For Private Circulation Only Net-journal of 'Project Zaan’ ÒççiççMç p\agPraagaash aS

Dedicated to Our Heritage, Our Language and Our Culture

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Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11~ vçJçbyçj 2020 Vol 5 : No. 11~ November 2020 02 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

In this issue Editorial - T.N.Dhar ‘Kundan’ l Cover : Liddar River at Pahalgam Photo : Raja Naveed Anjum Usmani 01 We are proud to be l Editorial : T.N.Dhar Kundan 02 Kashmiris and to have a l JççKç lçe ÞçáKç 03 mother tongue which is rich in l Society : Prof. G.H.Lone prose and poetry. Writers of - Psychological Needs of a Child 04 l kçÀçJ³ç : nyçe KççílçÓvç repute within the valley and - vççuçe çÆoJççvç uçÓmçemç 07 outside contribute to this l cççlçãYçÓçÆcç : [ç. DççqivçMçíKçj language with their - kçÀMcççÇj kçÀçÇ GlhççÆÊç kçÀç DççK³ççvç 08 compositions. We have l Short Story : Mushtaque B Barq magazines in this language - Crocodile Tears 14 and programmes broadcast l kçÀçJ³ç : kçBÀJçj kçÀçÌuç ncçocç : iç]pçuç 17 and telecast from various stations of All India Radio, l Know Your Motherland : Dr. P.L.Ganju - Shrines & Monuments of Hari Parbat 18 private radio stations, Doordarshan and other TV l cçQ kçÀçÌvç nÓB : çÆ$çuççíkçÀçÇ vççLç Oçj kçáÀvovç 24 channels. l Kashmiri Pandit Heritage : A.K.Trisal There is a lot of old literature available in - Yantra called Dejhor 25 Sharada script. Kashmiri Pandits have their l kçÀçJ³ç : MçHçÀçÇ MççÌ]kçÀ : kç@Àvç 29 horoscopes in Sharada. Plethora of Hindu scriptures l My Medical Journey : Dr. K.L.Chowdhury - DASH 30 as also other ancient material is available in that l kçÀçJ³ç : cççÇj nmççÇvç : ³çvç³ç yçÓ]pçácç kçÀvç³ç jçlç 34 script. Those who want to study the ancient literature l kçÀnçvççÇ : hçJçvç pçuççuççÇ : ªhçoÌo 35 and decipher what has not been done till now, l kçÀçJ³ç : yçãpç nçuççÇ : iç]pçuç 37 therefore, need to learn this script. Some voluntary l Book Review : Dr. Sohan Lal Koul organisations including Bangalore based Core - Dr. Showkat Shifa : A Poet of Unified Sensibility 38 Sharada Team are doing a good job in teaching this l Kundanspeak : T.N.Dhar Kundan - Curiosity 42 script to the aspirants. For practical reasons it will go l Environment & Life : Prof. B.L.Kaul a long way in enriching the Kashmiri language. - The Amazing Penguins 45 We have recently lost another noted writer l From Here & There : Robin Chowdhury - The Sigririya Conundrum 49 Mohd. Ramzan Mishal Sultanpuri. He was a writer l Consecutive Serial : M.K.Raina and a poet of repute. His contribution in prose is - The Treasure 55 particularly noteworthy. We offer our condolences to l Photo Feature 60 the bereaved family. His passing away is a great loss l Letters to Editor 62 to Kashmiri literature. We have enlarged the Praagaash Supplement of May 2020 on Amar Shaheed Sarvanand Koul ‘Premi’ and are re-issuing the same on 2nd November 2020, the 96th Birthday of the Poet-Scholar. [[

Inspiration : Late Shri J.N.Kachroo ~ Guide & Consulting Editor : Shri T.N.Dhar ‘Kundan’ ~ Editor : M.K.Raina ~ Overseas Coordinator : Dr. Zarka Batul, London Editorial Office : 104-B, Galaxy, Agarwal Township, Kaul’s Heritage City, Babhola, Vasai Road (W), Dist. Palghar 401 202, Maharashtra, India. E-Mail : [email protected] ~ Cell : +91-9422473459 ~ Website : kpamumbai.org/praagaash/ ~ mkraina.com/category/praagaash/ ~ Layout & DTP : Ashwin Raina

ProjectProject Zaan is Zaan the Literaryis supported Initiative by Kashmiri of Kashmiri Pandits’ Pandits’ Association, Association, Mumbai. Mumbai.

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 02 03 Praagaash ÒççiççMç `Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

JççKç - uçuç Ðço ÞçáKç - MçíKç vçÓj-Go-oçÇvç JçuççÇ

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ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 03 04 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

Society - Prof. G.H.Lone Psychological Ne eds of a Child

The world of today that we live in, is fast of service for which changing since long. It is the age of his particular Globalisation and Liberalisation. The aptitudes are best world has shrunk into a Global Village. suited. The Globalization and Liberalsation and However, it is a the policies of the world and our glaring fact that in a Government have made our lives more developing state like and more complex and therefore, people India, both rural and face more and more challenges. People urban population live are forced to toil hard round the clock to below the poverty meet these challenges. Under these line. The Child circumstances, it is need of the hour to bringing up is very take necessary steps to develop the tough in such a way children to meet the challenges ahead of that its potentialities them. It is a well established truth that we are fully flourished and developed. The are committed to the welfare and rich class that constitutes a minor segment development of our children. of population brought up their children in autocratic way. But the major portion of population struggle hard to meet the demands of the children. The Parents have very high expectations of their children without knowing that children need constant attention to come up according to the expectations of the Plat o, one of the great and famous cultural and social life of the society. Greek Philosopher formulated the first Parents and elder people in rural and systematic theory of how children should urban societies leave their homes very be educated as future citizens of his early in the morning towards the fields or to dream Ideal state. He expressed his go for the work on daily wage basis and thoughts about the child development and return home only in the evening. Under training. From his observations, he such circumstances, they're unable to concluded that children are born with take care of the children or to guide them different types of abilities and therefore, properly. each child should be guided into that type Childhood is such a stage when the

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 04 05 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 personality and the basic abilities of a child starts to develop and take its shape. Sigmund Freud, a well known Psychologist who is also known as the father of Psychoanalysis says that the childhood period is most crucial in the life of the individual. According to him, the development of the child passed through various stages i.e. oral stage, anal stage, genital stage and phallic stage. In these stages, the needs of the child aren't fulfilled satisfactorily, the dissatisfaction remains in the unconscious called parents neither to over pamper nor to fixations which may result in inadequate reject the child. A pampered child cannot development of motivational system in the develop confidence in himself, expect too child and in turn affect the personality much from others and attempt to dominate growth. It is the parents, mothers in others just as he dominates his mother. particular who can prevent such fixations Rejected children become insecure, from taking place and can prevent anxious or in some instances hostile and maladjustment in the childhood as well as rebellious. Hence, the role of parents to in later stages of life. provide a balanced care and attention is Alfred Adler, another famous quite essential to avoid further disastrous Psychologist is of the view that every new consequences. born baby will have infantile weakness In changing world order, the Indian and helplessness which result in children face more miseries than hopes development of inferiority feelings. and confidence. They are put into constant Although one is aware of his or her anxieties and uncertainties. 20th century comparative inferiority, he or she was the challenging age and the present possesses an inherent urge to grow, to century appears to be much more dominate and to be superior, which needs challenging. The rapid development of utmost support and encouragement from science and technology after the world parents. Failure to develop these qualities war IInd has thoroughly disrupted and may result in neurotic disorders and changed the personal life of the individual maladjustment. Like Freud, Adler also and also the life of nations. stresses the family situations and the early Today, we see the population years of life as the critical factors in the explosion exerting pressure on the development of the child's social production of food and other substances. relationship with parents and siblings as Over population is causing severe important. It is very important for the problems in fields of food, housing,

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 05 06 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 schooling, employment and other related forced to toil at home while assisting her problems. Children belonging to poor mother in household activities. This kind of families are the victims to a great extent. treatment and discrimination make the Poverty deprives such children of love and female children insecure. Girl child is also affection, warmth, care, low self- deprived of love, warmth, encouragement confidence, feeling of inferiority complex etc. We can arrest this kind of and alienation, unconcerned over every phenomenon by adopting a small family day matter, depression, etc. There is not norm. By keeping one or two issues, even a little chance for developing creative males or females, this will enable the ability in these children. The children from children to get equal treatment. India is slum areas and pathogenic families are fast heading towards becoming number highly prone to involve in delinquency and one country in the world with regard to her anti-social activities like pick pocketing, population. We must take necessary steps chain snatching, theft, prostitution, in bringing forward the polished brains, the burglary etc. Intake capacity in schools children who can compete with the doesn't allow for the admissions to the children of other countries, whatever the children belonging to the below poverty field is, whether it may be the field of line category. Admissions in government science and technology, education, schools have led to more and more sports, medicine, mental health etc. dropouts from schools. These dropouts Let's join the hands to provide are used as child labourers. Child Labour every kind of support viz physical, has drawn the attention of the countries all psychological, social, economical, cultural over the world. Govt.of India has taken a etc. so as to develop our children to meet number of steps to prevent child labour. the challenges ahead of them. Many programmes like ICDS include many attractive schemes like free Contact author at: [email protected] education, mid-day meals, nutrition programmes, immunization programmes, etc. but the rapid increase in population has made all these and such other programmes inadequate. Children in India today face another problem of differential treatment at the hands of parents on the basis of sex. Girls are more neglected, she is an unwanted child. The girl child is denied good education. She is

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 06 07 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

vççuçe çÆoJççvç uçÓmçemç nyyçe KççílçÓvç

vççuçe çÆoJççvç uçÓmçemç Jçvçvç lçmç çÆlç kçÀvçvç içJç vçç JçômççÇ ocçe ocç³ç kçÀuç scç içvçvç DççÆcç içcç³ç Dçç³çmç yç@mççÇ nçÆvç nvçí sácç cçç]pç svçvç lçmç çÆlç kçÀvçvç içJç vçç JçômççÇ ûçç³ç kç@Àjevçcç ³çvçe ³ççJçevçvç lçvçe h³çJççvç smç Jç@m³ç Jç@mççÇ æ®çÓçÆj æ®ççôuçácç Jççôv³ç kçÀçÆlç Dçvçvç lçmç çÆlç kçÀvçvç içJç vçç JçômççÇ uç@pç HçáÀuç³ç içáçÆuç ³ççmçcçvç êççƳç DççMçkçÀ kçÀcç nçJç@mççÇ cçáçÆMçkçÀ ¿çJççvç sçÇ içáuçMçvçvç lçmç çÆlç kçÀvçvç içJç vçç JçômççÇ nyyçe KççílçÓvç æ®çpçççƳç Jçvçvç Jçvçe kçÀç@l³ççn ]pççuçvç Hç@ÀmççÇ Dç]pçuçe uçç@çÆvçmç kçôbÀn sávçe yçvçvç lçmç çÆlç kçÀvçvç içJç vçç JçômççÇ

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 07 08 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 cççlçãYçÓçÆcç - [ç. DççqivçMçíKçj kçÀMcççÇj kçÀçÇ GlhççÆllç kçÀç DççK³ççvç kçÀ

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 08 09 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 09 10 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 10 11 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 11 12 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 12 13 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

[[

Author can also be contacted at: [email protected]

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 13 14 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

