soil of Kashmir. We also had a good section in Humour especially the plays of late Shri Pushker Bhan with his MACHAAMA series in Particular.. His Characters SULA GHOTTA , REHMAN DADDA , ZINGAARI , SINGAARI and TUAN BACHCHA still live in the memory of kashmiris .Perhaps you are spending a lot of time on the net as I understand from your mail . Dear Rahul ji go to Google and Pick up stories of Akhtar Mohi Ud din or Hari Krishen koul . Wonderful English translation of kashmiri witers has been uploaded to net . you can also buy some books from Sahitya Academy new Delhi bearing translated stories of Contemporary kashmiri writers . I would suggest to begin with Akhtar Mohi Ud Din and Hari Krishen koul only. You shall easily relate to their stories . They have evolved out of our own households. These books are also available from Sale outlets of Cultural Academy located in Jammu at canal Road as also in Srinagar at Moulana Azad Road . You may directly write to Cultural Academy canal Road jammu as to what specific book you need . Books of kashmiri writers are available in Hindi , Urdu and English translation . Dramas can also be read in these scripts . Do read them . . Unfortunately there is a dearth of good script writers now for kashmiri Drama to Survive.

Rahul ji for you and for the younger generation of kashmiris, I take liberty to add that it is of paramount importance to know your past through unbiased sources. This knowledge not only defines your present but makes you to fully understand what you are at the moment . Take any human being . He is a mixture of Filth and Flowers . The filth fills his intestines and flowers appear on his face . It is for the beholder to check where he focuses . I believe one must know where filth is but remain focussed on flowers . That makes you to move ahead. If you remain focussed otherwise, it is a drag on your energy and keeps you entangled aimlessly . I suppose you get my point.
Dear Rahul ji , Kashmir is not present day Strikes , Hartaals and unfortunate tragedies of the past resulting in separation of a vast majority of people from their land of birth . We also have a shared history and Common culture with residents of the valley essentially with our muslim brothers . Genetically our composition is one and one blood runs in our veins. We have common saints and Reshis . Common is our mother tongue . Experience this when two Kashmiris speak to each other in their mother tongue anywhere away from their homeland . I Trust you shall start knowing more about Kashmiri language and its writers through the net or through books suggested by me . God bless you.

Till i write my next blog ,Enjoy some evening views of Chashme Shahi Garden captured recently by me .

A k Mota

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Photographs uploaded bear Copyrights of the blog writer and may not be downloaded for reuse or reproduction without the specific permission of the blog writer.

AGHA SHAHID ALI

 AGHA SHAHID ALI

 I read him liberally after a friend gave me a book of his english poems . Like many other kashmiris , Shahid also lived away from the land of his birth and painfully missed kashmir .

Agha shahid Ali was born in Delhi in 1949 and died at a young age of 52 in 2001 following a prolonged battle against cancer. SHAHID as was he known to his numerous friends and well wishers was a Kashmiri and illustrious son of an equally illustrious father Agha Ashraf Ali himself an accomplished civil servant who also had teaching stints at Jamia Milia university .

Agha Ashraf Ali was close to Dr Zakir Hussain president of India as also to Sheikh Mohd Abdullah in Kashmir . Agha Sahib still leads an active life and resides at Raj Bagh in Srinagar city. Shahid’s grandfather was a High Court Judge and later the only Muslim to be inducted as Minister before 1947 by the Maharaja .The family has Central Asian origin .Shahid ‘s mother Sufia Ali ( Nee Nomani ) was born in Allahabad and belonged to a family of Persian origin. SHAHID was educated in an IRISH CATHOLIC school in Srinagar. After graduating from Kashmir university , he did his Masters from Delhi University where he also taught later. (Incidentally one of my friends Mr Surrinder Nath koul Grandson of late Pandit Samsar Chand koul ( Teacher,. Writer and Bird watcher ) from Vaital Sahib Motiyar Rainawari confirmed that Agha Shahid Ali was his class fellow in S P College srinagar where he always presented himself as a shy individual . He was a favorite student of his english teacher Prof M N Dullo.) 

