Changing Hairstyles of Bollywood Divas...Page-44 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014 INTERNET EDITION : www.dailyexcelsior.com/magazine Truth and righteousness ....Page-33 Commemorating Dogra Folk Hero’s sacrifice Lalit Gupta Notwithstanding failure of the state government to pass the Baba Jitto Shrine Board Act which would have ensured JHIRI MELA proper management and governance of the sacred shrine of Bawa Jitto, the centuries old Jhiri Mela, held to commemo- rate his supreme sacrifice, continues to witness an upward trend of pilgrims and tourists. Despite the token involvement of Tourism Department in promoting one of the most attended fairs in and Kash- mir, every year, few days before the Jhiri mela which is held on scared day of Kartik Purnima, all roads leading to the oth- erwise clam and quite village of Jhiri in block of Jam- mu, come alive with constant flow of devotees. From nooks and corners of Jammu region as well as other states, men, women and children, in small and large groups, riding all kinds of public and private transports arrive here to worship and pay homage to 16th century Dogra folk hero Bawa Jitto. After fair of Pushkar, Jhiri Mela, is one of the most attend- ed fairs in north , which brings together more than five to seven lakh people to Jhiri village near Shamachak, some 22 kilometers from Jammu city on - road. To be held on November 6, this year, the Jhiri Mela, which commemorate the supreme sacrifice of a simple and honest Dogra farmer who preferred to kill himself in protest than agree to the unjust demands of the local landlord to part with his right full share of crop, is a living manifestation of power vibrant folk- life in this age of rapid urbanization and globalization. Such is importance of this sacred spot of village Jhiri, that it has acquired the status of a thirtha for the local as well as outside communities. The Samadhi of Bawa Jitto, a symbol of his supreme sacrifice which he made some 550 years ago, through passage of time has acquired an aura of sacred- ness. It stands surrounded by many other religious struc- tures which have been built in phases by devotees includ- ing local rajas, dewans, wazirs and rich persons. Thus the place and its environs have emerged as a destination of pil- dinarily good yield, he arrived at Bawa's field along with his thank or entreat the Bawa for his continuing protection and have also been de-silted so that the devotees can take the grimage tourism. men and asked them to lift three fourth of the crop and leave blessings. One other important ritual associated with Bawa's bath properly. In present times, the Jhiri mela has undoubtedly emerged only a quarter with Jit Mal. shrine at Jhiri, is the ritual of taking of holy dip in Baba Da Wasim Raja Khan, BDO and Deputy Mela Officer, said as an important tourist attraction. Few days before the fair When all requests to the landlord to follow the terms of Talab which is known to have miraculous power of curing that the recent auction of shops etc has resulted in a quan- mela, the Jhiri village starts donning a festive look. Set up the agreement fell on deaf ears, Bawa Jitto who was left with skin diseases and also blessing the childless mother with tum jump of revenue as compared to last year's revenue of local as well as outsiders, a huge market comes up at the no solution and means of help, uttered last words: 'sukki children. rupees 35 lakhs, this year's auction of shops has yielded near site of the Mela. The shops, stalls and kiosks selling sweets kanak nain khayaan mehtya, dinna ratt ralayi' (Oh Mehta, Mela Arrangements: Led by SDM, Sunaina Mehta, this half a crore rupees. Looking at the upward trend of pilgrims like jalebies, pakoras, all sorts of wares; pottery, vases, uten- don't eat raw wheat, let me mix my blood in it'), and stabbed year's Jhiri Mela Management Team is laying greater empha- which as per rough estimate is likely to cross seven lakhs, sils, farming implements, clothes, bangles, souvenirs, hair himself while sitting on the heap of crop and leaving all grains sis on sanitation and free flow of pilgrims during the nine-day all out efforts to being made are make the mela as a viable adornments, toys to books on Bawa Jitto and other folk drenched red with his blood. long mela. Talking to Excelsior Sunaina Mehta, who is also platform for the economic development of local communities deities, witness great rush of