Short Story - Mushtaque B Barq Crocodile Tears

From my school days, God knows why before my fall like a in the backyard of my junkyard__ I call it forlorn victim of brain for the grounds that I was never 'might'. It triggered given approval to dissent; these crocodile my rush and I started tears had illegally occupied much of my to reconstruct tracks gray matter like my nation. A notion I used and by lanes that to nurse that crocodile tears are insincere would take me out of expressions of sorrows. But when my gray cesspool of 'yes man matter started to lose its viscosity, the rush ship'. It was not at all ruined the old bridges and wrecked the easy to start, but then towers that my teachers had once raised a good start is half done. for me to touch the peaks of excellence While I was on to bring on the skin had stooped too low. 'Fall' in this part of all the impression of my newly found land is yet another narrative of prehistoric fineness, a storm took over and in no time misconceptions and contemporary the dust laid its eggs in the safest nests of mishandling of facts. I was there to stand human breasts. The progeny multiplied like my curiosity. The crocodile tears cascaded down the cheeks and as a sadist, a man tries his best to satisfy his selfishness. In the rat race men of class were on to explore the trade and trend of empathy. From a village a doctor learned that his grey matter has been infected. He rushed to city and settled after pleasing many headless heads for whom the human body serves as a living treasure to take advantage of it. After his infected grey matter was scanned by the mastermind, he was found fit to serve. Service that needs contaminated nerves to unnerve a common man, a mutilated ego that molest the mass, an eye that eyes on termination and a man who nurses within him a verve

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 14 15 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 to satisfy a political need. the crocodile tears which people mistook He once asked, “Why the as human salt leaking through his ice researchers need poor man?” blocked eyes. “Poverty is basic need to do the The dust was whirling, sowing its needful, it is a creation , lot of money is seeds into the soil of human existence, but pumped in to create underprivileged lot, the doctored devil let it reach to every door, we invest to earn, every poor man is our he let it grow and grow rapidly. Pace to requirement, go and fetch them”, the boss ravenous raven is what wine is to replied. drunkard. “If I deny”, he casually asked. The devil entertained the malice of “Denial is death, submission is life”, doctor who while crossing a pond found a the boss directed. long line of crocodiles on its banks. He was The storm was no more a laughing terrified but the devil infused in him a stock but a package of lethal infection to a consideration for beasts and the devil in compromised immunity stock. The the company of doctor started to shed mischievous spirit of luxury summoned tears for crocodiles, thus changed the the village doctor and settled on to his maxim like a bitter truth erased from the infected gray matter. Thus both learnt how chronicles. to shed crocodile tears. These crocodiles The dust in the village had reached were in jolly mood for they had already every door to let the doctor step in. predicted the outcome of doctor's He announced, “Death is infectious mind. I could see crocodiles in inevitable, I cannot save all” human form wandering and weeping, Initially an old man died, no one shedding tears as their trade mark, but in claimed his dead body. The devil knocked disguise waiting for the feast. the doctor. As the dust passed from an “Yes”, he declared. ignorant man to careless people, the A team of his favourites got clues to doctor felt the pulse of devil and moved carry on shedding crocodile tears. back to village where the general gender Only a few survived. Survival was a was already affected. 'In the country of drama and death was a hit and miss fiction. blind men, one-eyed man is the king' the No funeral, no cremation, no burial, only a saying echoed within the empty cans of formality, but in the guise of formality my consciousness. various formats were followed. A protocol “I have come to treat you” the drafted by a sick mind. doctor proudly announced. With the fall of dusk a siren would Slogans filled the air, the echo mean: Keep counting. The siren would puffed-up doctor's malice and he smiled, lock the people and the team would do the but to gain sympathy, he started to shed rest. Rest were arrested by fear, the horror

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 15 16 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

was the only apparatus to put a ceiling on screams of mothers, sisters, daughters, the foot fall. wives had long been died away. Silence These crocodile tears in the back of and sorrow, sobs and shouts were on mind started to irritate me. My wits that I receiving end. had after an unremitting persuasion What impulse brought me to the flattened to the degree of flexibility pond that day is still a mystery and shall somehow encouraged my wrath to take a stay perhaps. The gigantic crocodiles at forward movement. My newly found flow the bank of pond were shedding tears. of intellect started to ooze the dew on my This time the salt seemed common and I dry leaves that on the boughs of my realised crocodiles too wept and the repentance were looking for salvation. empty graves too speak. On my way back A graveyard and cremation ground to home the ambulance had met an in the outskirts of village after a accident and human organs in a box were demarcation drive got sanctioned and at still pulsating like my lively heart. the rear of their masks God knows how many crocodiles had been pissing on their [[ cheeks. Pissing was a trade mark that behind the masks had choked their taste buds to the extent sweet and sour had no [Author Mushtaque B Barq is a poet, short stakeholders. story writer, translator and a columnist. His A crocodile in me too stirred. It was translation works on Sufi Poets of Kashmir a brawny push I felt in my thin grey matter. are well appreciated. He was awarded Graveyard and cremation too were with Azaz i Alamdar Kashmir by Markazi shedding crocodile tears but unlike me Adab wa Sakafat, Chari Shrief. His poetry there was nothing save a deadly silence. and coulmns are published in national and Bones and ash on one side and heaps and International Portals. He was awarded heaps of loose soil on the other side and a Editor's Choice Award by Poetry.com and tin board reading: Death keeps no certificate of appreciation by International calendar was adding frustration. I got Journal in English for his contribution in buried and cremated, yet I was breathing, Ghazal writing in English. He is also breathing for the rest at the cost of my founder of Kashmir Images Literary Club.] empty coffin. Hundreds died, no one claimed the dead bodies for the fear of infection. Contact author at : Fathers denied, sons claimed not, [email protected] daughters and mothers attended not and the rest followed the suit. Mourners for the first time had put on the veil of silence. The [[

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 16 17 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

kçÀçJ³ç - kçBÀJçj kçÀçÌuç `ncçocç' Some verses inspired iç]pçuç by Lalded's Vaakhs Kanwar Kaul ‘Hamdam’

Saheb ko tere pal pal ki khabar hai teri har harqat pe uski nazar hai

Idhar udhar kya dhoondta phire hai zara jhaank ke dekh voh tere andar hai

Faasla rakh dunya ke jhamelon se Gar rakh sake to too sikandar hai

Azizo-aashna aarzi hain sab ek din alvida kehna muqarar hai

Rab ko paana hai to saansen qaboo kar talaash uspeero-murshid ko jo rahbar hai

isi dunya me tujhe aana hai baar baar fir alvida fir vohideher hai

basad niyaaz hai sajde mei hamdam Nijaatkhudaya yeh bezaar safar hai

azizo-aashna: kith and kin aarzi: temporary peer: elderly person, saint murshid: spiritual teacher deher: world, era basad niyaaz: in utmost humility Nijaat: salvation bezaar: frustrating, desperate

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 17 18 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020

Know YourMotherland - Dr. P.L.Ganju Shrines & Monuments of Hari Parbat “Nowhere else is seen in the centre of a city a pleasure hill from which this splendour of all the houses (of Srinagar) is visible, as if from the sky” - Kalhana : Rajatarangini iii-361, Translation : Aurel Stein

In the above passage, the 'pleasure appears to have hill' of Kalhana, is indeed the hill of the flowed out of the modern Hari Parbat, overlooking Valley due to some Srinagar. From the top of the hill, one can tectonic movements have a panoramic view of the downtown of the earth, laying Srinagar, the Dal Lake, the Zabarwan bare the Valley, along mountain range, etc. The hill is dotted with with all its hills and the shrines of both the Hindus and dales, springs and Muslims of the Valley. In the course of lakes and rivers and time, the slopes of the hill and the ground its mounds (udhas/ at its base were appropriated by people for karewas). The lacustrine origin of the building residential houses and gardens. Valley is amply supported by modern The Mughal Emperor Akbar began scientific research in which the existence fortification of Hari Parbat, which he called of the uplands of the udars or karewas is a Nagar Nagar, by raising a huge rampart living proof of this phenomenon. around it to segregate the beautiful, Now the legends. In his picturesque site from the rest of the city, Rajatarangini (i-25), Kalhana, following ostensibly to build his new capital of Nagar the Nilamat Purana, says that during the Nagar. The Emperor's dream of time of the first six legendary Manus, the fortification of Nagar Nagar was not land 'in the womb of the Himalaya' was fulfilled in his own time. The fort on the top occupied by a lake called Satisaras ( Lake of the hill was built many centuries later by of Sati, one of the forms of Goddess the ruling Pathans. Durga). In the next shloka, he says that In its remote geological past, when the period of the seventh Manu, Kashmir did not exist as we see it today, as Vaivasvata, arrived (that is, the present a 'paradise on earth'. The entire valley was era), Prajapati Kashyapa caused the gods a huge lake of sweet water and Hari led by Druhina, Upendra and Rudra Parbat, Dal Lake, Shakaracharya hill, etc., (Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, respectively) to would have been submerged in it. In the descend on the earth to cause the water course of time, the water of the lake drain out and lay bare the land of Kashmir.

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worshipped by Kashmiri Brahmans as an The Shrine of Shri Ganesha image of Sri Ganesha. King Pravarasena- II (r. 415-475 A.D.), one of the ancient, powerful rulers of ancient Kashmir, and the reputed founder of modern Srinagar, was devoted to Vinayaka, enshrined in the sacred rock, called Bhimasvaminganesha. The rock of Ganesha bears a tantric diagram of Srichakra engraved on it but that is now concealed under a thick layer of red vermillion (sindoor) applied to the rock. Nevertheless, it goes to the credit of our As a part of their daily routine, many enlightened ancestors, of the Nilamata Kashmiri Pandits of Srinagar would go to time, who had anticipated the existence of Hari Parbat, early in the morning, some the Lake occupying the Valley. They called bare-footed, to worship at the shrine of Sri it Satisar, the lake of the Goddess Sati. But Ganesha. They returned home using a the legends that were woven by them for different path, doing circumambulation its drainage are mindboggling. In the (Parikrama) of the hill itself. On the way, course of time, these legends, however, they paid obeisance to the images of some endowed the hill its sanctity and, soon, a of the other deities located on the foot of number of sacred spots were recognised the sacred hill. on the hill and converted into the shrines In the time of Kalhana and Aurel of gods and goddesses. From time Stein, the rock idol of Sri Ganesha was still immemorial, people of Kashmir would called by its ancient name of worship there and even perform parikrama of the entire hill. With the advent of Islam in the Shrine of Sharikadevi at Valley, its Sufi saints also made Hari Chakreshwari Parbat their abode of worship and their followers built shrines on the hill to perpetuate their memory. It is intended here to give a brief account of the iconic structures that have come up on the hill of Hari Parbat, or in its vicinity in their historical perspective. It is believed that, from time immemorial, a rock lying bare at the foot of the southern extremity of Hari Parbat was

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Bhimasvamin-ganesha. Shrivara, a believed to be enshrined in a vertical rock Sanskrit court poet in the reign of King with a complex tantric diagram engraved Zaina-ul-Abidin( 1420-1470) wrote in his on it. In Sanskrit, Sharika means 'a bird' Rajatarangini, that the King had built a and in Kashmir this bird was identified with new shrine in honour of Bhimasvamin- maina, the haer. Goddess Sharika lends ganesha at Hari Parbat. Perhaps, he may its name to the hill as Sharikaparvata and have renovated its older structure. thehaer in turn lends its name to Hari In ancient times, the hill of Hari Parbat. Parbat was also known as the hill of Like the rock of Sri Ganesha, the Pradyumna. In Rajatarangini (iii-460), rock at Chakresvara is also smeared with Kalhana wrote that King Ranaditya and a thick layer of vermilion paint, hiding the his Queen Rambha built a Matha for the Sri Chakra. The shrine can be approached Pashupata (Shaiva) medicants on the top by a flight of 108 steps rising from Devi of the 'Pradyumna ' (hill). Stein says that Aangan. The devotees throng the sacred byPradyumana-murdhan, a term used by site in large numbers on Ashad Kalhana, is meant the Sharikaparavata or Shuklapaksh Navami to celebrate Sharika Hariparvata. This is amply corroborated in Jayanti. later works, wherein names like The worship of Sharika Pradyumnapitha, Pradyumnagiri, Ashtadashbuja on the Hari Pradyumnashikhra, etc., were also given Parbat/Pradyumna is deemed to be very to Hari Parbat. In his Kathasaritsagar, ancient. It appears that Sharika was Somadeva alludes to a story which would worshipped there in the time of connect the hill with the love of Usha and Pravarasena II also. When the King was Aniruddhath, the son of Pradyumna. In searching for an auspicious spot for laying Rajatarangini (vii 1616), Kalhana again the foundation of his new capital, he had referred to the hill of Hari Parbat as found it in the village of Sharitaka near Hari 'Pradyumna'. When the ill-fated King Harsha (1089- 1101) was attacked by the Ziarat of Makhdoom Sahib princes of the rival collateral, Lohar Dynasty, he had fled his burning palace and reached the said 'Pradyumana' hill. Higher up on the Hari Parbat/Pradyumna hill, on its north- western side, overlooking the Devi Angan below, lies the well-known shrine of Chakresvari, the abode of Goddess Sharika Ashtadashabhuja, a form of Goddess Durga, where the latter is

