And the sky turned cloudy that afternoon in kashmir valley
But Nobody knew who is Chaman Lal Chaman.....
(Photo Autar Mota ....)
CHAMAN LAL CHAMAN ( 1937-1999)..
It was july 1990. A section of population had migrated out of Kashmir valley . Jammu was chaos and confusion. Tales of suffering . Loss of homes for people who had lived for thousands of years at a place they had to abandon suddenly. Long queues for everything . Queue for getting yourself registered as a sufferer. Queues for getting basic shelter . Queues to get rations from Government controlled stores . queues in banks to get bank accounts transferred from Kashmir valley where Normal Banking had come to halt . Long waiting lists and Queues for Bank lockers .
Guv Yo-Taamuth zakhm Bo’dd Guend Guend Korum
Va’neiy Dawa aassien na aassien Bae’l saraab
Va’neiy Dawa aassien na aassien Bae’l saraab
( Chaman lal Chaman )
I remained careless about it ,
till the wound turned Incurable .
Now fetch me medicine or Don’t fetch it ,
It is all like a useless Mirage in a desert .
till the wound turned Incurable .
Now fetch me medicine or Don’t fetch it ,
It is all like a useless Mirage in a desert .
It was july 1990. A section of population had migrated out of Kashmir valley . Jammu was chaos and confusion. Tales of suffering . Loss of homes for people who had lived for thousands of years at a place they had to abandon suddenly. Long queues for everything . Queue for getting yourself registered as a sufferer. Queues for getting basic shelter . Queues to get rations from Government controlled stores . queues in banks to get bank accounts transferred from Kashmir valley where Normal Banking had come to halt . Long waiting lists and Queues for Bank lockers .
And One day suddenly Chaman Lal Chaman ( 1937-1999 ) also dropped in and desperately sought a Locker for his family. He was posted in Cultural Academy J&K where he edited the Bi-monthly kashmiri Sheeraza . Simple and serious person. We provided him with the much needed locker and he was more than happy. Thereafter he would visit the bank quite often and became quite friendly. I also visited his office once and found that he was a respected person who had earned love and affection of one and all more specifically of Shri Mohd Yusuf Taing the then secretary Jammu And Kashmir academy of Art Culture and languages. I had also seen Chaman Lal Chaman in Rainawari . His sister was married in a Family residing at Karapora khushki and his nephew was my friend. I had heard him in some Mushairas also . Influence of Naadim sahib’s style and progressive movement was starkly visible in some of his Nazms . He was essentially a poet of Nazm . I had also seen translation of some of his poems in Punjabi and Hindi magazines of the country .
Apart from being a poet , Chaman Ji also worked as journalist with urdu daily Aftab published from Srinagar for about six years . He had also edited an anthology of patriotic songs Yi chhu soan wattan apart from authoring AHWALNAAMA the first biographical dictionary of kashmiri writers published by Kashmir University in 1978.
R L Jowhar Adds :
“During his illness
Myself , M L Saqi, J L saroor Arjun Dev Majboor ,M L kanwal and others went to see him at
Bantalab and while talking, he expressed
his shock that Bashir Akhtar (who had not come to see him till then but came
afterwards) even after hearing about his illness did not come and said: “Athaa raeti raeti chhum hechhunovmut” .Bashir was his assistant for editing “Sheeraza
kashmiri”. Later , as soon as Bashir Akhtar later visited him, all his
grievances and complaints got evaporated and he was normal. He was a very sensitive human being he was .”
As Per M Y Taing former secretary of Academy Of Art Culture and Languages J&K) :
“ Chaman Ji Was Born and brought up iat *Purshyar locality of Habba kadal in Srinagâr city ; very close to the place where Poet Dina Nath naadim lived .At times , to me, his poetry appeared a pocket size edition of Naadim. Like Naadim , he would also read his poems aloud. Inspite of all this, Chaman ji had a distinct style and content . He was the dearest colleague and affectionate friend . From Academy , We retired together in Jammu . I could feel that in Jammu , he did not keep good health. He had recovered from Tuberculosis in his childhood.
Long Back , Chaman ji was also admitted to Drogjan Hospital for some time where he shared the ward with Dogri Poetess Padma sachdev. Padma ji and Chaman ji would spend time together discussing Literature even in the Hospital. Alas post retirement , this disease revisited him . Whenever I would visit him during his last days , he would always smile and encourage me to positivity . But as per Meer:
“Ulti Ho gayi Sab Tadbeerein Kuchh Na dawaa ne Kaam Kiya”
And one day, Away from his Kashmir , in the heat and dust of Jammu , he breathed his last .
