Gairoo Kaa Akeyla Shiv
Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Jammu
[Courtesy : The Kashmir Times, Jammu.]
[Pandit Kashyap Bandhu's paper The Weekly Desh carried an article "Panzeth
ka akeyla Shiv" in early forties, The article has not been gone through but
the grand old man used to discuss the spirit behind that writing. An
effort has been made to remodel the commentary with an eye on the pathetic
condition of the Pandit community as on date. Twelfth death anniversary of
the doyen of Kashmiri leadership was on December 18, 1997.]
It was the autumn of the year 1934, Pandit Sat
Lal, an official of the Co-operative Department was going on official business,
towards village Panzeth in Devsar Pargana (Kashmir). Feeling the chill, he
tightened his robes around himself and wondered as to why winter had decided to
set in early that year. This made him think of many requirements back home
which needed to be attended to for making up the winter stocks. He was
making mental readjustments of his budget, but failing to get anywhere he heaved
a deep sigh and looked skywards as if complaining. The path passed through
paddy fields where peasants were busy thrashing the crop. So, not much
heed was paid to the visitor. While nearing the village. a particular
sight made him to stop in his tracks. On the bank of the stream by the
side of the path was seated a Shiv Lingam. All alone, unattended. No
flowers, no Dhoop-Dip, nothing was there. This Shiva seemed to be seated
in the wilderness. Pandit Sat Lal before approaching the Lingam took off
his shoes, washed his hands and then sat in front. Instead of praying or
reciting any verses, he found himself talking to the Lingam. All the
thoughts of his domestic problems welled back. Tears rolled down his eyes
while communicating with the Shiva. In spite of the fact that he was
amongst the first graduates from the valley and definitely the first from his
village Gairoo, he had succeeded in getting only a measly job in the Cooperative
Department. He had suffered innumerable hardships in getting himself
educated. His father as well as his uncles were illiterate peasants who
had toiled day in and day out in getting him and his brothers educated.
Economically, the family lived a poor man's life.
Grandfather of Pt. Sat Lal was nick-named Vaas Bhat Garib, because he could
not produce two Annas needed to be paid to the Maharaja's revenue collector and
had to be penalised by making him stand in chilling cold stream for hours during
the winter month of Magh until one gentleman took pity on the fellow, loaned him
the royal sum of two Annas and called him Vaas Bhat Garib. The nick-name
continued through the generations inspite of the fact that the loan had been
liquidated by the old man himself. Now Pt. Sat Lal was complaining
to Shiva of Panzeth as to why he could not get a better job. He was more
bitter because his elder brother in spite of becoming a well-known social
reformer and commanding very high regard amongst the Maharaja's Administration
had not been of much help in promoting his career. Pt. Sat Lal spoke
his heart out to the Shiv Lingam for quite a long time and after some time he
felt like being consoled. He drew solace from the fact that it was not his
fate alone but his whole Biradari was sailing in the same boat. Most of
his school mates had also got equivalent jobs although academically well
qualified. The Kashmiri Pandit community was a helpless, friendless and
misunderstood community.
Years passed by, Pt. Sat Lal retired from the Government service.
The land that the forefathers cultivated had been distributed amongst the
landless. His elder brother was named Pt. Kashyap Bandhu (Kashmiris'
brother) by a grateful community having played a very crucial, timely and result
oriented innings in the sociopolitical area of the State, but had returned to
his ancestral home at Gairoo, materially empty handed. Therefore, the
youngsters in the family were encouraged in getting in to the service for taking
care of their livelihood.
The year was 1985. Against it was autumn. The grandson of Pt.
Sat Lal visited village Payyar near Pulwama in connection with official work.
He felt the chill not only in the air but within his soul too. He had come
to the village very early in the morning, therefore the feeling of chill.
And he was mentally upset too. He had taken a stand quite against the
wishes of the Cabinet Minister in-charge of his Department. The Minister
having failed to browbeat him had issued orders for his transfer to a far off
place in Ladakh. This had upset the planning of the youngster besides
causing a heavy economic burden. Lost in the chilling thoughts, he was led
to a space in the middle of the village. Lo and behold there appeared an
ancient temple in the middle of a fenced area. The structure was built of
grants, with a tall pedestal upon which was seated a beautiful Shiv Lingam under
a canopy. Eleven steps needed to be climbed from the ground to reach the
Lingam. The young fellow was overwhelmed by the site. Took off his shoes and
went up the steps to become very much upset because the Shiva was seated all
alone and unattended. None of his devotees lived in the village.
The youngster felt deeply touched, sat down and began talking to the Shiv
Lingam- a la grandfather style. He poured out his heart to the Shiva.
Tried to find answers to the question that arose in his mind, as to why was it
that inspite of doing well academically and belonging to a well known family he
had not landed in a good job. That inspite doing well in the Department he
had to go to a far-flung place in Ladakh for duty. That why was it that he
would not be in a position to provide physical services even to his grandparents
back home, material support he could never afford. The Shiv Ling sat there
listening to his tale of woes and when the youngster's heart was lightended he
started realising that many of his colleagues from the same community were
treated worse than him. He realised that the community as such was as
helpless and friendless even under the democratic set up as it was during the
Maharaja's rule. And the Shiva of Payyar was as lonely as was the Shiva of
Panzeth.
Time rolled on. The grand old man Pt. Kashyap Bandhu breathed his
last all alone in his house at Gairoo soon after the grandson had reported for
duty in Ladakh. Therefore, the whole community had to suffer the pain of
the wounds inflicted on it in 1986. The Pandits wept, the Gods wept so did
the empty house of Vaas Bhat Garib of Gairoo. But there was a silver
lining. The Shiv Ling on the bank of the stream flowing by the side of the
house was being kept cheerful by pouring of large quantities of water and milk
by the village ladies each morning.
This particular Shiv Ling was also seated on the bank of this small stream
since time immemorial. Then Pandit Kashyap Bandhu, gearing up his
resources and energies during his very old ago got a small temple constructed
wherein this Shiv Ling was installed with much fanfare.
Then came 1990. The Shiva was left alone. The house of Pt.
Kashyap Bandhu was set on fire. It burnt down as silently as did the
inheritors bear the pain of losing their moorings. The pain of loss of the
nest was not as severe as was the pain of loss of faith. The people whom
Pt. Kashyap Bandhu had nourished had not only plundered his nest but had
burnt all bridges with the principles he stood for.
The Kashmiri Pandit community is as helpless and friendless today as never
before. Although forced to leave their homes they have been named
migrants. The ship is as rudderless as never before. The destination
is not in sight. Turning the pages of history one finds that the sun had
set on the glories of the community in 1339 AD itself, with the fall of Kota
Rani at Inderkote. In came Sikander- the idol breaker. He put
thousands to sword, made lakhs to flee. Then came Khokha Khan the mere
mention of whose name frightens the children into silence even today. The
rape and plunder of 1947 need not be mentioned.
But then again there is a silver lining. We also find a Badshah in the
history acting as a healer for the wounds inflicted by Sikander. We also
find Abdul Qudoos Gojwari risking his life to save the family of Birbal Dhar
from the wrath of the Afghan ruler. We also find Maqbool Sherwani getting
himself crucified but rising against the tyranny,
History has to repeat itself. There has to be another Badshah- when and
where, only the Shiva knows. But meanwhile the Shiva of Gairoo is as
Akeyla as was the Shiva of Payyar and the Shiva of Panzeth. He is awaiting
the return of his devotees for his usual offerings of water and milk.
| 
Previous
Article