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Parbat. He was guided by a demon/ surviving in Kashmir. The courtyard of the yaksha/ vetala, called Atta, in locating it. mosque is somewhat cramped, being Kalhana wrote that both Atta and the situated on the slope of the hill. Below the goddess Sharika lived at Sharitaka. The site of the mosque, are found the ruins of village Sharitaka is no longer there but many arched halls, where the pilgrims mention of Sharika sufficiently indicates would lodge , says R.C.Kak. that the abode of Sharika was There is a strong tradition that the Chakresvara. Mughal Emperor Akbar had ordered the A descendant of a Hindu Rajput fortification of the picturesque hill of Hari family of Nagarkot, Makhadum Sahib, Parbat, as a part of his project to alleviate also known as Hamza Makhadum, was a the suffering of the people caused by a renowned Kashmiri Sufi saint of the 16th famine. Beginning with Kalhana, who century A.D. He lived at Tajar, a village wrote Rajatarangini (the First Chronicle), near Zainagir. He was a follower of Sheik Shuka, the last of the Kashmiri Sanskrit Shahab-ud-Din Soharawardi of Baghdad. historians, wrote in Rajavlipataka (the He was not very popular in his village and Fourth Chronicle), sometime after Akbar shifted to Srinagar, making Hari Parbat his had annexed Kashmir in 1586 that, for permanent abode. He was highly revered lack of accommodation, the government by the people of the City and a shrine was troops had occupied the private installed in his name on the sacred hill, in residences in the area, causing great the vicinity of the shrine of Ganesha. In hardship to the citizens. When the course of time, his shrine became a site of emperor came to know about their Ziarat for the people of the Valley and a distress, he ordered construction of a number of buildings andsarais were later cantonment on the hill which appears to added to accommodate them. The mosque of Akhun Mulla Shah is situated on the slope of the Hari Parbat hill, below the shrine of Makhdum Sahib, a little away from it. It was built by Dara Shikoh, son of Shah Jahan, for his tutor Akhun Mulla Shah, in A.D. 1649. The mosque is a small one, but it is built of beautiful grey limestone. The canopy of the mosque, over the pulpit, is decorated with a stone lotus (finial). In his book, Ancient Monuments of Kashmir, Pandit R.C. Kak says that the lotus finial over the pulpit of the Mosque is the only example Akbar’s Rampart, around Hari Parbat

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 21 22 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 have accelerated the civil habitation on its slopes. Gurdwara Chhatti Padshahi As part of the fortification of the picturesque hill of Hari Parbat with its shrines and residential buildings, renamed as Nagar Nagar, construction of a massive stone rampart was begun around the site, ostensibly, to isolate it from the rest of Srinagar and create the new city. The rampart with a circumference of about 5 Km, is in ruins now except for the two of its imposing gates, viz. Kathi Darwaza and the Sangin Darwaza, which still stand there in their come to Kashmir in A.D. 1620 after a tour pristine glory. Kathi Darwaza seems to of northwest India to propagate Sikhism. have been the main entrance to Akbar's Guru Hargobind had stayed at the site of Nagar Nagar, as it bears an inscription in the Gurdwara at Kathi Darwaza for a few praise of the Emperor. The Emperor had days and met his staunch blind disciple, sent one crore and ten lakhs (of Rupees) Mai Bagh Bhari. The latter requested the from his treasury and two hundred Indian Guru to grant her Moksha from her life and master builders to Kashmir to build the died soon after her wish was granted. It is rampart. The Kathi Darwaza bears the said that Guru Hargobind cremated her year of its completion corresponds to near the site of the Gurdwara Sahib. A.D. 1600 . Akbar's rampart was not Many historians believe that Guru completed in his life time. It was Hargobind Sahib had accompanied the completed under the 'instrumentality’ of Mughal Emperor Jahangir in his visit to one Mir Mohammad Hussain, in charge of Kashmir in 1620. S. Ajit Singh (Deputy the works, as another inscription on Kathi Conservator of Forests (Retd) refutes it. Darwaza tells us (ref. Pandit R.C. Kak's He wrote that Jahangir and Guru Ancient Monuments of Kashmir). Hargobind had travelled by different The massive 'military' Fort on the routes and at different times to enter top of the Hari Parbat hill was built by an Kashmir. He wrote that Jahangir, in his Afghan ruler, called Shuja Shah Durani in personal chronicle, has mentioned that he A.D. 1808. had stayed in a palace at Koh-i-maran Gurudwara Chatti Patshahi is (Hari Parbat). There is a story that his situated near Kathi Darwaza, outside Queen Noor Jahan had met Guru Akbar's rampart. It is dedicated to Guru Hargobind at the Gurdwara Sahib, Kathi Hargobind Dev , the 6th Sikh Guru. He had Darwaza, to pay her respects to the Guru.

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Ruins of the ancient temple of [Siva] have visited the site, says that it was made Pravareshvara, Ziarat of Baha-ud-Din of stone blocks of considerable size, and Sahib, Cemetery of Baha-ud-Din and still of considerable height. He adds: As for its Gate: as its architecture is concerned, it might The cemetery of Baha-ud-Din lies well belong to the earliest monuments of outside the rampart of Hari Parbat, at a Srinagar …… The position of the ruins is distance of less than half a Km from the very central and might well have been mosque of Akhun Mulla Shah. In the reign chosen by the founder of Pravarapura for a of Pravarasena II ( A.D. 415-475), the site prominent shrine in his new city. of the cemetery was the sanctum In his epic poem Vikramanka- sanctorum of the temple of [Siva] devacharitam (xviii-28), Pandit Bilhana Pravareshvara built by the King to wrote that the temple of Siva, built by King propitiate the foundation of his 'New Pravarsena, was so wonderful that one Capital' Pravarapur (modern Srinagar). In thought he had reached Amravati. He time, the temple had crumbled or was added that its gate had a hole in its roof destroyed in the Muslim Period. and and resembled the gate of heaven, thereafter the Ziarat of Baha-ud-din came through which the king had bodily up on the ruined site. Aurel Stein says that ascended to heaven. A hundred years the remains of the temple were after Bihana, Kalhana wrote in a similar 'undoubtedly' used to build the Ziarat. vein : At the temple of Pravaresha, the After the Ziarat had also vanished, the site place where the King (Pravarasena) came to be known as the Baha-ud-din's obtained supernatural perfection (siddhi) Cemetery. Soon, many distinguished there is seen even to this day a gate which personages of Kashmir were entombed rivals the gate of heaven (Rajat.iii 378) around the cemetery. Besides the remains of the temple, [[ which were used to build the Muslim structures mentioned above,, its massive roofless gateway, now in ruins, has still Contact author at : remained behind at the SW entrance of [email protected] the cemetery. Aurel Stein, who appears to

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Kashmiri Pandit Heritage - A utar Krishen Trisal Yantra called Dejhor

Yesa Na Vidya Japo Na Dhan ceremony. Gayanam Nay Sheel Gunay Na Dharam Dejhor is not Tey Mirtulokey Bhav Bhar Bhoota randomly worn as all Munsh Roopanay Mirga Chirante other ornaments are preferred. It is “The man who does not possess obtained after education religious Scriptures capacity for performing certain donating, attitude, Dharma, he is a burden religious rituals on on earth, though he posses the face of the day of Devgoan. human but he is considered as animal.” Devgoan: Devgoan literarily means to The above referred couplet of invite the Devatas for offering their Kashmiri Pandits is very common in every blessing to the people who are performing house hold which the religious rituals. The marriage clearly indicates how ceremony of Kashmiri much clearly indicates Pandits is mainly of how much particular three functions, viz. they are to obtain all the Manz-Raat, Devgoan qualities and abilities of and Lagan, commonly life. known as Mehandi, The main Sant and Lavay Pheray question is when and in northern region of the where from such country. abilities and qualities Devgoan is the first are obtained ? religious ritual without It is right from the which no marriage or day of birth especially Yugnopavit ceremony from the day when child can be performed. This starts sucking the milk ritual maintains its from the breast of the mother who has a sanctity for seven days only and if within Yantra (amulet) in the shape of an seven days Lagan/Yugnopaveet ritual is essential ornament on her body, known as not performed, the ritual is to be repeated. Dejhor, which mother adopt on the day of During the ceremony, the would be her Devgoan during her marriage bride has to take the bath and this bath

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 25 26 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 ceremony is conducted by five virgins god and goddesses and for sanctifying her known as Kanyas in local dialect who are ornaments and utensils which are to be considered to be the formations of five gifted by her parents. Among the women who have achieved the highest ornaments Dejhor in particular is in order of salvation among the Hindu consideration as it becomes a powerful females as per Dharam Shastra, namely Yantra afterwards in respect of Ahilya, Drupdi, Tara, Sita and Mandodari. social/economic security and as well as for Simultaneously they are also known as building her youthfulness and providing a five forms of universe viz. Agni (fire), healthy progeny for the community. Prakash (sky). The would be bride is made This ceremony is performed by the to sit in a specific stellar position on a Kul Purohit and is known as Kane Shran in circular shaped place made on the Kashmiri. ground, so that she can get the boon of Dejhoor is made calmness, happiness and smoothness in of gold and its weight her life which she has to lead in future. depends on the After obtaining the said posture economic condition of four virgins take a cloth and spread the the parents of a same on the head of the bride by taking daughter, it can only be their own positions in the four corners of worn with the support of the specified place and the fifth virgin a long thread made of pours the mixture of water, flowers, rice, Gold/ordinary Colored milk, ghee and Chandan (Sandal wood) threads which is known on the head of the bride. At this stage the in Kashmiri as ATAH five virgins are considered to be in the and the lower side of formation of Dharma, Artha, Kama, Dejhor is supported by a Moksha and Brahma. During this process thick bunch of threads elderly ladies sing the hymns from designed in an ornamental shape. It is also Rigveda which in theme are blessing for made of gold or of different kinds of the bride and the bridegroom. After threads which are commonly known in completion of the religious bath ceremony, Kashmiri as Sulma/Tilla etc. and this bride wears new cloths gifted by her ornamental shaped bunch is known as maternal's and also wears the ornaments Athor.. which are to be gifted by her parents. The Athor is also an important part of ornaments are usually worn by the father's the dejhoor and has a great social and sister commonly known as Puffi/Bhuwa. cultural significance. It is always gifted to After observing all the above sisters, daughters female relations and to referred formalities the bride sits for Pooja the female members having close Archa for obtaining the blessings of all the friendship on each and every function they