customers. Umpteen numbers Later, Bua Kori with help of their pet dog Kalu, located daughter of the soil and belongs to Jhiri, said that in order to and also to make visit of devotees and tourists to the mela of entertainment stalls, merry-go-rounds, slides, maut ka her father's dead body which had been hidden in the Simbal ensure proper sanitation during the mela, other than 180 as comfortable and memorable as possible", he said. kuaan (in which a motor biker rides up the walls of a wood- tree trunk by the goons of Mehta. She then lit the pyre and functional toilets with 24 hours water supply, 10 pre-fabricat- Commenting upon the government bandobast for the en well) and rural sports like dangal (wrestling) also form an important feature of the fair. burnt herself with her father. It is said afterwards a fierce rain ed syntax toilets have been installed for convenience of the mela, local cultural activist lamented that that other than put- Legend: According to folklore, the Bawa, called as Jit storm raged the area and the heap of blood strained grains pilgrims. "To ensure that the mela ground remains clean, ting of few posters and banners during the days of the mela, Mal, was an honest and truthful farmer. A Brahmin and devo- was washed away. All those people and even the birds, who more than 40 large dust bins have been put at various spots. the involvement of Tourism Department in promoting sacred tee of Mata Vaishno Devi and Raja Mandalik, he used to live had partaken those grains suffered from various afflictions, Amechanism of regularly lifting of the garbage from dust bins shrine of Baba Jitto at Jhiri as a pilgrimage tourism destina- in Aghar village near Katra, Vaishno Devi. including diseases, untimely deaths, misfortunes and 'yatrs'. and its disposal at a far off selected site has also been tion was negligible. They also raised their concern about Fed up with the unfriendly attitude of his aunt Jojan, who Realizing it was the wrath of the holy soul, they not only asked ensured by roping in municipal officials of urban local bod- deployment of less number of police personnel to ensure even threatened the life of his seven year daughter Bua Kori, for forgiveness by worshiping him but also made it manda- ies of Kour, Akhnoor, Chowki Choura and others", she said. proper security during the mela. Jit Mal decided to leave the village and go to his friend, Iso tory on their future generations to venerate Bawa Jitto and SDM, Suanaina Mehta, said that to ensure free flow While various state agencies are yet to wake up to draw Megh at Kahnachak Where, Mehta Bir Singh, the feudal lord pay annual homage at his shrine at Jhiri. movement of pilgrims, the shops will be put up at a distance and put into operation a comprehensive plan for the proper of the Ambgrota, upon Jit Mal's request gave him a piece of Since ancient times, the members of local and outside from the main shrine. Similarly langars, which earlier stood development of Baba Jitto shrine as a pilgrimage destination, barren land only after signing an agreement, that he would communities, who worship Bawa Jitto as a kuldevta (family scattered, now would put be put up as clusters on the periph- from the point of view of the dynamics of folklore, Jhiri Mela give Mehta one-fourth of his produce. deity) other than making their hazari on kartik Purnima day, ery of the mela ground. which also known as 'Farmer's Festival', continues to play its Jit Mal worked hard day and night and transformed the also come here throughout the year to pay obeisance on "Water requirement for drinking and sanitation purposes pivotal role as an extended moment of significant transfer of barren land into a lush green field which subsequently yield- occasions of important events in their families like marriage, had been ensured by round the clock pumping station. The heritage, when next generation rises to receive, and go for- ed a luxuriant crop. As soon as, Bir Singh got news of extraor- birth of child, mundan (tonsuring ceremony) or simply to bathing ghats which had been clogged due to recent floods, ward, to make possible the continuity of culture and tradition. CAPTAIN DIWAN SINGH PASSES INTO HISTORY Col J P Singh, Retd named as Raghu Partap Hill. He was awarded Highness is anguished because none of the mentioned-in-despatches for this gallant action. ADC has volunteered to accompany him on his Capt Diwan Singh, known to major part of