Shahid  went to USA where he earned Ph.D.in English in 1984. T S Eliot was his favorite and he chose his Doctoral thesis on this particular poet only .

SHAHID considered himself a “triple Exile “from Kashmir , India and the USA but he described himself as a Kashmiri American. He received fellowship from Guggenheim Foundation. He also received the prestigious Pushcart prize. He held teaching positions at Delhi University and other universities of America.
Agha Shahid Ali is among the handful of post independence Indian poets to have gained international recognition as a writer of great originality and technical accomplishment . After having gone through his Book “ ROOMS ARE NEVER FINISHED “ One can easily relate to most of the poems wherein Shahid conveys the devastation of his homeland : his mother’s death in 1997 and the journey with her body back to Kashmir . One easily feels the touch of the wit and the sensiive poet's heart throbbing with compassioon for entire mankind after reading this book . Some o poems from this book especially “Srinagar Airport” or “one day I shall sit on the pavement” or “ in the Exodus I love you more “or “on our last evening on this land “ are touching and overflowing with powerful and spontaneous emotions of the poet. This book of poems was a finalist for 2001 National Book awards in USA.

Another book which also follows the trail to Kashmir , His childhood home is “A COUNTRY WITHOUT A POST OFFICE” . SHAHID has done superb translation of selected poems of FAIZ AHMED FAIZ in his 102 page book “THE REBEL’S SILHOUETTE “. The Poem Mere Qatil Mere Dildar Mere Pass Raho has been translated to perfection.

.Other books by this celebrated poet are “THE HALF INCH HIMALAYAS “, “ WALK THROUGH THE YELLOW PAGES “ T S ELIOT AS EDITOR “ AND RAVISHING DIS-UNITIES :REAL GHAZAL IN ENGLISH” .

The UNIVERSITY OF UTAH Department of English has announced honouring the memory of this celebrated poet by awarding “ AGHA SHAHID ALI AWARD FOR NEW WRITERS “annually to writers in English language .The university of New York announced that it would establish annual reading in his name. It shall go as a long tribute to the memory of this bright poet and son of the soil should the university of Kashmir also announce creation of AGHA SHAHID CHAIR in the department of English . We in J&K can at least do this little for this fragrant flower plucked by the cruel hands of destiny in his prime youth. As per AMITAV GHOSH his friend , "SHAHID kept his mother ‘s memory and the love for the land of his birth close to his heart even on his death bed ". we should have perhaps given more recognition to this utterly beautiful, humble, subtle intellectual, whom Amitav Ghosh calls the closest that comes to being called Modern Kashmir's Tallest poet.

I have also uploaded two views of Old zero Bridge and Raj Bagh Area leading to Shahid's ancestral house in Kashmir . So Long so much . More to follow.

 Peace be to his soul .

( Autar Mota )

Warning

All photographs bear copyright and may not be downloaded for reuse or reproduction without specific permission of the blog writer .

OLD DOORS OF KASHMIR

Dears

Today i am uploading 7 old doors of some shrines and buildings in downtown srinagar photographed by me on 19th of july 2009. The first picture is the entrance of Ziyarat of Shahe -Hamdan at Khan Kahe Moula Srinagar .The next view is Ramesh ji living at Batyar Temple Ali Kadal opening the door of shrine of Reshi Peer for us .The third one is the door of a house at BulBul Lanker .The fourth is the door of Batyar temple Ali Kadal. Fifth and sixth views are doors of two old houses at Maharaj Ganj Srinagar . The last one is the door of the tomb of Zain -ul- Abdin's Mother at Maharaj Ganj Srinagar . Enjoy the views along with a couplet of urdu poet late Ghulam Rabbani Tabaan from UP .This one is for all those who live away from the valley for one reason or the other .

Fasle Bahaar Par bhi Aseere Qafas hoon Mein

Gulzaar Ki Fizaa ko mera Intezaar hai

Jaise Fusurdaa Ho Gai Bazme sada O Saaz

Yaraane khushnawa ko Mera intezaar hai.

