THE GREAT KASHMIRI TAMASHA
THE
GREAT KASHMIRI TAMASHA
BY
WARVET
‘These politicians can go to any lengeth to destabilise the precarious peace’ opined Happy the Kashmiri Sikh amongst us. Sikhs are a miniscule minority in Kashmir since the time of arrival of Guru Nanak in the valley when some natives adopted Sikhism. Their numbers grew slowly. They are well educated and good businessmen. Many also reside in villages and are agriculturists. In spite of some brutal attacks by militants, they have refused to quit and have stood their ground.
It was mid September when
the summer is waning and the mornings bring mist over the Dal. I was nursing my
Glenfiddich; Happy, the host had insisted it was the best. Assembly elections
were scheduled to begin in less than two weeks. The political parties had woken
from their 4 year slumber and had plunged headlong in “The Great Indian
Tamasha”. Abdullahs of the NC, Muftis of the PDP, myriad Congressi, variety of
ex separatists, separatists and little known BJP guys had suddenly appeared like
proverbial mushrooms during rain throwing their respective hats in the ring. A
Battle Royale was building up slowly but surely.
I looked around. There was a
family of Sikhs at bar with their guests who were visiting them from outside.
One table was occupied by a group of Kashmiri lawyers. Another had a group of
J&K police officers. A cacophony of hindi, English, Punjabi and Kashmiri
was in the air.
‘After 4 years of peace and
tranquillity, politikkus (sic) is back with a bang’! announced Happy.’ BJP has
released Engineer Rasheed on bail’!
Really!! We all jumped.
Rasheed is the separatist booked under stringent NIA for anti national
activities and is incarcerated since 2019. He defeated from jail, the NC
supremo Omar Abdullah in recent Loksabha elections from Baramulla by a margin
of 2 lakh votes. Unbelievable but politics can make strange bedfellows!!
‘BJP ko aisa mat ((nahi)
karna chahiye thha’ continued Happy.
In the background, I could
hear the Iranian borrowed song from film Animal ‘Jamaal Jamalek Jamaloo Jamal
Kudu wafting in my ears. It was being sung by a chorus of Kashmiri women in
their sweet high pitched voice. On way to the Bar as I had entered the colonial
high pillared verandah I could make out
congregation of ladies in a room for Ladies Sangeet. It was beginning of
marriage season in Kashmir.
‘NC and PDP are corrupt. So
is the congress. We have no hope from them. Nepotism rules the roost in both.
Omar is in fray from Ganderbal and Badgam, 2 seats – I don’t know maybe Rahul
has advised him. I today saw both sons of Omar canvassing. Iltija, daughter of
Mehbooba too is making her debut. They will promise the moon but after winning
they will disappear. That has been the Kashmir story till now’ lamented Tariq.
‘BJP has been able to
maintain peace for past 4 years. Tourism is booming, businesses flourishing,
schools functioning. Is there any hope for BJP’? I interjected.
‘Col saab, it will take a
long time for BJP to become even a marginal player here’ Interjected Shaukat,
the Wizard. He had kept quiet till then and had been listening to us
nincompoops. ‘Although they have their
presence now, but grass root organisation is lacking. The peace is here but
Kashmir is a wounded society. It’s been suffering since ages. There is lack of
faith in the centre. The way Delhi has reneged on promises made since accession
and interfered by dismissing democratically elected governments, jailed leaders
including Sher-e-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah and installed puppets as PM or CM, its
very difficult for a National party to get majority in whole state; sorry UT’.
Now, I hold the Wizard in
great esteem as he is well educated responsible citizen from an old Kashmiri
family who was a senior beauraucrat before retiring. He is a storehouse of
Kashmir history, culture and customs.
‘Sir, there were promises
made to many people which were broken in larger National interest in due
course. Privy purses were abolished. Hyderabad was annexed. Sikkim was taken
over. All moved on. But why Kashmir keeps festering’? I had asked.