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 26 27 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 perform as a token of gesture love & widow has no male child of her own, she affection, It is always worn first in the left can abandon the Dejhor. ear. Dejhor is manufactured in a Dejhor has the same significance particular shape having left and right side among the Kashmiri Pandit women as the shape as pin heads. Centre portion is flat Mangalsutra has for the women of having two holes each on upper & lower northern part of India. It is worn by making side just to pass the Atah & Athor in it. It is a hole in the upper part of the ear and worn in both the ears separately, and is hanged by the support of Atah & Athor. Its first worn in left ear. As women is length is maintained upto breast of the Vamkokshu child, so Dejhor and Athor are female. Dejhoor when adopted at the time always worn first in the left ear. of Devgoan is worn only with the support Vamkokshu: A child who at the time of of Atah and Athor is provided by the in- birth is on the left side of the womb of the laws when brides reaches in-laws house mother is known as Vamkokshu child and after marriage ceremony. The in-laws it is always a female child. change also the Atah provided by the Dhekshan Kokshu: A child who at the parents and replace both the items by time of birth is on the right side of the womb goldenAtah &Athor. of the mother is known as Dhekshan t is not out of place to mention here Kokshu child and it is always a male child. that Mangalsutra is abandoned after a Thus a Kashmiri Jyotshi while lady becomes awidow, but Dejhor is not framing the horoscope of a person always abandoned till death. In case where a writes in the horoscope ‘Vamkokshu Kanya Jatta - Dhekshan Kokshu Putro Jatta’ Both pin heads on the left and right side religiously – denotes the presence of Lord Shiva and Shakti in the Dejhor and centre flat portion is considered as Yagya Shalla Vedi denoting the entry of bride into the matters of family and household affairs. Of, having the presence of Lord Shiva and Shakti in the left and right side of Dejhoor, so, while sucking the milk from the breast of the mother from the day of birth Kashmiri Pandit obtains

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 27 28 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 the boon of becoming a man of renowned social and economic security to the character in the society. This boon of Lord daughters who could not contact their Shiva and Shakti is as such the main parents after marriage for months together reason that Kashmiri Pandit are highly due to the unavailable approach roads educated, having the quality of integrity, during the rough weather seasons, so their devotion to duty, having no criminal parents remained confident of their safety, background. They are not of timid nature long life & prosperity due to this yantra, the but are liberal. They posses affectionate Dejhor. nature and has a quality of adjusting Irony is this, that the present time themselves in any atmosphere whether political and criminal situation in the social, cultural or political. This country has made the Kashmiri nature of Kashmiri Pandits has Pandit women to forget the old been summed up by Mr. traditions and have abandoned Lawerance in his book “The the wearing of Dejhor in a proper Valley of Kashmir” in the manner and do not take religious following manner. “Kashmiri and other said sanctities of the Pandits are faithful, trustworthy, Dejhor in consideration. They co-operative and intelligent. simply wear it for fashion They are honest and have the purposes and keep this yantra, quality of high proficiency of fixed in their hairs behind their intelligence. All this is due to head or keep it attached with them from the mother's milk braid which is not proper and which has the blessing of Lord which goes against the sanctity Shiva and Shakti through a of the Dejhor adopted by her for powerful yanta, the Dejhor”. particular reasoning at the time of Dejhor is also considered Devgoan. a powerful yantra for the If the present day Kashmiri maintenance of proper youth by Pandit women compare a Kashmiri Pandit female as has themselves with the past time been quoted by Jhon Rig in his book “Sex women, they shall definitely feel the Impulses” - “.... that slight continued difference in physique, beauty of their own vibratory motions in the breast of a female and of their progeny. This is only because increases and properly maintains her they have forgotten the traditional beauty and youthfulness, thus it is the heritage. main reason why the length of Dejhor has been maintained from ear to breast”. Contact author at ; Being the golden ornament Dejhor [email protected] was also considered in the olden days as [[

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My Medical Journey : Dr K.L.Chowdhury DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension)

“I wish more and more that health can be devastating were studied half as much as disease is consequences - …..why not inquire what foods people eat, paralysis, loss of what habits of body and mind they sensation and cultivate ... " function, blindness, - Sarah N. Cleghorn deafness, in- coordination, Year 1966: When I joined Medical College, impaired intellect, Srinagar as a faculty member the loss of commonest emergencies we had to tackle consciousness, etc. were 'Strokes'. Stroke is the result of A third of stroke patients die, another third bleeding from, or blockage in, the arteries are permanently handicapped and only a supplying different areas of brain. third may return to normal life. Why so Bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke) leads to many strokes in Kashmiris then? compression and destruction of Well, nearly all of these patients neighboring brain tissue while blockage suffered from high blood pressure (ischemic stroke) leads to death of an area (Hypertension).This condition results in supplied by the blocked artery by cutting high impact injury to the vessel wall. off the vital blood flow. In both cases there Hypertension initiates erosion of the blood vessel wall and the deposition of fats (cholesterol, lipids), platelets etc. leading to a segmental narrowing and ultimate blockage. High shearing forces can also burst the vessel wall leading to bleeding (haemorrhage). We found that high blood pressure was rampant in the Kashmiri population, both Muslims and Hindus. Many of these unfortunate victims of stroke were unaware of their high blood pressure till they landed with this catastrophic event, because hypertension may not cause any symptoms, whatsoever, while it is

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 30 31 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 damaging the target organs – the blood Age in Years Percent suffering vessels, heart, eyes and kidneys. from Hypertension Why was hypertension so common 20-30 6% in Kashmiris? While we know that 31-40 14% hypertension is multi-factorial, and 41-50 31% ethnicity (and genes) play a big role, we 51-60 30% also know that excess salt consumption is >60 29% one very important causative factor. Salt seemed to be the main culprit in our 45% of all subjects were suffering from people. We conducted a large population high BP, of which only 25 % knew about study and found out that Kashmiris their hypertension and the remaining 20 % consumed nearly 3 times the salt of an were new cases average Indian. The major source was the salt tea (sheer chai) but food too was Pre- hypertension 11% highly salted, and pickled. Down the years Stage 1 16 % till, along with three hundred and fifty Stage 2 18 % thousand Hindus (Pandits) I was forced It is shocking that even after 40 into exile in 1989-90, hypertension and its years nothing seems to have changed or dire consequences continued to take a big changed for the worse. Not only is high toll of Kashmiris. blood pressure rampant in the Pandit Year 2006: Hypertension exiles but nearly half of them are ignorant continues to haunt us in exile too. In fact, of their condition and the other half during the last 17 years, along with possibly do not care. diabetes, hypertension has assumed Why do we continue to suffer from epidemic proportions. To find the actual this insidious and dangerous affliction statistics we at Shriya Bhat Mission even as there is a high level of awareness Hospital and Research Center (SBMH) about hypertension? organized a Multipurpose Medical Camp One, since old habits die hard, we at Purkhoo (a refugee camp, in the have not changed our habits and life style. outskirts of Jammu, housing Kashmiri The rural folk, even after 17 years of forced Pandits). Amongst other objectives one urbanization, have not shed their salt was to find out the prevalence of high cravings. blood pressure (Hypertension) in the adult Two, life style has further inmates. The highlights were as follows: degenerated with sedentary habits and the unabashed adoption of new, elaborate Total subjects examined =150 (Male 48% and complicated menus on weddings, Female 52%) birthday celebrations, house warming Age : The age ranged from 20 to 67 years ceremonies etc. and the overall

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consumption of salt has increased Blood pressure can be unhealthy even if it manifold as also of beverages, fats and stays only slightly above the normal level sweets. of less than 120/80 mmHg. The more the Three, urbanization and the travails blood pressure the greater the health risk. of exile, especially the breaking up of There is a wide array of drugs with families, frequent displacements, highly which to fight high blood pressure. Even stressful corporate and factory jobs and a the layperson can enumerate many of great increase in travel, all conspire to set them because drug cocktails are in the tempo for raised blood pressure. fashion, but to prescribe the right drug or The stress factor has emerged as a the right drug combination requires an in- major player in accelerating this condition depth knowledge of the drugs and a full with the result that I find an increasing clinical and biochemical detail of the number of young students and working individual patient. There is no hit and trial adults with hypertension. Many of them thing here but a well informed, well thought have run the gamut of tests and come up out plan in each case. with other complicating factors including And yet, drugs are but only a part of high lipid, blood sugar and uric acid levels, the approach to a patient of hypertension. all a reflection of the changing life style. Equally important is: When you combine high blood pressure l To endeavor to lead a quiet, peaceful, with this emerging Metabolic Syndrome tranquil life, and to fight stress through and the other scourge of modernity, meditation, yoga and other recreational diabetes, what you have is a deadly mix activities like reading, writing, music, rampaging and ravaging your systems games and vacations. before you know it. l To be physically active on most days of There is a lot of ignorance even in the week and to maintain a healthy weight. the medical fraternity about the normal l If you drink alcoholic beverages, to do (healthy) range of blood pressure and the so in moderation. approach to treatment. It is not all their l If you are prescribed medication, to fault for the guidelines keep changing as take it as directed and not to stop the more and more evidence keeps flowing in treatment once the blood from large population studies. pressure is under control. Remember, Let us look at the BP levels for once hypertension always hypertension adults. except in certain situations. l Tofollow a healthy eating plan. Systolic Diastolic In a path breaking study Scientists Normal 90-120 60-80 supported by the National Heart, Lung, Pre-hypertension 120–139 80–89 and Blood Institute (NHLBI) showed that Hypertension above 140 above 90 blood pressures were reduced with an

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 32 33 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 eating plan that is low in saturated fat, The ebb and flow of blood cholesterol, and total fat and that emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and fat- Like water in a river free or low-fat milk and milk products. This I need to flow at an easy pace, eating plan, known the DASH (Dietary with an easy pressure. Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating At pressures too low plan also includes whole grain products, the tributaries dry up fish, poultry, and nuts. It is low in lean red and deprive land of sustenance. meat, sweets, added sugars, and sugar- At pressures higher containing beverages and rich in the shores slowly erode and overflow. potassium, magnesium, and calcium, as And with sudden surges well as protein and fiber. the dams burst to cause the deluge. In the layman's language DASH means low salt, high fiber diet rich in fruits, green leafy vegetables, legumes, lentils, Like life itself, and for life to go on, beans and pulses, tomatoes, mushrooms, I need to flow at an easy pace, nuts, seeds, and grains (brown rice, whole at an equitable pressure, wheat bread),lean meat, fish and poultry, to provide the vital energy to every cell, yogurt cultured from fat free milk. and every system of the body. Start by cutting salt in half. Use spices and Pray, do not rouse me, green chilies instead of salt. In cooking do not provoke my flow and at the table, flavor foods with herbs, through indulgences and excesses, spices, lemon, lime, vinegar, or salt-free through a rush of temper or nerves. seasoning blends. The DASH eating plan along with Moderation is the watchword in medicine other lifestyle changes can help you as in all things of life. (Poem byAuthor) prevent and control blood pressure. If the blood pressure is not too high, you may be able to control it entirely by changing your [[ eating habits, losing weight if you are overweight, getting regular physical Contact Dr. at: activity, stop smoking and cutting down on [email protected] alcohol. The DASH eating plan also has other benefits, such as lowering LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, which, further reduces [[ the risk for getting heart disease and strokes.