He was neat and clean in his habits and always well dressed .He had a small mirror in his pocket and even in office , he would comb his hair and be tidy in appearance .
Chaman ji had no son . A loving father of three Daughters . All the three are well behaved ,intelligent and affectionate . Chaman ji brought them up with great love and care .He wanted to see them well settled . That was the principal aim of his Life in later years .These girls studied in some excellent universities and possibly all of them are now well settled in USA."
( Source: Pages 11 to 17 Sheeraza Published by Cultural Academy Chaman lal Chaman Number )
Chaman lal Chaman rose on Kashmir’s literary scene possibly in 1954 as a young poet though his poems were published in kashmir’s literary magazine Kwong Posh in 1952. Some critics call him John Keats of kashmiri poetry . But I believe Chaman was essentially a poet of Nazm and love was his core subject. His collection SHABNAM SHAAR won him CULTURAL ACADEMY award in 1964. His poems are unique in style and content . I would make special mention of his poems like Yemi Saatan Pheraan Chhum ( when longing visits me ) , Guma Gayee Parte’y ( When the perspiration dried up ), Myon Mohabbat kamyaab ( My love is victorious ) Vutchh Daaer ( open window ) , Me Maa laajmich Nazar and Pehchaan etc. etc. He belonged to the league of Modern kashmiri poets who had set their eyes on contemporary realities of existence . His subjects also included suffering of an Individual on account of lack of freedom of choice . he has also written maany patriotic poems
I quote some sample lines ...
(1)
Dapiev Maikashan Yuthh Naa darwaaza Phutran
Sadaa Baaelie Chhu Khaasein Karaan Myon Saqi ..
( Tell this fact to the drinkers lest they break open these doors,
My Saaqi is just befooling them by tinkling empty cups )
(2)
(2)
Soan Wattan zaav Saanien aashan
Mosoom Mosoom Shueir Ginda-baashein
Mokh Chhuss Jorrmut Saen Aaesh Gaashun
Raa’tchh Daro Kar Raa’tchh
Raa’tchh Daro Kar Raa’tchh
Our Land ! Born to our own optimism,
Like a newly born Baby’s playfulness
And this land stands Beautified by our own vision .
O Caretaker , Guard it well .
O caretaker Guard it well.
(3)
Vaaryaah Kaaluch me Chanaa Taemsinz Khabar
Zun Chhu vaeraan Myaani Yemi seenuk Mandhar
Gyavtaa Yaa Mataa Gyavtaa haa saazandharo
Gutsch me Paanus kyuut seythaa Panunuyee Matscher
( Since long I do not know his welfare and
As if this temple within me lies desolate .
O composer ! you may or may not create music for me ,
But listen , The music within my being shall suffice my needs .)
(4)
(4)
Kyaah Khabar Yuth Marhaluss buthi Sapiedi Kyaah
Kaanh Zyaaviy Chha’na ti’chh Kathan Thavi yuss Vaqaar
( Chaman lal Chaman )
Who knows What shall confront us after this halt ?
Who can be relied upon ?
Every spoken word has lost its grace ..
Chaman ji was at his best in his Mini Poems . I
quote sample Mini Poem forming a part of
his 6 Mini Poems written under one caption “ Loktchi Nazma( Mini Poems )…
Tche Zun Chhukh
Az Me Zyaadaai Vala’na Ivaan
Hanga Manga Myaan Driey Karaan
Ba Lagaai Balaai
Me Bakh’chhi
Zi
Me zun Heitchun Kyaataam Mushaq Yie’n
( Today You appear to be moving
extraordinarily
closer and closer to me ,
For Trifle issues too,
you now
swear by me only ,
Look! I swear
I can’t withstand all this,
Forgive me ,
I am led
to smell something now)
While
writing a Gazal in his mother tongue ,
Chaman ji was second to none. I quote …
Me na sa Chhuyi Vaen Paanus Taamath
Yina sa yuth Teuth Zaanukh Kenh …
Na’taa Kuss
Gindihay Jaanus taamath
Yina sa yuth Teuth Zaanukh Kenh…
San’khaai Teunglunn Heinz teh Tchaapakh
Vanakhaai Neinglith haavaai Reh
Yim Kathaa meyi Mastaanus taamath
Yina sa yuth Teuth Zaanukh Kenh
( Chaman lal Chaman )
(Things have gone out of my control now ,
Love !