He was again awarded Mention-in-Despatches leaving the state. Hearing this he got his resig- Northwest India as ADC to Maharaja , in Poonch in December same year, wherein, as nation typed from the PA and put it on Mahara- the last ruler of of Jammu and Company Commander with 80 men, he grap- ja's feet. When Maharaja asked him what was and popularly known as Captain Sahib pled with the attacking enemy whole night killing it, Captain Sahib told him that it was his resig- in entire J&K left for his heavenly abode at 7 PM 550 and beating back the attack. Grenade splin- nation so that he could serve him till end. His on 27 October 2014 while at home in 'No. 1 Man- ters wounded him in this operation. After recov- Highness told him to reconsider it. Whereas he da Flag Staff House' Jammu at 95 coinciding with ery he was recalled as ADC by the Maharaja and said he will not leave till his appeal is accepted. the historical date when Infantry Day is celebrat- continued to be with him till the passing away of That was the devotion and loyalty which made ed by the to mark landing at Srina- His Highness in 1961. him most respected army officer of the State gar to save Kashmir from Pak invaders. He had He lost his father in 1957 and mother in Force and loyalist of the loyal Dogras. His res- been indisposed for couple of months and 1986. His son Kanwar Devinder Singh studied ignation was accepted on 2nd July 1953. passed away peacefully; a privilege reserved for in Mayo College Ajmer and all the five daugh- After returning to Jammu after Maharaja's great saints. When Maharaja Hari Singh left his ters studied in Sacred Heart Convent Dal- demise, he dedicated his life to social work. He State in June 1949 in virtual exile, he was his housie. It deserves to be mentioned that while ADC and accompanied him to Bombay. Later he took keen interest in the development of DAV he was Lt and drawing a meagre salary of Rs. Agriculture Collegiate School Nagbani for which resigned his commission and pledged to serve 120 PM, he sent his daughter to Dalhousie for His Highness till his last breath. He sacrificed Maharaja had donated 500 Acres of his Stud schooling when girls education was a taboo in Farm land. People had started encroaching on brilliant army career to serve his beloved ruler, rich aristocracy. Devinder Singh passed away the land which he got retrieved with police help, a rare occurrence in the annals of military histo- at a young age of 49 leaving behind a daugh- many a times at great risks. He made it No 1 ry. And he accomplished it most remarkably as ter and a son. Captain Sahib's daughter-in-law, academic institution in the state with his person- Private Secretary. With the sudden passing Sarita Singh, d/o Brig D S is grand away of Captain Sahib, saga of Dogra history daughter of Gen Janak Singh Katoch who al indulgence. He used to go to the school very connecting the past with present has come to an replaced Sh R C Kak as Prime Minister . often. This frequency had decreased since May end. British military leaders who commanded Dor- 2014 because of indisposition. Last he visited His popularity in the civil society can be ga troops during the two great wars described the school was on 21 September 2014 to cele- gauged from the unprecedented public atten- Dogra soldiers as brave, honest, truthful, loyal, brate Maharaja Hari Singh's 119th birth anniver- dance at Jogi Gate Cremation Ground for pay- enthusiastic and dedicated to the cause. They sary. He was member of all India DAV working ing last respects to their beloved Captain Sahib. are anything but flamboyant by nature and committee and Chairman of Nagbani School His last rites were performed by his grandson as whether in peace or war, their special qualities management committee. He was director of J&K the last post was sounded by army buglers with are unflinching courage and orderly obedience, Bank for a long stretch, President of Amar Ksha- presentation of arms (salami) by ceremonial they wrote. Captain Sahib was indeed an epito- triya Sabha from 1965 to 67, President guard of honour of JAK Rifles in the attendance me of all that. of J&K Hockey Federation and life member of of a ceremonial civil band. The ceremonial send My pleasant encounter with him was in 1992 Bombay Turf Club. Once he was adjudged the off, normally reserved for national and state lev- when I was posted in HQ Tiger Div. I went to him best dressed member of the