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Contact author at: [email protected]

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Book Review - Dr. Sohan Lal Koul Dr Showkat Shif a-APoet of Unified Sensibility

‘Unified sensibility’ – This term was idea or an impression used as a high tribute to John Donne by is unified as a literary T.S.Eliot. By unification he meant a fusion form. Every poem of of thought and feelings. Great poetry is Dr. Shifa reflects the always an same fusion of outcome of this intellect and feeling. fusion. If we try to His wonderful poetry analyse and is mesmerising and is understand this well equipped with feature in Kashmiri every sensory and poetry, we can feel figurative language. His impulse to this unification in perceive unity or to draw together a every genuine number of apparently unrelated poet. From Lal experiences are beyond the resources of Ded to Rehman direct language, so he uses similes, Rahi, this has metaphors and symbols to communicate been a continual the complexity through a soft approach. creative tool with Dr. Shifa is the poets of different generations. Exactly known for this after one hundred years, since this term softness. While going was coined, when I am writing an article on through his poems you Dr. Showkat Shifa's poetic prowess, I can can observe his feel the same subtle pattern of unified continual self-sacrifice sensibility in his poetry. to achieve the best in Dr. Shifa is a poet of 21st century poetry. With the and is constantly amalgamating emergence of desperate experiences to produce a fresh hundreds of poets in idiom of poetry. He is conscious of this fact Kashmiri language since 1990, claiming that refined sensibility never produces modernist and post-modernist and trying complex results. Sensibility is not the to put forth some innovational poetry capacity to receive sense impressions regarding uncertainty and absurdity of life, only but it is more than that. It is a it was challenging for critics to evaluate its constructive medium through which an merit. Large portion of that poetry was

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 38 39 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 found as frenzy and could not hold any carries six sections, which he has named merit. As the dust settled we could see a as 'Bog' again a typical word used for gift or tender voice emerging with command and share. These six sections reflect the competence and taking the shape of a gradual process of maturity in thought for thunder to communicate in the heart beats becoming a great and unique poet. of life. Unexpectedly he put forth such an idiom of poetry which surprised even the greatest critics of language and literature. Apparently he has a great tradition of spiritual and Metaphysical poets, which This verse has been used as preface by got embedded in his intellect to restore a the poet himself and before we move truth which is independent of ahead we have encounter this expression. presumptuous intellect. His sincere It should not be construed as an ego of approach towards poetry makes him an poet but as an amalgam of being with original poet of the soil. He explores the nothingness. “No living being in this new images, new linguistic patterns and universe is as worthless and small as I am, new philosophical ideas for his reader. But still the height of that mountain my 'Ka:ne Va:lay' is his latest poetry foot, taller I am.” A successful and collection. Now see the title of the book characteristic effect is secured through “Ka:ne Va:lay” – It is a typical Kashmiri brief words and sudden contrast, when he word for shaking the branches of walnut talks about depths and heights in same trees again after the yield has been breath. A total surrender and a high collected as there are left over walnuts on realisation of human dignity and stature. high branches of the tree and to get those His poetic world cannot be dubbed as we use a Kashmiri word 'Ka:ne Va:lay' – It post-modernist as he holds the social reflects a deep routed cultural saga of values very high and cannot rebel against Kashmir as walnut is considered a pious those. commodity and Kashmiri Pandiths would take them as a symbol of four Vedas. The whole collection reflects his sensibility about feeling and reacting to different situations and issues. We know that “Mother moon, walk carefully during exalted poetry is concerned with truth and nights, You may trample the light of stars. ” finding of truth is more or less an The feature of social inequality has been a intellectual process. subject of poets and writers since ages but Dr. Shifa has intellectually grasped Dr. Shifa has penned this truth with high the truth of life and has expressed it in the intellectual skill and emotion. The language of emotions. This collection trampling of that light which comes from

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 39 40 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 stars is comparatively less than that of of nothingness. As the seven skies are moon. Fully charged moonlight makes already locked, so our prayers are stars invisible, they lose their existence destined to go waste. He takes such a and this is a tragedy of that moon lit sky poetic liberty to describe idea beyond his which seems beautiful but the lament of predecessors as they would never dare to stars is unheard. See the vision and express in such an ironical way but the intellect of poet where he has tried to strike poet within him is restless and in command and communicate a harsh reality of evil to question the relation between God and society through symbols and metaphors. human. His fresh linguistic pattern He has lived the historical pain in his interprets different levels of truth very poetic diction. Year 1990 witnessed a significantly. While reading him you can mass exodus of a particular community. observe a different world of words, which That exodus was an onslaught of that rich are not commonly used. By deploying culture which was known for brotherhood, these he fills his readers with surprises peace and tolerance. This painful event and these continue verse after verse. Six touched Dr. Shifa in very crude manner, he sections, “Bogs” of the book clearly depict penned a poem titled 'Bablu' – An his six poetic stages – a voyage of imaginary character who has left the roots creativity. In these sections he deals with and try to settle in such a habitat which is alienation, transformation, relativity of destined to destroy him. The poem truth, objectiveness, absurdity, uncertainty expresses a deep sorrow over his and dependence on God. He breaks the personal loss. The form of the poem is classical mould to form a new classical developed as an “Aalaw” – “A call” to pattern. He has experimented with the Babloo that please return to your roots as nature also, when he shows that all motifs the murmuring brooks, the dense shades of nature are lamenting on present of Willow trees and lush green fields are traditions of Kashmir. waiting here. This poem is undoubtedly a masterpiece and can go down to pages of history. A seamless poem flowing like a virgin wind. Dr. Shifa is a limitless poet, his poetic expressions reveal his A wonderful depiction of “Kashmiriyat” and metaphysical ideas as well. its sensibility. He ended his collection with a Ghazal written on a great legend of poetry, Rafeeq Raaz. He has depicted his glory of poetry in a very subtle and distinct manner. But before this Ghazal we can We keep on praying continuously but the see a Dua which reflects the collective same is stagnant somewhere in the state consciousness of Dr. Shifa, through his

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 40 41 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 surrender toAlmighty.

Undoubtedly, I can see a poet of future emerging through this collection, and this may be beginning of huge poetic idiom which will be revealed gradually and shall go down to the pages of great literary history of Kashmir.

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Kundanspeak - T.N.Dhar ‘Kundan’ Curiosity

Curiosity is a thirst for awareness and aspects. He wants to hunger for knowledge. Just as a thirsty go deep into its man looks frantically around for water to features, functions, drink or a hungry person looks desperately effects, good or bad everywhere for food or some eatables to and the manner in satisfy his hunger, so does a curios man which it can be put to run after knowledge or awareness or effective use. He wants detailed information, which he is in search to harness everything of.Athirsty person cannot rest until he gets in nature for his own water to quench his thirst. He will look use and comfort. He around for a tap, a well, a running brook or sees a rainbow and if stored water somewhere in a jar, a bottle he could, he would use it as a bridge to or some pitcher. After finding it, he drinks reach the sky, the moon and the stars. He to his satisfaction and takes a sigh of relief, observes clouds and if he could, he would feeling a great consolation and make them rain only where rain is needed. satisfaction. Similarly, once a person is He wants cool breeze in summer and cosy troubled by his hunger, he starts looking sunshine in winter. He is fascinated by around for a possible source of some food everything in nature and wants to examine or any other thing to eat. Normally he it, analyse it and find ways and means to would like to get proper food, preferably make use of it for his own needs and something of his choice and taste. But if comforts. that is not available, he will feel contented As a keen observer, he found that to lay his hands on whatever is available fire is not only useful for him to keep warm and derive satisfaction from that itself. but can be used to keep ferocious animals Once he gets something to eat, he at bay. He found shelter in the hollows of devours it and thereafter thanks his stars the tree trunks as also in the caves. He that he has satisfied his physical need. found solace under the shade of the tree Curiosity, on the other hand is a during summers. He found protection from mental need. A person sees something, cold by covering himself with leaves and observes a novel phenomenon or comes barks of the mahogany trees. He detected across something, which he cannot at first some fruits and vegetables suitable as sight fathom, understand or explain, he food before trying the flesh of the animals. would like to know what it is. He is eager to He saw birds fly in the open sky and know its origin, essence, utility and other invented, aeroplanes, helicopters and

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gliders to go into the open sky. He saw and other activities of sorts. This curiosity creatures swim on the surface of the water lifted him from the position where he was and he himself learnt to swim and cross at the receiving end and gave him a rivers and oceans, besides going all over commanding position. In the beginning he the surface of the water by boats and used to observe something and ask how, ships. He found water borne creatures why and where of it. A stage came in the moving about in the bed of the seas, he progress of his curiosity when he started invented submarines and thus fulfilled this imagining and wishing things and then desire too. What wonders curiosity can finding methods to make that a reality. accomplish? Thus, curiosity gave him ingenuity, He felt the need to converse with creativity and capacity to move on the road his fellowmen and observed that besides of progress. It turned him a master from signs and gestures, he could draw the position of a servant, a teacher from a caricatures to convey a message. In due student with the result that his life became course, his keen interest in the noise of more comfortable, more enjoyable and sorts, of animals, birds, gushing waters, more interesting. winds etc. gave him an idea to try verbal Having traversed the physical side conversation. Thus his curiosity carried through his curiosity, the man turned to the him from primitive to advanced, from more subtle aspects of his life. Adi barbaric to civilised and from ignorant to Shankaracharya has asked himself two knowledgeable state. Curiosity enabled major questions, which shows his curiosity him to study nature, understand its to fathom his spirit and soul. He ponders, potential and then harness it for his 'Koham, Kutah aayaata – Who am I, advantage and benefit. Curiosity took him wherefrom have I come into this world?' to the depths of the oceans, vast spans of The man also became curios to know that the sky and ether and to the length and entity who says, 'I did it, this is mine, I liked breadth of the globe. Curiosity enabled this' and similar other statements. His him to unravel the mysteries of sorts that curiosity took him to the spiritual side of the gave us various branches of sciences, human existence. Now he was eager to humanities, philosophies, mathematics. know the Creator, the creation and their That also gave us ethics, morality, mutual relationship. He was curious to behavioural sciences, and a variety of know whether the creation was the directive principles. manifestation of the creator or quite Man did not stop at the curiosity in different from him, an entity made of some relation to his needs and necessities specific material. He was baffled to see alone. He extended it to his comforts and enormous diversity; grief, suffering, toil, his luxuries. He utilised it for his want and deficiency on the one hand and recreation, hobbies, pass times, sports mirth, enjoyment, ease, plenty of the

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 43 44 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 means of comfort, on the other. The natural stopped at just being curious and not curiosity for him was to know the reason for followed it up with scientific analysis, we this diversity. This took him to the theory of would have been deprived of an important Karma or action, reincarnation of soul and scientific theory. The same holds good for the doctrine of carry over of the effects of umpteen other discoveries and actions from one birth to the other. He inventions that great men have brought to came to the conclusion that there was one light from time to time. Supreme Truth. There were multiple ways In lighter vein let me say that of knowing that, describing that and of curiosity has a shady side also. There is liberating oneself from the cycle of birth no dearth of curious persons known as and rebirth. nosy parkers. They are always eager to Of course, curiosity alone was not know about others. They want to know and is not enough for all these their secrets, their private life, details of achievements. A serious and sincere their wealth, their personal activities and follow up is of utmost importance. When all that information which is of no concern we are curious to know something, we to them. They will try to sneak in and listen have to engage in further study, research, to others private conversation. They are examination and experiment. A dogged eager to read their personal letters and perseverance and a concentrated effort to documents. They will not hesitate in go deep into the matter are of vital asking others their personal details, like necessity. Curiosity is just knocking at the their age, the pay and perks they get. If door. Thereafter the door is to be opened they come to know due to their curiosity, and sufficient effort is to be put in to see what somebody was talking about a third what lies inside and how it can be person they will not hesitate in conveying harnessed for our benefit. Just as words that to him and thereby create friction and deeds follow our thoughts so a sincere between them. They will always meddle action has to follow once the curiosity has in other's affairs, carry tales and make the got activated. All the sages and savants clean waters of relationship muddy and have done that. All the scientists and dirty. Such a curiosity is bad and researchers too have followed the same destructive and needs to be shunned. regimen. Take the case of Newton. He saw Curiosity, like any other trait should be the apple falling from the branch of the tree. pious, pure and constructive. Then and Many people would have seen the same then alone shall it bring positive results. thing before him too. His curiosity was why it fell down and not go up. He did not stop at that. He analysed what he had seen. He Contact author at: examined it to the hilt and came up with the [email protected] scientific theory of gravitation. Had he