Ab Bhi Khula Hai Baabe Haram Mere Waaste

Ab Bhi Mere Khuda ko Mera Intezaar Hai

(Ghulam Rabbani Tabaan)

It is spring all over but i am like a bird held in cage,

The Freshness of the garden air waits for me .

The Mehfil of sound and music has suddenly turned gloomy for me over here ,

My friends and well wishers continue to wait for me over there .

The door of the mosque is sill open for me

My god still waits inside for me to come back.

A K Mota

Warning

Warning

All Photographs bear copyright and may not be downloaded for reuse or reproduction without the specific permission of the blog writer

SOPORE THE TOWN FOUNDED BY SUYYA

Dears

Due to my official work , i have been visiting SOPORE and baramulla frequently. Today i have uploaded some views of SOPORE or the apple town of kashmir . This town is also known as CHHOTA LONDON over here In case we travel to Baramulla from srinagar ,Just 7 kms ahead of Baramulla town near the village SANGRAMA on main highway , a road on right side branches off towards Sopore. Travel just 5 kms from Sangrama and you are in Sopore Town.At present , everything in this town appears to be under construction . The roads , the makets and the houses are buzzing with people and construction activity . People are well dressed . Cars also move frequently in the inner lanes and markets . Tongas ply in plenty on roads over here .One immediately gets a feeling of better life style of the town dwellers in comparison to other towns of Kashmir . Fruit cultivation especially apples are paying their dividends .

Suyyapore or present day Sopore was founded (in later part of 9th centuary ) by SUYYA the engineer in the court of king Avantivarman (855-883 AD) after he dredged VITASTA near Baramulla to save Kashmir from the fury of reccurring floods

As per Asian Agri. History Vol.13 , Sindh nallah used to meet Vitasta at Trigam but it was SUYYA who regulated the flow of Vitasta to wular lake . Suyya had thus many villages reclaimed . Paddy cultivation was extensively undertaken in these large tracts of reclaimed land . Due to Suyya 's extensive irrigation system , one kharwar of rice came down from 200 dinnars to 36 dinnars in the reign of Avantivarman. He also diverted the water of Sindh Nallah to vitasta at Shadipora , the present day Prayag of Kashmir .

There is an interesting story narrated by kalhana in Rajtaringini as to how SUYYA dredged the river at many points.He took pots full of gold coins in boats and threw them into Vitasta waters at Present day Khannabal , Shadipora , Baramullah and at all places where its choked currents overflowed its banks . People jumped into the river at all places and dug its bed for months to find the coins . Many boulders and heaps of silt were thrown on the banks of the river . Through this process he ensured the dredging of the river. Enjoy some views of the Sangrama sopore road with railway bridge overhead . Also enjoy old sopore bridge view from the new bridge on Jhelum and some other views of the town . An orchard view has also been uploaded. I have received two requests from my readers to add more lines from Nadim Sahib's kashmiri Poem " From Kathi Darwaza to residence " a journey of a poor mother and her son . The lines have been scanned by me from Nadim's sahib's Poetry book and the scan view has also been uploaded in original kahmiri. I shall also translate the lines for my readers . As already conveyed this is a poem full of pathos of poverty wrapped in simple words by this great poet whom all of us have forgotten . Nadim sahib spread in entire length and breadth of this country when his lines " Bomburo Bomburo Shyaam Rang Bomburo -Kyazih Chhuk Tse viney Nalaano . " were picturised by Bollywood for a movie. He wrote the lines for a superb opera "BOMBUR TE YEMBERZAL "after his visit to CHINA where he saw an opera which touched him . Enjoy translation of some more lines of the poem "From Kathi-Darwaza to residence ". Here they go :-

Abundance of spring flowers ;

Crowds thronging all over.

Groups of sparrows on electric wires overhead;

Celebrations of ZANGTREI by crowds ,

Days full of sunshine ,

People with Karra and Muth in their pockets ,

Eating and enjoying happily .

A colourful tree of toys ,

Displayed in the happy mela.

The climate and the desires ,

Are in the process of being fulfilled .

