Yim Bhatta
Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Jammu
[Courtesy: 'Kashmir Times' and 'Excelsior' December 1996]
(Pandit Kashyap Bandhu ji during his crusade against social evils
prevalent in Kashmiri Pandit Community, six decades back, had written an article
titled 'Yim Batta" in "Desh". It would have been desirable
to print in out again as such, anticipating it would touch the deeper sense of
right thinking in our community members. But the text not being available,
I shall try to convey what the greatest Social Reformer of our society told me
years back).
"YIM BATTA"- Look at these Pandits-
is not a usual but the only reference cited by a Pandit while pointing towards a
wrong going on in the society. The speaker always- as a rule- isolates his
ownself and identifies the evil with other PanditsYim Batta. The listeners
immediately nod in agreement identifying their ownself with the speaker and not
with the society. This kind of a situation can always be seen whenever
there is an assembly of Kashmiri Pandits- be it a marriage function or any other
merry making occasion. Even, the 10th day assembly by the embankment of a
canal is an ideal situation for this kind of a discourse. Speaking on any
subject under the sun and trying to become the best expert on the matter under
discussion is an inherent character of a Panditji. This was true when
Bandhuji wrote Yim Batta and this is true when these lines are being penned down
today. The worst part of this character is that all of us tend to sit on
judgement without bothering to self-assess our own selves. During the last
seven years of life in exile, our whole life style has changed but this
particular character has not been affected at all. Even after having taken
the worst kind of beating on political as well as economic fronts, our community
has shown total apathy towards social reform. Hypocrisy, social pride and
ego continue to persist. It is futile to reiterate that ostentation in
marriages is eating into our bone-marrow. All of us do know that
conserving our financial resources is very essential for the good of the
community especially because of our very uncertain future and frustratingly
uncomfortable present. But the said affair of ostentation continues to
afflict our community and we as individuals refuse to accept these short comings
in our ownself and continue to point them out among others with the usual
reference of 'Yim Batta.'
The present state of affairs is that our cormuunity is increasingly indulging
in extravagance and exhibitionism at social functions and we feel proud of it.
Giving and receiving dowry has become a status symbol. The sanctity of a
wedding ceremony has completely been set aside. The self respect and
honour of our women-folk is being inadvertently hurt by unscrupulous acts
performed and encouraged during the process of marriage ceremony. We all
do agree that this is a sign of social degradation and does not behove an
enlightened community but again we take an ostrich like stand and say
"Yemen Battan Kya Sa Guv." Look what these Battas are doing.
While feeling proud of being in a position to afford and indulging in
extravagance, we completely ignore the sentiments of those members of our
relation circle and friend circle, who are economically not that much sound.
To illustrate, one Panditji while attending the wedding reception of his
cousin's daughter was overwhelmed by the ostentation exibited on the occasion
and broke down on spot. He had to be removed from the scene and later
confided that the people like his cousin brother had made life dificult for
people like himself who also had marriageable daughters, and could not afford
this kind of extravagance. And again when this particular instance was
discussed among many KP Fora, a typical reply was "Yeman Battan Kya Sa Guv".
To awaken today's society, it is essential to recast the codes of family life
using practical means and set down rules for self realisation. Whenever we
see something that is not good for the society, let us first ensure that we do
not follow this path. Instead of calling "Yim Batta" let us say
'Asy Batta' and do our level best to stand like a rock against adoption of these
ostentations within the family. When the individual is good, the family is
good and when the family is good the community is good. From ancient times
upto the present day, an unbroken succession of God realised souls have taken
birth in the world from time to time to lead the suffering and troubled mankind
to their goals of self realisation. Our Community is surely in need of
another Kashyap Bandhu who would force lead us out of this cesspool of social
evils.
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