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Environment & Life - Prof. B.L.Kaul The Amazing Penguins

Penguins are unusual birds. They are species were driven amazing, delightful and wonderful to extinction by this creatures. They walk upright like clowns in process and now that a circus and do not fly. Their tidy plumage we have learned makes it easy to believe that they are more respect for the dressed in a suit. They are much loved world around us, we across the world thanks to TV channels are free to admire and are now one of the most animal their sometimes favourites in zoos. Although now among comical but always the most popular of birds yet they are amazing existence. relatively new to us in the northern However, it is hemisphere. It was not until the 15th unfortunate that oil spills in South Africa century that sailors venturing into southern and farming in South America, as well as waters discovered penguins. These first farming and a collection of introduced penguin mankind interactions were pretty predators in New Zealand are threatening brutal. Sailors regarded penguins, who them. Yellow-eyed, Galapagos, were perhaps the only birds they had ever Humboldt's and Little penguins are all seen which showed no fear of man, as a suffering declining populations. source of easy food. All you had, to do was There are 17 species of penguins walk into a colony and club them to death. all of which have a southerly distribution Later they were killed not just for food but ranging from the Antarctic itself to the for oil as well. Fortunately, no penguin Galapagos Islands. These are: 1. Emperor Penguin 2. Adelie Penguin 41 3. King Penguin 4. Royal Penguin 5. Gentoo Penguin 6. Chinstrap Penguin 7.African Penguin 8. Magellenic Penguin 9. Humboldt Penguin l0. Yellow Eyed Penguin 11. Rockhopper Penguin 12. Macaroni Penguin

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13. Little Penguin Penguin (currently the rarest species) 14. Galapagos Penguin lives in the equatorial band it is protected 15. Fiordland Penguin to some extent from the heat by the cold 16. Snares island Penguin Antarctic currents which bathe the island. 17. Erect Crested Penguin Penguins are not found in the northern hemisphere. They are highly Only two species, Emperor and Adelie, adapted to marine life and some species have entirely Antarctic distribution. The spend up to 80% of their life at sea. rest live more northerly lives to varying Penguins do not fly and walk only slowly, degrees, 5 species being sub-Antarctic, 6 though they can outdistance a running southern temperate and 4 sub-tropical. man while sliding on their bellies. Though one species, the Galapagos Penguins look awkward, even comical, on land; they are, however, elegant when in Emperor Penguins the sea. They have evolved to live in the freezing southern waters and are excellent swimmers using their strengthened and modified wings to fly through the water. Their whole bodies are designed to make them a success in their chosen environment. Propelled by their wings and steering by their feet, Penguins can reach speeds of up to 13 miles per hour. Penguins are excellent divers. The Emperor is the record holder for both dive duration (18 minutes) and dive depth (1751 ft). The King Penguin. comes in second with recorded dives of 783 ft. However, dives like this are exceptional, normally penguins dive much more shallowly and far less deeply. A survey reported in 1995 indicates that on average Emperor Penguins dive to depths of between 25 and 40 meters and for 4 to 5 minutes. Europeans have on several occasions attempted to introduce Penguins of various species to the

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 46 47 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 northern hemisphere, and although some °C). This can be much warmer than the of the introduced specimens survived for surrounding air which gets as low as - 10 a number of years none were observed to °C near the sea. So penguins standing breed. Breeding for a number of species, around on the ice are not just enjoying the however, has been achieved successfully scenery, many of them are actually cooling in zoos. down before getting back into much Many Penguins live in cold warmer sea to look for food.Not all environments, under extreme conditions. Penguins, however, live in the frozen Male Emperor Penguins can endure wastes of the Antarctic, Coastal Africa, temperatures below - 20 °C for several South America, New Zealand and months without food while incubating their Australia; a number of Southern Pacific single egg during the Antarctic winter. To and Atlantic Islands, up to and including achieve this remarkable feat they the Galapagos, are home to Penguins. obviously have had to evolve some Needless to say many of these habitats are special adaptations. Penguins first layer considerably warmer than mainland of defence is the ubiquitous and Antarctica and in the more northerly ones remarkably efficient feathers which form a this excellent insulation that protects more double layer of protection incorporating a southerly living species can become layer of highly insulating air between a problem, causing overheating. Penguins them. This feather barrier supplies 84% of respond to overheating in several ways, all a Penguin's thermal insulation. of which are designed to increase heat APenguin's second layer of defence is a loss. thick layer of blubber immediately Penguins hunt for their food in the beneath the skin. Blubber is basically fatty seas and oceans of the Southern oils and is a bad conductor of heat as well Hemisphere. They consume considerable as a valuable store of energy. During the breeding season some of the more southerly Penguins may be as much as 32% blubber by weight. This blubber is invaluable in saving Penguin lives. Penguin's thermal insulation is so efficient that those living on the ice shelves of the Antarctic overheat if they spend too long in the sea. Water freezes at 0 °C, if it is liquid it must be warmer than this (usually about 4

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 47 48 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 amounts of fish, krill and squid. The Chinstrap, King and Macaroni Penguins. amount of time penguins spend at sea Most species nest on the surface with foraging depends on the time of year. simple unlined nests though some will Some species are prone to longer trips nest in burrows or caves. with Emperor Penguins spending 60 to 70 Most species of Penguin lay two days at sea at a time while Gentoo eggs, the exceptions to this being the two Penguins make foraging trips of only 4 to larger species Emperor and King 12 hours during the breeding season. Penguins which both lay only one egg. Foraging during the breeding season Both parents play an active role in obviously puts a heavy burden on the prey incubating the egg and raising the young populations near the nesting site as though in Emperor Penguins the male penguins are then grouped does all the incubating and the female all together in large numbers in breeding the caring before creching. Young grounds called rookeries. The rookeries Penguins aggregate in creches after a are like mad houses where the inmates certain period of time. This frees both (Penguins) make deafening noises. parents to go foraging to feed the hungry Penguins are monogamous and young and prevents them from getting lost breed in a diverse variety of habitats on their own. It also helps protect them ranging from the frozen wastes of the against predators. The primary predators Antarctic to the scorching lava flows of the of eggs and chicks are Skuas and Gulls for Galapagos Islands. Most Penguins most species of Penguins except the congregate in large dense colonies to nest Emperors which have to deal with Giant (except Yellow-eyed and Fiordland Petrels instead. However, since the Penguins). These colonies range in size coming of human beings introduced from 200 to 300 birds for Gentoo Penguins predators such as Dogs, Cats, Pigs, through to 6,00,000 or more birds in Stoats, Frerrets and Rats have become increasingly more important as predators. At sea Penguins have to deal with a different selection, of predators. Leopard Seal, Fur Seal, Sea Lions and Elephant Seal are all considerable predators of Penguins at sea. Often these predators wi11 be waiting in the sea near nesting colonies to prey on adults coming to and from foraging trips and on young birds entering the sea for the first time.

Contact author at : [email protected]

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From Here & There - Robin Ch owdhury The Sigririya Conundrum An Anecdote from a tourist trip in 20 18

In these days of the coronavirus We could not have pandemic (Covid 19), much of foreseen that, international travel has been suspended despite his many and there are severe restrictions on good qualities, his national travel as well. One can, however, guidance would indulge in memories of previous travels. trigger the incident Let me tell you an interesting story from described here. one such trip. It may be regarded as a cautionary tale and even a conundrum. In The Location- early 2018 four of us had a very enjoyable Sigiriya Rock Fortress and trip to Sri Lanka (Feb 26-March 8). Surrounding Gardens : A travel agent in Australia helped The specific location was in the Sigiriya plan the trip using a travel group in India Rock Fortress and surrounding grounds who are specialists in Sri Lanka and they, and gardens, a unique tourist spot in the in turn, liaised with a tourist outfit based in Central Province of Sri Lanka near the Sri Lanka. We were a group of four, town of Dambulla. This site is the best- spanning three generations: Tara, Vijay, preserved example of ancient urban Surinder and Robin. The first three flew to planning in Sri Lanka. The region has been Colombo from San Francisco and I flew inhabited for about 4000 years and there there from Sydney. Despite the wide had been a monastery at the site since 3rd range in age, this has been a harmonious century BC. The existing fortress was built and happy travel group over many years. by King Kashyapa (477-495AD) who The planning of the itinerary and selected this site as the capital of his making of travel arrangements worked kingdom. Sigiriya is an example of ancient well and we had a very busy and engaging Sri Lankan art and architecture. Sigiriya schedule. The tour included rock fortress has an elevation of 349 archaeological sites of ancient Kingdoms, metres and is dominated by a massive rock and cave temples, the Sigriya Rock column of rock about 200m in height fortress, elephant sanctuaries, wildlife climbing which includes 1200 steps. The parks, tea gardens and a tea factory and Sigiriya complex is a World Heritage Site. much more. Our driver-guide was Mr Duminda, a person with long experience. Factors leading to the Sigiriya incident

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 49 50 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 and conundrum : and gardens of Sigiriya. We passed the The origin of the conundrum can be car park and the driver got into the understood by a change in our itinerary amphitheatre, if one might call it that. made at short notice on day 3 of a 10-day These are the grounds where tourists, trip as we were approaching the Aliya local and international, arrive and this area Resort and Spa after visiting also includes a police/security post, kiosk Anuradhapura Ancient Kingdom. Mr. or shop, and a small building (recreational Duminda proposed that we make the for police/security). This part of the Sigiriya climb on the late afternoon of that grounds is frequented by hawkers and tuk- same day. Originally, we were supposed tuk drivers as well. At the other end this to climb the next morning.After check-in at spacious area is the ticket-barrier which the Resort, we had little time to make a controls access to the main gardens of the sensible decision. However, two of our site leading up to the Rock. Mr Duminda group (Tara and Surinder) were gave us our passes/tickets, pointed in that enthusiastic with the prospect of a good direction of the ticket barrier and said: climb and we (Vijay and Robin) reluctantly “after passing the barrier, keep walking joined in. towards the Sigriya Rock and when you get there, you will see a huge Arch in the How the situation developed : Rock. Stop there and wait for me. I will go After about 40 minutes driving from Aliya now and park the Van and meet you there. Resort, we arrived at the outer boundary, We then started walking through the vast the Main Entrance of the fields, grounds fields and terraced gardens and it must have taken about 50 minutes when we saw the natural Arch in the rock. We were still on flat ground and getting through steps to the Arch at higher ground would have taken less than 10 minutes at normal pace. However, I felt rather unwell. It was angina pain but not severe. Although I have had heart disease for a couple of decades, my angina is of the silent variety. In the rare instance, if effort or fatigue causes pain, I must rest. I was not alarmed but stopped just in time. I told Surinder and Tara to go ahead as I would not climb. Soon Vijay also caught up with me and Arrival at Bandaranaike learnt of my situation and my decision not International Airport, Colombo to climb. Had she also gone up, I might

