Kashyap Bandhu - My Childhood Recollections

M. K. Ogra, Calcutta

Kashyap Bandhu (original parental name Tarachand - pet childhood name Bulbul) was by his own right the greatest social refonner of our Kashmiri Pandit Community in the twentieth Century.  He was the founder of the Sanatan Dharam Yuvak Sabha with its Head Quarter at Sheetalnath, Srinagar where also its mouth piece "The Daily Martand" started by Bandhuji was printed and published.

When I start recollecting my childhood memories and the history making events concerning our small community of Kashmiri Pandits, my mind unfolds very clear pictures of the deep imprints of the social reform movement.  This well thought of movement was started by none other than the gentleman with a Kurta and Pyjama and the woolen chadder / shawl wrapped across his two shoulders who used to be a very frequent visitor to our house at Alikadal, Budhgare.  He would address my mother by her parental name Sharika and my father Shivlal - name given by his in-laws.  This was as I later learnt due to the close bonds amongst the village folks of Geeru where my maternal Nani had hailed from.  I recall my father very actively participating and taking upon himself leading roles in various reform programmes and movements.  I also witnessed several large meetings being held, at our fourth floor hall (Kani) which could accomodate more than a couple of hundred people.  After heated exchanges with participation from all active members coming from far and near places in the valley, decisions were taken to be implemented and carried out at grass root levels.

As time passed I distinctly remember several large meetings were held at "Bhana Bagh" a large vacant land belonging to the famous Sahaj Bhan family next to our house.  Great personalities like Shiv Narayan Fotidar, Jialal Kilam, Amar Nath Kak, Zanardan Teng, Ganalal Vakil and several others were also frequent speakers at these meetings.  What was happening or being discussed I can't recollect verbatim, but one distinct impression I carry that these meetings were all about Social reform process - Phiran v/s Saree for our ladies, dowry system Heut - Duet - huge wastages at langerkhanas and above all the widow marriage concept and last but not the least encouragement of women's education.  Small processions in all localities would go round small and large lanes, house to house to spread the reform messages.  Slogans and Verses in Kashmiri were very common and repeated in every household.  Not only this, for the needy and the poor a system of collectin "Muchiphul" - one pot (Lungun) of rice was collected every month on a selected date from every Kashmiri Pandit house for this purpose.

As I grew into my teens I could see Sari as a dress for our ladies had become quite common.  My mother rather convinced all the Ogra family ladies to change; though in winter months still some preferred Pheran to be fully wrapped up against chilly weather.

Again, as a regular visitor along with our mother, Masi and cousins in summer vacations to my Bada Matamal at Geeru (now known as Noorpur) 'in Avantipur district, we could see Bandhoji closely.  His love for gardening and village life and its upliftment in his early days proved helpful to hil-ii as Panchayat and rural development Minister in Sheikh Abdullah's cabinet.  A daughter-in-law must be educated and also Wari pass and Dhana pass must know kitchen gardening and good cooking this is what he is reported to have suggested to a middle man when a match was being looked for his nephew.  I have seen him several times in his kitchen garden setting up plants, diverting water canals for irrigation and picking up vegetables etc.

I also recollect some photograph hanging on the walls of one of our bedrooms at Srinagar, with Kashyap Bandhu, Jialal Kilam and Prem Nath Kana and my father late Pt.  Sambhu Nath Ogra escorted by two J & K turban policemen, due to their leading involvement in Roti Movement.  A huge photograph of a large gathering at BHAN BAGH being addressed by Bandhoji was always a reminder of this great reform movement.  "Martand" had taken the most premiere position as spokesman of our community problems.  Editorials in this paper were being read between lines with great interest and enthusiasm.  It was actually like food for the community and perhaps first time voice (popularly known as "ROTI MOVEMENT") was raised against oppression and discrimination against Kashmiri Pandits, as a result of which Minority Commission, known as "Glancy Commission" was appointed by J & K Government to go into the details and submit recommendations.  Every house would subscribe to a copy of "Martand" and eagerly await the early morning issue.  Headlines and the editorial would become topic and gossip for the day.  Editorial in 'MARTAND' during ROTI Movement was always censored.  As a protest the editorial page was left blank with black border and in the blank page following lines were printed in bold letters