Club. He was el dignitaries, reflects his relationship and with a request to admit son of my boss Col Rajin- bestowed with Dogra Rattan Award on 27 Octo- respect in the civil society and present military der Singh, in Nagbani School in tenth. He told ber 2006. hierarchy. Radio Kashmir Jammu paid him trib- me that no mid session admission is not allowed On return from Bombay he started a Finance ute by broadcasting his last inspiring interview in tenth, on which I said, "Uncle, my next rank is Company which he wound up in 1966 after get- in Jeevan Rekha series at 7.05 AM on 30th Octo- in your hands. If you do not give admission I retire ting Hindustan Motors dealership for Ambas- ber, which was recorded by Ravi Kant Sharma in the same rank and if you do, I go up". He said sador cars as 'Kay Dee Pvt Ltd'. He also got agen- on 21 May 2014, which can be heard again in though he wishes me to be general but giving cies for Bed Ford Trucks, Tempo Travels, Messy Shub Prabhat on Monday, the November 3rd. admission was in the hands of Principal. I Ferguson Tractors and Lambretta Scooters. He He was born at Pallanwala on 25th Decem- refused to leave till I got assurance. During the ran it successfully till sudden demise of his son ber 1919, an auspicious day for most in the sitting he made few generous mentions of my world. He passed his 5th class from Primary in 2002. He purchased a huge farm in Miran interview, he was commissioned in the State Course from Infantry School Sagar and later did father's association with him. It became an alibi School Pallanwala, 9th from Maharaja Hari Sahib. He would say that farming gives us life force on 24 January 1941 as 2nd Lieutenant. He Officers Mortar Course from the same institu- for me to pressurise him. Next day I was told to sustenance. In the spare time he would attend Singh High School Akhnoor and 10th from GGS used to tell that His Highness asked him only tion. After qualifying from 'Frontier Warfare Khalsa Labana High School Tanda, Senate Hall meet the Principal. (Col Rajinder Singh later his farm and became a great horticulturist. one question in the interview, "Which is heavier, School Kakul', now in , he was posted came as GOC Tiger Division and maintained He was a moving encyclopaedia on J&K his- Lahore in March 1938. He joined State force as a 100 Ma'n Iron or 100 Ma'n Cotton"? He replied, to 4 J&K Infantry in Burma during WW II. Lt Col Sepoy on 17 September 1938. His father, Sub very good relationship with Captain Sahib). tory and Maharaja Hari Singh's rule. He used to "Sarkar, weight of both is the same". After initial Narain Singh Sambyal was his CO in Burma. Once when I asked him, "Uncle what is the secret narrate it so eloquently that one felt privileged Maj Dharam Singh served in 20 and training in Officers Training Academy, Khundru, After the great war, 4 J&K Infantry came to Sri- of your good health and happiness". His reply in and left more and more enlightened. In 1994, took part in 1st World War in the Western Front he was sent to Indian Military Academy . In 1946 he was transferred to 6 J&K where he got wounded in his right arm. For the nutshell was, 'diet control and two small Mrs Mehra, wife of GOC and occupant of Topi Dehradun from where he graduated with flying Infantry from where he was sent for Jungle War- whiskies'. He narrated me the incident that gallantry in action he was awarded a Jagir of 50 colours. He became Lt on 14 May 1942 and Capt fare Course. He got distinction in this course Bangla wanted to know its history. Captain Acre land in Dist Montgomery, now in Pakistan. prompted him to take an on the spot decision of Sahib narrated her the story which she got pub- on 5 May 1947. He would have continued going after which he was posted to 1st J&K Infantry. In resigning. He was already ADC and while he was After partition 50 acres of land was given to him up the ladder had the sub-continental history not March 1948, during the Poonch siege he cap- lished as booklet. That helped army in getting it going to the Highness with Dak, Pt. Bhim Sen, in Fazilka Tehsil in Punjab in lieu of that land. changed its course. In 1942 he had brief tenure tured a sensitive enemy Piquet Pir Margo declared as heritage building and claim main- After clearing various written exams and final as ADC to His Highness. He did the Weapons Gagzee with just two men which was later popularly known as Guru Ji told him that His tenance grant.