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 50 51 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 have become despondent as it would be dark soon and the climbers of our group would be back only after 2 hours or more. Initially the two of us (Robin and Vijay) felt quite comfortable to wait although there was nowhere to sit. There were only low walls of dry stones with sharp edges and brambles and trees. One had to remain standing throughout. Soon Mr Duminda came from behind us and looked askance. He expected to see us further along, at the Arch. We told him of our decision not to climb. He simply said: “Wait here” but did not say where the Van was parked. He Mr. Duminda (left),Tara tasting should have assembled the whole group coconut water (right) together and explained things. Instead, he hurried along to the Arch where he caught to walk. Fortunately, I did not feel any up with Tara and Surinder and discomfort or angina pain. We thought that accompanied them on the climb. We if we see the ticket barrier, we would be learnt later why Mr. Duminda was in a home, so to speak. And we got there soon. rush. Besides the fact the climb started However, there was no one at the ticket late, there was the additional urgency as barrier and the whole place including the entry to an area of the rock that figured amphitheatre seemed mostly deserted, ancient frescoes was closed after 4:30 emptied of tourists. p.m. Soon the evening was progressing A person with obvious familiarity and light was fading. We (Robin and with the place was looking around for Vijay), who waited at the foot of the hill, anyone needing transport. He came to us were bitten by mosquitoes. It was not and offered to take us anywhere we feasible to stay still and we were quite wanted to go. We thanked him and told uncomfortable. Going back towards the him that the driver of our Van would come amphitheatre seemed to be common for us later. He was a bit puzzled and sense solution. clearly thought it unlikely that our driver could come in at that time or later. His Return along the way came : manner indicated that we were in the We decided to walk back towards the wrong place at that time. Not knowing his amphitheatre and the Main Entrance. As name, let me call him Mr. TT. He soon we headed in that direction, there were no jumped into his tuk-tuk and was gone. We landmarks and it seemed a long distance wanted a cup of tea and wandered around

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 51 52 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 till we reached a small shop which was able to make us a reasonable brew of tea. We saw some folding chairs nearby and set them up to sit and wait. A smartly dressed police officer, obviously from the security group, approached us after a while. He said “Can I be of any help?” in a manner indicating that we should not be there at that time. We declined his offer of help, again with an excess of self- assurance. He seemed puzzled but moved along.

We walk further away towards the Main Entrance : It was now dark except for some artificial lighting as evening gently transited to night. We thought it would be better to get further along to where we thought the parking area for vehicles would be located. We walked that way through an avenue which was thickly lined with trees and shrubs. During the day time this avenue was a hub of activity, bustling with Sigiriya Rock in the background-Vijay, pedestrians and some vehicular traffic. Robin and Tara amongst the gardens But now it was mostly deserted. We did We called the mobile number of the phone encounter a few pedestrians and a bicycle with our climber duo. It was lucky they had or two going in the same direction. It was one phone and we had the other. They taking long and we started getting anxious were worried. They asked why we were for the first time. However, we soon saw a not at the place below the Arch where they huge entrance sign. This was a separated from us. Our explanations consolation that we were not lost. But made no sense to them. We explained our where was the vehicle parking ground? It location to them and to Mr. Duminda but was not obvious. We did see a road but it the latter also seemed not to comprehend was not clear if it was a highway or a local anything. road. After all, Mr Duminda knew the layout of the site, the location of the ticket We have phone contact : barrier and of the Main Entrance to the site

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 52 53 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 where he had brought us only a few hours understood us or that he will drive towards earlier. Despite many efforts, we were us in his Van. getting nowhere in our phone conversation. We kept moving from one ASurprise Resolution : side of the road to the other side. On the How this situation will be resolved, we other side of the road we found a wondered. Mr Duminda suggested no settlement, perhaps a small local village. solution to us and he did not convey This village may be for the hawkers and anything to the two of our group (the traders who serve the tourists during the climber duo) who were with him. Maybe he day. The ground adjacent to it might be the thought we got ourselves lost. May be his vehicle parking area. We kept passing on English was not as good as we thought it this information to Mr Duminda. There was was. Maybe he truly did not understand still no suggestion from him that he our location. None of these was likely. So then why was he silent on the phone? That Meeting Point at the base of climb-The was an important part of the conundrum, ARCH second only to the fact that going back to Main Entrance did not lead to a resolution. There was still some vehicular traffic on the road. Mr TT, the tuk-tuk guy, happened to be travelling as a passenger in a Jeep. He must have seen us as we were crossing the road one more time. Mr TT suddenly jumped out of the moving Jeep even before it had stopped. He came straight towards us and said, in very good English “What are you doing here? I met you inside (meaning the amphitheatre) some time back and asked if you needed to be taken anywhere. Do you remember?” We recognised him as he said that and explained our situation that our driver had not come with his Van to pick us up. After all he (our driver-guide) should be around here, being the Main Entrance and the parking area. Mr. TT listened and he seemed to understand the situation well. He then explained that there were, in fact,

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 53 54 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 three car parks. Two car parks were that the author was able to join the dots located near the Main Entrance, one for from clues in our interaction with Mr TT and tourists and one for local transportation. the security police officer. He said that there was another car park for picking up international tourists. But we Understanding the Conundrum : were not at the right place for that car park. Although we were never told in advance, Anyway, he was keen to help. It was International tourists are driven in via the decided that he will speak on phone to our Main Entrance which is several kilometres driver-guide. walk from the Sigiriya Rock. However, only We then asked Surinder and Tara national tourists must exit by that route. to give the phone to Mr Duminda and that There is a special exit for International a local person would again tell him about tourists quite close to the Rock and the our exact location. So, Mr TT spoke to Mr base of the climb. The driver-guide of an Duminda and, in turn, confirmed his International group has the facility to park location. Mr TT then suggested that he the vehicle at a parking spot close to the would take us to Mr Duminda and our Sigiriya rock but quite distant from the other group members. We agreed without Main Entrance. Mr Duminda, having made hesitation. This was sensible in a questionable departure from protocol comparison to Mr Duminda coming to our (changing a morning climb to an afternoon location. Also TT would drive us and thus climb), could not enter the amphitheatre or get paid for his troubles. Thus, TT jumped any other part of the site from the main into his tuk-tuk and asked us to get in at the entrance as it is out of bounds after dark. back and, in about 20 minutes; we were He could not call security because the with the rest of our group and Mr Duminda, security group also had left for the night. all standing close to his Van. He would have compounded his error (in Thanks, were given to Mr TT and the judgement of his employers) if he had he went on his way. For us the immediate ventured outside the place of his situation was resolved and the aura was designated parking. These factors explain peaceful. Brief conversations ensued in why he preferred to stay put rather than try calm tones as Mr Duminda drove us to and find us. Thus, he waited till Robin and Aliya Resort and Spa. He still offered no Vijay were lucky to find unexpected help. explanation that night or during the Note: Vijay and Surinder gratefully subsequent days of our enjoyable acknowledged for checking the text and for travelling. By common consent we the photos. decided not to argue about the incident amongst ourselves. But aspects of Contact author at : conundrum remained unresolved till this [email protected] write-up was completed. It was only then

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Consecutive Serial - M.K.Raina The Treasure

Once again the face of that mendicant days you must reach was before my eyes. Frightening looks, tall the mountaintop of stature, big eyes, ear rings hanging from Pakhlan early at the the lobes of his ears, white turban, a dawn. There you will snake-like muffler round his neck and a find the biggest birch rosary of black beads in his hand. Whether tree. Underneath it is he was a real mendicant or a fraud, I could hidden a treasure. It is not figure out. A shiver ran down my spine. guarded by a cobra His gruff and fearful voice resounded in my but on seeing you it will mind, 'Not much time is left for you. Do as I go away. You have to said to you. You should get the treasure carry the treasure on your b a c k a n d within two days. Rest all you know.' bring it to me. We will share it half and half. I looked around. No one was there, I shall wait for you on the other side of the either in my front or at my back. It was the river. The job is arduous and so you should shadow of this very Fakir that I used to not go there alone. Take one more person perceive in front of along, for, the me for the last four treasure is quite days. I mustered heavy. You have courage and mulled nothing to lose. You over what he had will get wealth enough said. 'Why after all am to sustain your seven I agitated? What did generations. Now it is he say? Whatever he up to you to decide. said was in my But remember, if you interests, to help me.' do the job within six I pondered over his days well and good, or words once again. else I will have to look Four days back he for someone else to had met me just outside the crematorium. execute it. He had said, 'You have a long life to live but I was delighted to know of the treasure all your work is pending. How will you but the warning that it was going to be manage and what all can you accomplish? arduous was rather frightening. I was If you like, I will do you a favour. Within six greatly in debt and thought that it would

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 55 56 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 take my entire lifetime to repay that. When gathered there. First I thought the crowd I would be able to marry and have a family must have collected to offer collective of my own was baffling. Thinking of the worship with lighted lamps and chanting of looks of the Fakir would make me tremble hymns. When I went closer there was no but the thought of a treasure would put life trace of such a thing. People were in me and my eyes would brighten. I standing in a queue and pushing and decided to start my journey to fetch the jostling each other. A volunteer was treasure tonight itself. guiding the people to form proper queue The destination was far away. I and even hit a person who would not fall in packed about tenchapatis to sustain me line. I asked him what the matter there on the way and left for the place early in was. He laughed and replied, 'I think you the morning. I did not think of taking along are a newcomer here. Don't you know a companion with me because if it anything?' I nodded my head in negative involved taking a grave risk, why not face it sign, indicating that in fact I knew nothing. alone? Am I not capable of facing the odds So he continued, 'From heavens the Lord myself? Why should I make anyone else of Righteousness 'Dharma Raja' has sent know the secret of this adventure? his representative, who is distributing I kept on walking through and over tickets for entry into the Paradise. hills, forests, rivers and cliffs. At around Whosoever is desirous of going to heaven mid-day I reached near the temple of after his death, can purchase a ticket right Goddess Kali. I saw a host of people here.' The ticket was priced at a hundred rupees but I had only twenty rupees in my pocket. I was ignorant about the fact that tickets to heaven could be got here on this earth itself. I thought it was good for me that at the behest of the mendicant I had come that side; let me accomplish this task as well. What if I do not have the full amount with me, there should be no problem in securing a ticket on credit. After all I am not going to run away with this amount. More so from tomorrow I will be counted among the elite rich of the society after the treasure reaches my home. I explained my financial position to this young volunteer appealing to his compassion. He said, 'Don't you mind. I shall recommend your case.' On the

ÒççiççMç November 2020 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 p\ag aS 56 57 Praagaash ÒççiççMç Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 5 : DçbkçÀ 11 ~ vçJçbyçj 2020 strength of his assurance I also took my will pay five rupees extra.' My plea had no place in the queue. My face showed such effect on him. He refused point blank. The elation, as if I was the only person to be elderly man did not speak a word. He granted entry into the paradise. To ensure would give instructions through gestures that the person does not ditch me at the only. He forbade the young man from last moment, I befriended him. I learnt accepting the money. But I was not going from him that this camp for selling tickets to yield. I begged of him. Those behind me to heaven was going to function for five in the queue raised hue and cry. I was not days. This man was from some other city prepared to leave without getting a ticket. and was brought by the representative This forced a few persons standing in the along with himself. I was engrossed in queue to intervene. Their decision was conversation with him but the joy of that by paying twenty rupees I could only conversation did not last long. As soon as make a booking but I would get the ticket he asked me where I was heading to after on paying the balance. I felt favoured and obtaining the ticket, I started sweating all thought that today I could make the over. My legs trembled and I was booking and tomorrow when I return along apprehensive that he may have known the with the treasure, I could collect my ticket. truth. I thought why else would he bother The representative gave his consent to to know where I was going. I did not reply this arrangement. He indicated his but he insisted, 'Which ideas are you lost approval by nodding his head. He handed in? You are not replying; are you afraid that over a piece of paper to me. It was a receipt I may insist to go along with you.' I retorted, for twenty rupees and a note of booking the 'No, not at all. That is not the case. I was ticket. I pocketed the paper and left the only thinking how to make good the place. deficiency in the cost of the ticket.' Hearing On the way a thought came to my that, the young man kept quiet and I also mind, 'May be tomorrow these people play distanced myself from him. pranks with me and refuse to give me a I kept on moving forward. There was a ticket. Or it could be that by the time I reach dais in front on which was seated an this place, they may have closed their elderly man. By his side there was another shop.' I became anxious. I was on the young man who would collect the money. horns of a dilemma. I knew if I returned The elderly man himself distributed the home to fetch the balance amount, I would tickets. When it was my turn, I kept my be late for the treasure. I consoled myself, twenty rupees before the young man. He 'What can they do? Is there no rule, after looked towards me with a stern eye but I all I have made a booking properly. If they explained, 'Look here brother, this is all I cheat, there is always a court for redress. I have in my pocket today. If you trust me I will not leave them and take an account for shall pay the balance tomorrow. In fact I the last penny.'