"KHAMOSHI GUFTAGOO HAI
BEZUBAANI HAI ZABAAN MERI"

After spearheading these historical movements like setting up of Sanatan Dharam Yuvak Sabha which was the only representative body of Kashmiri Pandits of J & K and setting up of Martand including a printing press of its own and above all the social reform movement, Bandhuji for reasons which I am unable to fathom joined the National Conference. It may be that the Congress led independence struggle and the Nationalist approach to problems changed his leanings.

My last meeting with Bandhuji was at his house at Karan Nagar along with my mother in Sept. 1949 after I passed my B.A. from J & K University.  We were treated with all hospitality.  After some talk of sweet memories of the past and her association with Geeru., my mother informed him about my graduation and asked him to suggest what I should do. He was very happy and embraced me, but if I remember well he could I not suggest any tangible proposal, since my emphasis was not on immediate employment, but I was more concerned to carry on my studies further.  My father and my maternal uncle Pt.  Gopikishen got angry with my mother because Bandhuji had gone over to National Conference without caring for what will happen to the organisation and to the reform movement he initiated.

I have dwelt on personal impressions and experiences of my early childhood and teenage days.  At this time after nearly 50/60 years of these impressions, I can emphatically say that Bandhuji was perhaps the greatest reformer of our Community in J & K state.  I cannot forget to mention another great reformer of our community Pt. Gopi Kishen Shivpuri (my mamaji) whom I had known very intimately as he was very affectionate and very fond of me.  He had an intense zest and desire for reform and widow marriage and also refurbishing and repossession of our great Shrines and Pilgrimages which had either been repossessed or left uncared for.  He started a reform movement, set up an organisation by the name "Samaj Sudhar Samiti" and also a daily newspaper "Jyoti".  The organisation's Headquarter and the Jyoti publishing office was set up at Shiwala temple.  In this movement I had seen involvement of youths including ladies taking leading roles; a fresh awakening came about which strengthened the bonds and some visible rethinking was set in motion. justice J.N. Bhatt, Pt.  Shamlal Saraf, Pt.  Keshav Nath Moza, Pt.  Veda Lal Vakil, and Master Kashi Nath Kaul and my father and many leading personalities whose names I do not recollect now supported and joined this movement.  When I talk of stalwarts who inititated and carried on the reform movement under the banner of Samaj Sudhar Samiti, I must mention here the pivotal role of Pt.  Keshav Nathji Moza, a Mahatama by his nature, father of our Dr. B.K. Moza.  Late Moza Sahib, popularly known as Bhai Gash stationed himself at Wir Bhawani temple to undertake the refurbishing of old Dharamsalas and construction of new Dharamsalas and beautification of the surroundings of this most respected and popular pilgrimage of Kashmiri pandits.  Not only this temple but many other places of pilgrimage like Gautam Nag on way to Pahalgaon also received personal care and attention of Moza Sahib.  Another great person I remember at this juncture is Pt.  Shreedhar joo Dhar for his selfless service to the cause of repair and reconstruction of this temple and other places of worship by cash and kind.

I have witnessed several widows marriages, many of which took places at Arya Samaj Bhawan at Karan Nagar and also at our house at Alikadal.  Pt.  Gopi Kishan succeeded to a large extent in bringing about the change in thinking and also in actual practice.  This movement reunited the Community and actual implementation of well planned programme for dowry reform, feasting on lavish scales and "Heut Deut" was actively started with very good results.  Some say that in present unsettled conditions our community marriages are celebrated with great pomp and show and the dowry system and the quantums are growing ; but alas ! there is no Bandhuji or Gopikishan to lead us for reform.

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