Mota’s Deepawali gift to his readers

Avtar Mota hardly needs any introduction. Not that he is a writer who enthuses his readers but for his highly informative and educative blog Chinar Shade that has been visited by more than 21 lakh readers till today. This is his eighth book. The subject is again Kashmir. Not politics or controversies but certainly unforgettable men, matters and memories.

This 194 pages book is spread in two parts. Part one deals with some unsung names from Kashmir who have had significant contribution in the fields of art, literature, social life and other fields  resulting in bonding  of a society that appears divided on many lines at the moment. The men dealt in this part were for fair play, inclusiveness and tolerance. This part begins with a tribute to Shantiveer Kaul son of a stalwart Kashmiri poet Dina Nath Nadim. Mota succeeds in bringing out some affable traits of Shantiveer’s personality to the readers. Shantiveer died young and all of sudden. The essay on Avtar Kaul who produced and directed 27 Down , a movie with Rakhee and M K Raina in the lead roles.

This essay  is full of fresh information about cinematic skills of Kaul who was swept away by the Monsoon sea of Mumbai at a time when he was required to receive Award for his film. The essay is engrossing and the narration is heart touching. This part also has a gripping essay on Bansi Kaul, the doyen of theatre in India. I am sure most of the readers must not be unaware about the rich contribution of Bansi Kaul to Indian theatre.  The essay on poet Moti Lal Saqi is a research work wherein various facets of his poetic and literary talent have been brought to light. One finds essays on singer Ghulam Hassan Sofi, and Vijay Malla enthralling and full of nostalgia and sweet memories. The author happened to know both of them personally. Accordingly, one finds some insightful anecdotes in both the essays.

The essays on Ali Mohammad Lone, Umesh Kaul, Chaman Lal Chaman, Hriday Kaul Bharati, Muhammad Ashraf (composer), Pushkar Nath BA (playwright ), Mohan Niraash, Bansi Nirdosh, Prem Nath Dar are full of anecdotes and unknown information about these stalwarts from the Valley. For the posterity and the present younger generation of Kashmiris, the author has skillfully documented the rich contribution of these individuals to the literary horizon of Kashmir.

Part one also has an essay on eminent broadcaster Lassa Kaul who fell to the bullets of the terrorists for performing a national duty during the turbulent period of 1990s in the Kashmir valley. It is  a grand tribute to a great son of the soil. Again, the essay on writing skills of Arvind  Gigoo is too interesting to be  missed. The author calls him 'Manto Reborn’.  The essay on Arvind  Gigoo begins with a popular cameo, "I am where I am not, therefore, I am not where I am" written by him in his book , 'The Ugly Kashmiri’ . One is moved by what Mota says about Sadiq Ali, the politician from Kashmir. Mota doesn’t touch the politician Sadiq Ali but the man who has a heart of gold.  When Mota met him in Jammu in 1990, Sadiq Ali said this: “I am pained to see the plight of Kashmiri Pandits at this moment. I want to tell one thing to you people. Forget all at the moment. Just focus on the education of your children. It is the greatest tool with which people re-establish themselves and stand up once more.”

Part II of the book is based on reminiscences, recollections and longing. It is in this part that one comes across the sparkling brilliance of Mota as writer of fiction, humour and  a writing skills that engrosses a reader. His commentary on social life of Kashmir is starkly visible in essays like, Winter Without Rain or Snow, Bangladesh Clothes and Kashmiris, Kaawa Yenivol or Evening Time assembly of Crows, From A Complacent Onlooker To A Global Competitor, India Coffee House, Mir Paan House, Tobacco and Kashmir, Death of An Institution (Rupa Devi Sharda Peeth, and many similar write-ups. In the essay. Death of An Institution, Mota writes, 'The library, the precious manuscripts in Sharda, the school building and the entire infrastructure were completely destroyed in a militancy-related fire.

The institution started by Parmannad was turned to ash by some cruel hands’. Through the essay on Burzahom, the author warns about the colossal neglect in protecting Neolithic treasures recovered at Burzahom site. The Burzahom archaeological site is on UNESCO’s World Heritage watch list.  The UNESCO brochure says, “Burzahom brings to light transitions in human habitation patterns from the Neolithic period to the Megalithic period to the early historic period." The story, The Paetgor Shop In Kashmir is a nostalgic story about the social life in Kashmir. ‘Paetgo’r shop’ was a part of the social life of Kashmiri Pandits. I remember the Paetgo’r selling simple and expensive Attahuru, Teki-taal, Taranga, Kalpush, Zooji, pins, buttons, threads, kohl (Surma), ribbons, Bindis, Sheesh-laath and everything that the Kashmiri Pandit ladies needed for marriage, sacred thread ceremony and other rituals. The Paetgor shop has vanished from the landscape now.

The essay,  Cricket and Kashmir brings forth nostalgic memories of the Ranji Trophy matches and cricketers  like Abdul Rauf, Harish Bahri and  Mirza brothers especially Dr Farooq Mirza. Mota’s one to one interaction with Dr Farooq Mirza throws open the human side of the cricketer. Mota again excels in his research as he presents to us his story about the Haanji tribe of Kashmir. He traces their links to Nishada community of India bringing cogent references from Rajatarangini and many more ancient texts especially Ramayana.

The book is a treat to go through. It evokes, refreshes, enthuses and brings sweet memories of our recent past. It is a work of labour that needs to be possessed and read and re-read. I call it as Mota’s Deepawali gift to his readers.

By: Indu Bhushan Zutshi