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proceeded forward. The attraction of the treasure was an impetus already but the ticket for the heaven gave my legs some more fillip. At a couple of places I slipped badly but then I had to muster some more courage. My eyes were centered at the top of the Pakhlan Hill and the treasure over there. Finally I was at my destination but my entire body was aching with pain. It was yet to dawn and so I decided to rest on a stone slab at the apex of the hill. I reckon I must have been lying for about half an hour when I heard a violent noise, as if some lion was roaring. I was frightened to think, 'So far I reached here safely. Now the lion should not eat me up.' I looked around but could see nothing. I reached the Pakhlan hill after the Finally I spotted a birch tree far away, that Sunset. It was dangerous to climb during too withered. I rushed and climbed the the night but where to spend the night? same tree. There was no trace of a lion The place was full of danger from the wild anywhere. May be it was a hallucination animals. I saw a pine tree. It was quite big only. After sometime I climbed down and and there was a seating space on one of started looking for the huge birch tree. its branches. I decided to spend the night Now the dawn was imminent. I could not on this tree. I crawled up the tree like a monkey. I made a space for rest. I took out the packet ofchapattis and filled my belly. Thereafter I went to sleep on the tree. At around four in the morning I woke up. The dawn was still some hours away. I thought it proper not to waste any more time. I came down from the tree. I took a stick in my hand and started my journey up the hill.Although the visibility was poor, yet I searched my way in that darkness and kept on moving forward. I encountered some thorny bushes. My feet and legs got scratched but I did not give up. I

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water dipped into it drop by drop. It was indeed a long drawn affair but then there was no other alternative. Once a few drops collected in the cup- shaped leaf, I emptied it on my tongue. It gave me some cool feeling and I felt some solace. Now the Sun was on my head. I rushed back to the birch tree to dig the ground further. On reaching there I was astonished to see a big cobra coiled in the pit dug by me. I thought that every word of theFakir was coming true. I was waiting for find any other birch tree. Finally I looked at the cobra to depart on seeing me as the the very tree on which I had climbed due to mendicant had predicted but it did not the fear of a lion. There was neither any move. I thought perhaps he has not seen treasure nor any cobra guarding that. I me yet. So I made some sounds to drive it thought that possibly the cobra has away. It did not move. Then I tried to push it already left on seeing me. Now the with my foot so that it goes away and I take treasure must be under this very tree. out the treasure. But instead it moved I picked up stone slab pieces and violently and bit my foot. I fell on the began digging the ground under the tree. ground. My eyes turned into stones and I My hands got bruised. In the meantime was gazing towards the birch tree. I had there was light all around and the Sun already died perhaps. began shining. I dug up about two feet deep but there was no trace of the [[ treasure. I did not lose my courage or cool. I kept on digging hoping that some effort now would result in a luxurious life in future. I went on digging, first up to three feet and then four feet deep but there was no treasure to be seen. I was very thirsty by now. I searched for some water but there was no water anywhere. I saw a host of insects hovered around a thorny bush at some distance. The clay at that spot was wet. I lowered a big leaf in the pit and made another leaf into a small cup shape in such a way that

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Photo Feature

Pahalgam by Kaleem Basheer Ahmad

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Photo Feature

Pahalgam by Kaleem Bashir Ahmad

Kaleem Bashir Ahmad, Ex Executive Officer, Pahalgam Muncipality wants a Kashmiri Language Workshop to be held in Pahalgam as soon as the Covid position improves. Praagaash salutes you Sir.

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Letters to Editor

Dear Editor, lines of the lyrics mean in English or Hindi. E very issue of I also found the poem by Rajesh Raina Praagaash is live history ‘Pakiv Bronh’ truly beautiful - Sweetly Sad of art, culture, literature and moving on to better things. and language. I am Wishing you all the best as always having great desire to Warm regards, meet your goodself in Urmila Zutshi person in order to Santacruz, Mumbai discuss some issues lll regarding promotion of Dear Raina Saheb, Kashmiri language and culture. We are Thanks for October grateful to you for publishing Praagaash 2020 edition, very and keeping us in touch with our roots. enjoyable. After hearing Kaleem BashirAhmad Rajesh Raina , it was Pahalgam good to read his poem lll about nostalgia and Namaskar, moving on. Dr. I always enjoy reading K.L.Chowdhury's Praagaash, the parts medical journey was that I find interesting very interesting. Kudos to Dr. Zarka Batul and can understand. to bring out the inspiring account of This issue too I am Rehana Kausar. enjoying - article on Rahul Kilam brought out the scene artist D N Wali Sahab, of Kashmiri Opera nicely. Suggest Opera Kundanji's story, lovers not to miss a brilliant effort by Lalitaditya chapter of our history and so 'Kasmiri Performers Collective'. This was much more. It saddens me that I cannot performed in 2016 in Tagore Hall Srinagar. understand the Lalla Vakh and Sheikh The Artist who had acted as Arinimal was Nuruddin’s Shrukh. I wonder if you could Suman Raina. The Singer was Shahi add a translation in English or Hindi. Mumtaz and music composer was Raja I had also suggested to you earlier Bilal. Director of the Opera was Manzoor that it would be of great interest to readers Mir. to know and understand our popular folk I liked Ratan Lal Jowhar's poem songs. Perhaps you could request/depute ‘Aalav’. Prof R.N.Bhat's article about someone to select one song per issue with ‘Synchronic Digraphia’ was topical with a little note on its authorship and what the more languages getting official

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Letters to Editor recognition. My only pain is that bringing out such a valuable and exponents of Kashmiri Language & Script informative magazine. devote more energies in getting official UpendraAmbardar recognition to that in promoting the Jammu language. Read about it in my article in lll Praagaash Feb. 2020 Edition. Dear Editor, It was good to read your story Best write up by my which we listened to earlier, thanks to you. engineering batchmate Keep up the good work. from REC Srinagar (now Ashok Dullu NIT Sgr) Er. M. K. Dhar Vadodara exhibiting his intellect to lll speak on such health Dear Editor, conscious subjects. I am The October issue of Pragaash makes a proud of him though I very good reading covering a wide range lived him always in my of articles from history, medicine, heart of hearts silently in environment, opera and mystics of the college and outside it. My salute to Kashmir and of course poetry. Articles by him. Dr. Chowdhury and Mr. Kilam make us Manzoor Nawchoo nostalgic as we had known and met Srinagar stalwarts like Dr. Ali Jan, Sh. Dina Nath lll Nadim and others. Unfortunately, we can My Dear Raina Sahib, live Kashmir only through these Namaskar. Thank you memories. for the latest issue of V.K.Khoda Praagaash. The essay Bangalore by Er. Dhar is very lll informative and Dear Raina Sahib, inspiring. It is sad that Praagaash October we KPs eat animals. It issue having seems to me a kind of illuminating information fall in morals and ethics. on varying topics makes Why don't we kill the animal before eating a delightful and it? Why do we avoid animal flesh on engaging reading. auspicious days of the month? Why do we Congratulations for the observe 'fast' on auspicious days? These efforts put in by you in questions have disturbed me from my

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Letters to Editor childhood! In my village back home, being lll the eldest, I would request somebody (a Dear Sir, KM) to cut a chicken for our guest! It Very informative issue, disturbed me but the guest would be worth reading content satisfied so was the case with my parents! touching all topics, I wonder at our identity. Are we Pandits? illuminating information. Really! The title page of great Sincerely Yours artist Pt Dina Nath Walli Rajnath Bhat ‘Almast Kashmiri’ and Varanasi write up by his illustrious lll son Shri T.K.Walli was Sir, delighted to read. Wallis happened to be Thanks a lot for sending my close neighbours and well wishers.Pt me the Oct 2020 of Dina Nath ji was really an Artist par Praagaash through excellence I used to see his all water color email as well as on paintings in various exhibitions those WhatsApp. I am so days. He was a thorough gentleman with happy to see that how appealing personality revered by all. Hats you are trying to save off to you for bringing such topics. Great our culture and work, God bless you. language, which seems to be on its last B.L.Saraf wings now due to the unfortunate Jammu happenings that our small community has lll gone through and still going on. As I said Dear Raina Sahib, you are doing a yeoman service to our With reference to small community with total dedication and Praagaash, the monthly through your literary depth. e-journal, I would say, I am grateful to you to publish my the passion you have to article - a brief life's sketch on Babuji life carry on with this work and honoring him as an artist through the alone is very highly cover page picture and the other paintings appreciated. God bless embedded in the article. people like you sir. Wishing you all the best in your Maharaj Pajan noble endeavor. Faridabad Tej Walli lll Karnal, Haryana

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Letters to Editor

Dear Raina Sahab, their rhyme and content. Last but not the Namaskar.At the outset, least, I bow my head before Sh T N Dhar I would like to offer my Kundan for his deep knowledge of the deepest and sincere subject he delves upon. He undoubtedly condolences to family deserves respect and admiration for and friends of Mrs expounding to the reader the depth of his Parineeta Khar. In her ideas. death Praagaash has Your story of 'Imported Time Piece' lost one of its best is so mesmerising that the reader gets writers. May her soul completely engrossed in it. Wishing you all rest in peace. the best. As usual the October issue of the e- M K Dhar journal Praagaash is interesting and Pune - Jammu additionally very informative on varied lll subjects. The story of D N Walli 'Almast Kashmiri' depicts how great an artist he was, whose works had received a good recognition in pre and post independent India. My medical journey 'Baptism by fire' authored by our esteemed Dr. K L Chowdhury was very absorbing and proves the fact that Dr. Chowdhury's medical journey has been a distinctive and magnificent one. The story of Rehana Kousar 'A great woman achiever' is exemplary for the fact that Kashmiri women are no less than their contemporary in rest of India . The article 'Slow down your life' by Anjali Sarup is really mind blowing. Truly, de-cluttering the unnecessary makes space outside as well as inside and results in peace of mind. All other stories and write-ups by prolific writers are all immensely enthralling and informative. The poetic presentations by our esteemed poets are all wonderful in

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Letters to Editor Editor’s Note

Views expressed in the signed articles are not necessarily those ofZaan or Praagaash. We invite writers to write for Praagaash. Write ups can be in Kashmiri, Hindi, Urdu or English, concerning Kashmir, Kashmiri language and Kashmiri culture. Write ups on Science, Medical Science, Health, Humour and topics of general interest are also welcome. Write-ups generating hatred, demeaning anybody or any religion, or with political overtones will not be accepted for publication. We request writers in Kashmiri (Nastaliq & Devanagari scripts), Hindi, Urdu to send us their write-ups in a Microsoft WORD document or in a Cdr file. Also attach fonts wherever necessary. ‘Your Own Page’ is for you. Kindly don’t hesitate sending us your or your children’s achievements, in text and photos for publication in Praagaash. We also invite you to send Team Lal Ded us rare photos of Kashmir or Kashmiri through life for wider publicity in Praagaash. Kuldeep Pandita, Chennai [[ lll Articles can be e-mailed to [email protected]

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