"Son you have fever perhaps "

"The whistle for a penny "

"Where has the Whistle shop gone ?

I too want a whistle "

"Son you have fever perhaps

I shall make you to drink cold water "

"My mud horse is broken mother

i also want a horse "

"Come son, come dear .

Entire world is for a penny ."

(Dina Nath Naadim)

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All Photographs bear copyright and may not be reproduced or downloaded without the specific

Permission of the blog writer .

KHARYAR ABODE OF BHAGWAN GOPI NATH JI

(A poem written by  national  hindi poet  Sumitranandan Pant in praise of saint Gopinath Ji )

                                       

                        ( The last journey  1968 )

                       ( Kangri used by the saint )

                                          

    ( Bhagwan Gopinath Ji 1898-1968 )

SAINT  BHAGWAN GOPINATH JI  ( 1898-1968) 

I was a school student and the year was perhaps 1967 or 1968. My father decided to visit his inlaws and sister and asked me to get ready. We went to Zaiankadal and then to Brai Kujan near Gadood Bagh park where my father 's sister lived in rented house after their shifting from Kishtwar . Pandit Dina Nath Sher ,my father 's brother in law was a Postmaster in Kishtwar . Once in Sher's house we came to know Amaji ( my father's sister ) had gone with a lady from Nehru family ( who lived near by ) to seek blessings from a saint. I vividly remember having asked my father if Pandit Jawahar Nehru also lived in Braikujan area . To this query he had said yes possibly to create a desire in me to join him. My father went to the market and purchased sugar candy ( Nabbad) and we also went to the saint living in a house at Gadood Bagh park near Brai kujan. We went upstairs and then entered a room where some fire was burning creating smoke . I also saw a large sized Kangri and an elderly Kashmiri Pandit in Pheran sitting before the fire puffing a Chillum. My father went near him and touched his feet . He pulled me by the arm and asked me to bow and touch the feet of the man . Suddenly my father said loudly "Ye Mahra chhu su"( he is the boy). The elderly person looked at me for a moment and continued puffing his Chillum but did not say anything. I saw Ama Ji( my father's sister ) smiling . We were given Kehwa tea and Kulcha by a lady who came up smilingly . When we came out I started weeping  and asking my father as to why he took me to the old man and what I  had done . I added that I had stood first in my class in the DAV school and Pandit Dina Nath Handoo my teacher loved me more than his child and instead of showing me the house of Jawahar Lal Nehru, a false complaint was lodged against me with an elderly person. My father had simply said that the person was greater than Jawahar  Lal Nehru. We did not talk on our journey back home and I wanted to lodge a protest with my mother about what I considered a 'false complaint'  . After some days , my father  put entire record straight to me . This is how my father introduced the great saint Bhagwan Gopi Nath Ji to me. He would frequently quote Allama Iqbal's couplet with reference to Bhagwan Gopi Nath Ji .Here goes the couplet :-

Na Takhto Taaj Me Naa Lashkaro Sipaah Me Hai

Jo Baat Marde Qalandhar Ki BaarGaah Me Hai.

 Bhagwan Ji was a saint rooted to pure Kashmiri traditions. His devotees have kept the traditions alive. I am happy to see complete elements of Reshi Culture of Kashmir in his Ashrams be it at Kharyar , Udhaywala or new Delhi.I don't need to say anything more about this towering spiritual personality of Kashmir. He loved simplicity . He was deep into Ishwar Sadhana, Yoga and Tapasya.A saint who kept his doors open to all,blessed all and loved all. 

I conclude this post with poetic lines of urdu poet Bashir Badr.....

Meri Subh Tere Hi naam se ,

Meri Shaam tere Kalaam se ,

Tere Ghar Ko Chhod Ke Jaongaa ,

Yeh Khayaal Dil Se Nikaal De.

Yeh Imaartein Yeh Wazartein ,

Yeh to Chaar Din Ki hai Chandini,

Mujhe Oos Faquir ki Shaan De ,

Ki Zamana jis Ki misaal de.

( Avtar Mota )