|
A Colossus Amongst Kashmiri Reformers
Glimpses From Kashyap Bandhu's Life
O. N. Razdan, Calcutta
My father and I were heading for Hari Parbat
and I had to run intermittently to keep pace with him.
When we reached Hari Parbhat I could discern a large gathering had collected
on the flat portion of the hillock and amongst centrally placed was Kashyap
Bandhu who sang "rahe uncha duniya main janda hamara" with a flag
fluttering, the flag of late Maharaja Hari Singh. First Kashyap Bandhu
sang, then he was followed by the gathering.
My father was medium placed teacher in State Government, frequently
transferred from Muzafarabad, near Kohala bridge, the boundary of the state and
Shopian. It was when my father was in Muzafarabad, when I was 8 years old that I
happened to visit the Hari Parbat for the first time. My father gave me
the details about the meeting. He told me that the person who was holding
the flag was a great leader amongst Kashmiris and a great social reformer.
Kashyap Bandhu was exhorting the gathering.
'Give up Phiren and Narwar (a printed cloth stiched to the arms of the Phiran)
and replace it with the Sari'. Those days the following song was on
everybody's lips "Traavi nerwar nerwar traavi lo lo, hata bhagwana su
zamana baye yiyna, kori loch poch, baye nerwar diyena" (commenting on
Kashyap Bandhu's clarion call, it said give up nerwar, may God bring that period
back when a daughter was given warm clothes in replacement of sari). After
the meeting was over, we returned home.
I still remember with clarity, my father bought some yards of red cloth and
gave it to a tailor nearby with a request to stitch Kameez and Shalwar., Those
days Shalwar Kameez was not common and my father had to explain to the tailor
with drawings and designs. After some days the Shalwar Kameez was brought
from the tailor.
I recall another incident during the days of Kashyap Bandhu. I don't
remember whether it was a government or private Organisation, that had brought
out a booklet giving salient features of Kashmiri Pandits. According to
the booklet, Kashmiri Pandits have one predominant feature. It was "azarwun"
a sort of jealousy. In the drawing room one man was looking with his
raised eyebrows and with a convulsed face looking at the neighbours new built
house wondering how could a neighbour construct a house better than his ?
Universally, jealousy must be common human weakness otherwise how could Cardinal
Newman, a noted English writer, say that not only should one have double-belled
doors but others, friends, relations and neighbours should know that you have
double-belled doors.
Kashyap Bandhu's two main points were 1. Give up Pheran and Nerwer for Sari
and 2. Social reform in marriages. Kashyap Bandhu could easily infuse his
gathering with high ideals and conceptual convictions. My father was
equally involved in the same. As a matter of fact he improved on the sari
by its exchange by Shalwar and Kameez which I personally believe is an
improvement on Sari in view of the torrid climate and the convenience and ease
in wearing it.
As soon as my father brought Salwar and Kameez there was a knock at the main
gate. My grandfather from my mother's side was a frequent visitor to our
house for "sheer chai" (a saltish tea). We had a system whereby
our Toar-a semicircular moving device which could open or close the main door
with a string and simultaneously identify the person from kaani (top storey).
Kashyap Bandhu was very tall, well built and good looking with curly hair who
through his oratorial skill could persuade dedicated workers to go to a marriage
and in turn persuade people not to spend more than their means.
This issue of Vitasta is dedicated to Kashyap Bandhu and let us complete the
job initiated by him.
| 
Previous
Article