Take me not by what I appear ..
Who else
would have Played with his own life ?
Love ! Take me not by what I appear ..
Should I delve deep ,
I can
gulp down blazing Charcoal ,
And should you so desire ,
I can even Inhale the fiery flames too ,
This carefree being can do all
these things ,
Love ! Take me not by what I appear ..)
Chaman ji was greatly influenced by Modern kashmiri poet Dina Nath Naadim's personality and poetry .When Naadim died , Chaman ji was in great grief .
“ Naadim saaeb Ouss Akh Tehzeeb Ta Akh Inquilaab . Tuss Aaiss Swarguss Munz Saarie Praaraan ”
“ Naadim sahib is the name of a Culture and a Revolution .Every one must have been waiting for him in Heaven ”
Late chaman lal Chaman also wrote a poem on this thought . In this poem he conveys as to how other poets , saints and sages of Kashmir received Naadim sahib in his new heavenly abode . I quote some lines from Poet chaman lal chaman’s kashmiri poem “Naadim Nazraana ” Chaman ji has beautifully described Naadim sahib’s arrival in heaven .
I quote ..
“Lal Ded Draayuss Buthhee
Mehmood( Mehmood Gaami) logg gyaavanie
Arni( Arni Maal ) Zoal Isbandh ,
Habba Khatoonie Prutschhnuss Maalien sheish
Rehman daarun Boaznovv Sheshrang ,
Krishen Jooan Logg Raas Gindhun ,
Seer e Asraar Vanithh Goandnuss Shams Saaebun Dastaar ,
Mehjooran Prazanoavv ta Rotunn Naalamaaeti
Doapnukh
“Amiss chha akki doah assi sadaarat karienn
Amiss Aass Lafzunn Haenz Moharaa Valanaa Yiwaan
Guftaareik Aabshaar Aasieuss Wuthan pyaath Gindhaan ”
Sheikh Ul Aalmun Doaluss Buthhiess Athhaa
Paanus Broanh Kunn Behanovunn,
Prutchhnuss…
Vethhi Truvish Chhaa Tchengga Dazaan,
Burza pashunn Chha Gulaal Khatsaan
Soanta shihliess Chhaa Suyee Anhaar
Boannie Vatarunn Chha Syuee Rang ”
Naadim sapud Naadim
Gumaa Tchhataa Feeriuss
Doapnukh
Yim Kulie Toahi Vizi Vizi Ruviemaet Aasivaa
Tim Chhi Az Ti Voadhanie
Vunilee Munz Raaevmeitt Gaasa Tuulie ”
( Chaman Lal Chaman )
Lal Ded came forward to receive him,
Mehmood Gaami started singing,
Arnimaal put some Isbandh seeds in fire pot ,
Habba Khatoon enquired the welfare of her parental home ,
Poet Rehman Dar recited Shesh Rang for him,
Saint poet Krishen Joo Razdan played Raas leela ,
Sufi poet Shams Faquir conveyed SEER E ASRAAR and put a turban over his head,
Poet Mehjoor recognized him and held him in tight embrace ,
Said Mehjoor to all
“ He had to lead us one day,
expressions remained intimately close to him ,
Waterfalls of communication sprang down from his lips ”
Nund Reshi ( Shiekh Ul Aalum ) moved his pious hand over Naadim’s face ,
Made him to sit in front and enquired
“ Do people celebrate Birthday of river vitasta by lighting lamps?
Do Tulips still grow on Birch and mud roofed Houses ?
Does spring still visit with its pleasant grace ?
Do Chinar trees still retain their elegant colour ?”
Poet Naadim was now sweating and turned to them
He said ,
“ The trees that you planted are erect to this day also
But these trees now look like
Blades of Grass lost in dense Fog ”
And one day we came to know that he is no more . He died after a brief illness. It was painful news . And later we kashmiris forgot him altogether .
( Autar Mota )
( Jai Prakash Narayan , Chaman lal Chaman , M Y Taing and Pran Kishore New Delhi 1978. )
( Chaman ji with M Y Taing and Dr Mulkh Raj Anand )
( Chaman ji with Playwright Ali Mohd Lone )
( Young Chaman Lal Chaman )
( Avtar Mota )
PS
*
**
I have seen Abdul Gani Lone in smart dress playing billiards inside Hotel Oberoi Palace Srinagar . He was a minister at that time in Congress Government. Probably, he formed People's conference in 1978. And Soom Nath Kandi remained his friend all alo
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