Kashyap Bandhu's Last Letter

Dr.  Rajiv Kumar, Jammu

[Courtesy : The Excelsior of 19.12.99]

There has been considerable pressure from within the community being applied for publication of material written by Bandhujee.  This is a misfortune that with the displacement of our community en masse from the valley, much of this material has been lost forever.

Right now, I have just four of his letters at hand which were written by him.  I would like to share them with the readers.

The letter dated 5th of Nov '85 happens to be the last in his life. It was written to me in response to my letters sent from Ladakh where I had been transferred just two months prior to his passing away.  I had mentioned about the envirorunental change that a young Kashmiri mind finds in the cold desert.  The letter was written in Urdu.

"My son-God with you.  Your two letters have been received.  Vibhu had come on 28th of Oct. along with his wife and child.  After staying with me for four days he left for Jammu on 31st of Oct.  I had been to Srinagar on 2nd of Nov. and returned on 3rd.

When a child is born in this world, he hears the thunder of the clouds for the first time.  Through this thunder the sky conveys to the man "I exist".  Next the air conveys to the man through its cold winds "I exist".  In response to these the child also cries and conveys "I exist".  When the first born child starts wailing - it is not that he is crying for anything- but it is the man's reply to the sky and the air that "I exist".  This can be called the first environmental meeting between the man and his surroundings.  This is followed by changes.  Seasons change.  Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.  The life changes - Childhood, Youth, Old Age and Deatn.  Both continue their Raga of "I exist".

Forty years have passed probably when "JOSH" had come to Kashmir.  He was an Indian Citizen only and his migration to Pakistan had yet to take place.  The Daily "Kesri" had not been banned by then by Government of Kashmir.  Dehati Sahib (God bless his soul) represented Kesri in the first Press Conference called by 'Josh Sahib".  He was kind enough to convey his message through "Kesri" and did say a four lined poem.  Unfortunately because of the envirornmental effect of old age I fail to recolled the first two lines. hispite of my trying very best I am not in a position to recollect the first two lines. The following two fines were like this

Awaz do Kashmir mein aa pohncha josh Allah se Inteqaam-e-Aadam Lene Key Liye.  As you know Adam and Eve were thrown out of the Paradise by Almighty after having eaten the forbidden fruit Kashmir was nothing less than Paradise.  And Josh  Sahib was a communist with little faith in religion of Allah.  Therefore when he reaches in Paradise he wants to convey to all that he is in Paradise to avenge Adam's expulsion.  Now you try to see what an impact the environment has on the vision of the man and his reaction to Allah Mian's action.

Both your letters smell of an envirorunental effect on your mind that has taken place in Ladakh.

Zikir Jo Chal Pada Qayamat Ka
Baat Pohnchi Teri Jawani Tak.

When the girl leaves her parental house for her Susral, inspite of knowing that she is going to the real home, she starts crying and saying.

"Wariwen Seet Wara Chas No
Chara Kar myon Malinav ho"

I shall wait for your next letter.  I had told you earlier that old age has affected my self - determination.  Your presence here was helpful in lessening the effect, Anyway keep writing weekly.  I shall be waiting
Yor's - Bub."

On another occasion, I had been told that he was hard up.  I had sent money as well as a letter through my driver in response to which he wrote.

'My dear Rajiv, God bless you.  Your Driver alongwith your letters came to me.  I was expecting you and your letter revealed the reasons of your not coming this way.  The first letter revealed what was there in the other envelope.

Believe it or not, when I was hardly 12 years of age, I met God and wanted to discuss the way I will follow on my onward march in the world.  The discussion continued at least for five years and finally what came out of this long discourse is

1. My ambition to leave the world better than I found it.

2. My ambition to live as a commoner in every way of my situation and surroundings.

This was granted by Almighty in abundance.  Money was neither my passion nor penchant nor prefix to living for me.  If there would have been some immediate need of money I would have told you outright.  Whenever I will be in want of money certainly I will refer it to you.  Your second letter I returned to the bearer without opening it.  I was happy to see this man requesting persistently to have it.  In his persistence there was neither curve of hypocracy nor vulgarity.  I began to admire the man.

I want you here immediately.  Find time and come. God with you."

Once he was not keeping good health for sometime. I had written indicating our worry.  My ten year old daughter had also written.  He wrote back:

'Boba - Don't get disturbed when things do not go our way.  The world goes so from its very inception, my boy.  We should face it with grim determination otherwise its speed will crush us.  If you can get a little time come this way.  I am keeping quite alright.  Throughout my whole life I was always at 'HIS" gunpoint but I am living.  And his gun is also right in proper direction.  When "He" will fire, honestly years back I have stopped worrying about it.

Tell Deedi I have received her two writings and have preserved them.  Translate it to her:

Kis Ki Nigahe Naaz Ne Parde Utha Diye
Armaan Dil ke Phir Se jawan Ho Gaye Bahot.

During the course of my service, I was on the crossroads and decision taking was being difficult.

He wrote me

"Boba - God with you.  We are anxious, very anxious to know what made you not to come to this place.  It was not fair of you not to come this way knowing well that anxious hearts are yearning to see you and to know the streaks of your future are passing on which way and projecting what sides.

I have read your letter.  They are all plans for future and these plans are yet to be drawn by the bureaucracy in the usual way.  Man is entirely helpless under the stress of this bureaucratic drawing box.  Its instruments turn abruptly sometimes to the left and then instantly to the right; of course, have their own logic for left and right turn.  I can't advise you on the details though I fervently believe in details and wish to give you my opinion in detail.  In the resent case I know very little.  As so, I will advise you to pray to God sincerely and take your own decision for the future.

The stick you had sent has broken.

Laathi Bali - Mili ho Agar is ki Rag Se Rag
Bekar Top jis key Hoon Purzey Alag Alag.

- Bub

[The Fourteenth death anniversary of Pt. Kashyap Bandhu falls on 18.12.99]

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