The wizard was looking
intently into his Old Monk. He took a swig and with a faraway look remarked ‘There
are three reasons – Distrust in Union Government, Religion and Proximity to
Pakistan’. And he finished his drink in a single swig – we used to call
“Bottoms Up” in our youth. In his trademark style that endears him so much to
me he had summarised the whole situation. It was left to the audience to now
decipher it by thinking over. We all mulled quietly. Still I could hear the sweet
Iranian song wafting in from ground floor. It was kind of adding to the
intoxication.
‘I hear lot of independents
including ex militants, OGWs, hardliners besides neo leaders have been co-opted
by BJP and are filing nominations to split the votes. Omar Abdullah is scared.
That’s why he has filed nominations from two seats. He is still licking his
wounds from Loksabha elections he lost to Engineer Rashid’ It was Tariq.
‘In case BJP wins majority
of Jammu seats, new parties like those of Sajjad Lone, Altaf Bukhari etc may
lend support. Mota bhai can always win over independents too. I believe
delimitation and revision of electoral rolls will help BJP. Also reservations
to Paharis ,and Scheduled castes, registration of hindu migrants of PoJK and
state subject to valmikis and Gurkhas in Jammu will add to their tally’ Said Happy.
‘Don’t you think, with
restoration of state government, things will again move southward’ I wondered.
‘It’s not likely’ brooded
the wizard’. ‘People have tasted peace for past 4 years. They want children to
study. No one wants to go back to days of 'Calenders' issued by Hurriyat for bandhs and stone pelting. And central govt has been very clever in making us a UT and recently
they went a step ahead and bestowed most of the power upon LG. Our CM will be
like Kejriwal. LG will control police and beauraucracy. We were given vast
autonomy when we joined the union. Slowly it was chipped at. Now we will be
with least power amongst all states – if I may call it a state! Who is
responsible? Our leadership or National leadership, ourselves or simply destiny?
One thing I would say, the beauraucracy is worse than politicians. The other
day I complained against LAWDA (Lake and Waterways Development Authority) for
the rotting Dal lake. They threatened me with FIR! Even hinted they will ship
me to Agra like those UAPA detainees! They have no fear of God. Begum is
worried. She has forbade me from commenting anything on Social Media. There’s
no Freedom of Expression’!
I noticed Happy and Tariq concentrating
on the excellent Mutton ribs and speciality Trout from the Dagwan river of
Dachhigam. I excused myself and took a stroll to investigate the Iranian song
still floating in my ears. I crossed a group of excited young Kashmiri girls in
their finery with henna designs on palms who had just come giggling out of the
sangeet hall. I was surprised as I finally made out the song being sung with
much gusto – It was an old forgotten number from Amitabh Bachhan’s movie ‘Mard’
of 80s.
‘Sun Rubiya tumse pyaar ho
gaya,
Pyaar ho gaya, kya karein.
Su ne ko ye tarasta thha Dil
chal jaldi se shadi karein.
Tu mera Tangewala; Main teri
Tangewali’!!
For some time I was frozen.
I had not heard the song for ages. And in the melodious voice of these Kashmiri
women it appeared so exotically sweet!! I saw the manager coming towards me. I
wondered if I was in a wrong place. ’Sir, you can’t carry your drink out of the
bar’ he pointed out.
Umm I had simply no idea.
Even though dozens of liquor shops have opened up in the city, the social
restrictions are still in place!
‘Where from are you’ He
asked. I looked at his name on the tab on his chest – It said ‘Mushtaq Ahmed’.
‘I am from Delhi, a tourist,
guest of Happy in the bar’.
‘Everyone in the bar is ‘Happy’. He grinned at his joke.’By the Way, I am Mushtaq. my wife teaches in the ‘Army Public School’ in Badami Bagh Cantt too. He offered his hand to shake.
I would be damned! You can take the soldier out of the Army but not the Army out of the soldier! He had guessed my identity after all. I smiled, shook his hand and went up the stairs with the wall mounted beasts staring me in the back to join the Gang.
Photo - Second by me. First from internet
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