Wrongs To Right: Songs Of The Byte

By S.Sarwar Malik

An Appetiser For Eyes

  I am back!

 At times, marked but folded, newspaper of 4-5 days  and flagged books claim ‘undue’ share of my bed, especially when Book Reviews   (- as of 15 Aug, a write up…..”of the Ph.D scholar of OUR Kashmir University, Dr Suheel Rasool Mir….Gurez and Ladakh” on OpEd; of an english daily of the valley , or my neighbourhood guy Shri Pran Kishore’s latest Semi-historical -novel ‘ The Moon of Chandahaar,’ –that has the distinction of being the first in this genre; or the precious works of RAHI sahib (- words of the tribute -poem, this humble penman wrote that day  : “Aathus kareya Meoth ….(aba )” ! or for that matter words of our Prof Shafi Shauq about Kashmiri NOVEL, engage my thoughts.

  You,dear readers, might have read some of my articles that have been very graciously given space by editors- extending encouragement to me since 2001. Youngsters might have read my very recent (I mean of 2024) pieces on Shuniyavaad of Ladakhi / Lamaistic Buddhism and Brokpa people  ( besides many others in the English Daily that’s in your hand, presently, or some othet newspaper  pages might have put readers in questioning mode, (- the pic herein being sixty weeks old, my eyes have grown chinkier, today.True) as to whether the writer is a Ladakhi ?[  Slight Diversion: A similar question of an officer of J&k Academy of Art Culture & Languages; for whose Journal, Transcreation-2024, this penman wrote an article, incidentally, mentioning in detail, theatrics of ‘Temple-theatre of yore’ evoked a vague answer,  when my eyes lit brighter &  in a  lighter vein, lips twitched mischievously,during our first face to face meeting,some days back, in Aug 2024].

Dear reader, once again,today,  kargil and its connection with Kashmir & Islam  is presented  as ‘appetiser’. .[…”GUREZ calling from yore..O’ scribe…AND Central Asia…redials too*.That was about other recent subjects of my write-ups of 2024, about which more may appear in my three favourite English Dailies of Kashmir, and in other projects knocking on my mind’s-door. [[ shsh shsh..Margret Atwood’s draft diary winks…” Where did you keep your novel? Are You there know-el. I can get hold of you in twilight, too.]

 Surely you must have heard about “Habba khotoon e heund baal” and read about the ethnicity of Kargil; about the first village of Drass namely MAYAN, whose population is a mixture of Kashmiri, Dards and Baltis.

The Baltis are said to have accepted Shiaism, with the efforts of Mir Shamsuddin Araqi; very close to ‘Shah e Hamdaan’. The Baltis belong to the Asna-e- asharri sect and write Arabic Script.

Another village of great interest is the village KUKSHO; on the route of Indus, twenty five kilometres from Skurbuchan village (120 Kms from Leh), which is said to be inhabited by the descendants of the Aryan Dard,known locally as ‘aBrog-pa’. Its distinction is that mixed tradition derived from both Buddhism and Islam, is followed here.

 The elevated plateau of    Ladakh, is an ancient land, that, in the words of our Prof.Fida.M.Hassnain (-2010

;  Former Director of Archives), too, has a ‘deluge- story’.

About archeological research of this Ladakh-Kargil region, what a phD scholar of archaeology wrote some years back and also gleanings from the humble work of this penman, four & a half decade- when i spent two and a half years in this region;  next time, dear reader. //

“ Kuch aur be gham hai zamanay main mohabbet kay siva; Rahatain aur be hain…..”

Adieu.///

• The author is a Contributor/ Columnist/ Penman GK, KI, KO & KU Journal- ENGLISH STUDIES IN INDIA- from over 2 and a half decades

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now

MONTHLY	Rs 100
YEARLY	Rs 1000
LIFETIME	Rs 10000

CLICK FOR DETAILS