Kashmiri Pandits' Association, Mumbai, India

Biradari pays homage to Onkar Aima:
A condolence meeting of the Kashmiri Pandits' Association was held at Kashyap Bhawan on 6th October 2002, to pay homage to Late Onkar Aima, who died on 28th September 2002. The meeting though called at a short notice and people contacted on telephone only, was well attended.

 In the sombre atmosphere, after observing the customary silence and recitation of prayers by Basanti Raina, speaker after speaker drew attention to various phases of Shri Aima's multidimensional life. They remembered him for his days after partition, when he jumped into active national movement to defend Kashmir against the Pakistani invaders. His involvement in art and theatre, which made him the first hero of the first Kashmiri film 'Maanziraat', was recalled. His courage to leave a secure civil service job and jump into artistic pursuits was spoken of. He endeavoured himself to the Kashmiri biradari in Mumbai after he shifted to this place. His contribution to biradari activities, individually and through KPA and Lalla-Ded Trust were recounted.

 Those who spoke to unfold his multifarious personality were S/Shri P.N.Wali, P.N.Takoo, Moti Kaul, Sunil Mattoo, Basanti Raina and the President Shri J.L.Manwati.

ZAAN Festival :
The 3rd 'Quiz Contest' under the Project ZAAN - a joint venture of Lalla-Ded Educational & Wlfare Trust and Kashmiri Pandits' Association, was held on 15th of September 2002. 

The most heartening feature of the 'Contest' this year was the keen interest shown by contingent of 35 middle-age group members who had requested to organise a crash course on the same pattern in the ZAAN Festival for them. The Festival opened up with the event of participation by the teenagers, which was followed by an event of elderly participants in the post lunch session. The general feeling of the well attended biradari members was that such events would definitely generate interest in the youngsters as well as elders to know their roots. The organisers felt that their mission of inculcating interest in our heritage had been well served by such activities. 

Children of Lesser Gods
Documentary on Refugees in their own country by Repen Tickoo: 
Shri Tickoo, an Engineer and IT Professional has made an individual effort on how the refugees of Kashmir live, or pretend to live after losing their home and after losing their loved ones. The documentation is through the camps and other shelters in Jammu as they stand to this day. It is a contemporary account and not what it has been in all these 12 years.

 Through interviews of old and young, the poignant stories of how people have lost their dear ones to terrorism, appear in a touching manner. The old man, who lost his son or son-in-law, the wife who lost her husband and the young child who lost his parents, the trauma writ large on their faces, has come out vividly in the documentary.

 The tremendous effort of these people in coping with adverse environment comes out clear. The efforts of an organisation like the SOS looking after these forlorn children, is clear and no viewer can fail to appreciate it.

 The documentary does not cover only the Kashmiri displaced but also those from Rajouri, Doda and other places in Jammu province. It even includes a Muslim family which had become the victim of terrorism.

 The documentary is an excellent effort by one who I will still call an amateur in this field. It may not touch technical heights but does make a deep impact at the feeling level. A screening of the documentary was done in IIT Campus Powai, where about 200 people watched it and were moved by it. The documentary is available on VCD with Mr. Tickoo (Mob: 9869011956) on a nominal cost. The money collected from the sale of VCD will be sent to SOS Jammu to support the cause of rehabilitation of the affected children.

Bhajan Cassette released:
Girija Pandit has come out as an excellent singer, a composer of music and above all, a writer of very good bhajans. Her bhajans had appeared in past in the print in Milchar. This time, these are there on sound bites. The four cassettes released by her are:

• Maa Vidyavasini Ki Amar Katha 

 (Singers - Survesh Misra & Girija Pandit)
• Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram

 (Singers - Uday Mazumdar & Girija Pandit)
• Param Pad Pavoon Re

 (Singers - Vinod Rathod, Sudha Sharad & Girija  Pandit)
• Beda Paar Karo Jagadambe

 (Singers - Suresh Wadkar, Girija Pandit & Sudha Sharad)

Smt. Susheela Dhar Charitable Trust :
The Trust has doubled the awards given away to meritorious students of Camp Schools at Roop Nagar (Muthi) and Nagrota at Jammu. The awards (totalling 8 nos.) will now be given to first rank holders passing 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th class examination in both the schools.

News from Delhi :
Bharatanatyam performance
Nandita Bhan, daughter of Smt. Neelam & Shri Pankaj Bhan and grand-daughter of Smt. Durgesh & Shri D.P.Bhan of Gulmohar Park New Delhi) gave a superb performance of Bharatanatyam Arangetram, on 8th September 2002 at India International Centre auditorium, New Delhi. Nandita is keen to explore facets of the Kashmiri Shaivite philosophical tradition through Bharatanatyam. Shri K.Padmanabhiah & Pandit Bhajan Sopori praised and congratulated Nandita. Pt J.N.Kaul, President AIKS blessed the talented dancer and presented her a Ganesh Moorti.

Book published 
'A Matter of Fact', the book written by Khem Lata Wakhlu & O.N.Wakhlu has been published by Minerva Press India (P) Ltd., New Delhi. Priced at Rs. 250.00, the book has been described as 'A Captivating tale of intrigue and machination in the corridors of power' by a critic.

News from Jammu :
'SABZAAR'  NGO
NGOs are, it is said, the concience keepers of the government. But, the mushroom growth of NGOs in the country seem to work more at the cross purposes rather than being complimentary to the government. Kashmir also has its share of NGOs anmd some of them are doing laudable jobs.

 SABZAAR, the recent NGO with its registered office at Chhani Himmat, Jammu, has undertaken to work for mitigating the sufferings of our displaced comminity members.

 To begin with, it has adopted the Migrant Camp School with nearly 200 students, which is run by a dedicated team of teachers on voluntary basis. SABZAAR has provided 5 computers with a printer and a computer teacher to provide a small Computer Centre to the School. With the help of UNICEF, SABZAAR has arranged 7 hand pumps for the Batalbalian camp. It also has plan to offer 70 scholarships to the needy students. Good work indeed. Sabzaar also has on its anvil to produce documentaries on the Saints of Kashmir, Music of Kashmir and Women of Kashmir to help preserve our legacy and cultural heritage.

 SABZAAR already has held a Painting Competition in the Camp Schools of Muthi, Purkhoo and Batabalian where our teenagers have portrayed the pangs of their lives in the post exodus period.
 We wish SABZAAR all the best in their laudable endeavours.

News from Bangalore :
On 27th August, 2002, a delegation of the Kashmiri Visthapit Seva Samiti, Bangalore were privileged to meet Shri Lal Krishen Advani, Hon'ble Deputy Prime Minister of India in Bangalore and submitted him a Memorandum listing therein the demands/problems faced by the community in different spheres. 

Shri Advani ji gave patient hearing to the delegation and enquired about the welfare of Kashmiri Pandits.

 Kashmiri Visthapit Samiti also observed the 13th Balidaan Divas  on 14th September 2002, in memory of Late Tika Lal Taploo, who fell to the bullets of the terrorists in Kashmir on this day 13 years back. 

Change of Telephone Nos :
Raina M.K., Pushp Vihar, Shastri Nagar, Vasai (W)
Tel:   (Res) 0250-340110, 0250-340500
         E.Mail: rainamk1@rediffmail.com

Kaul S. K., JNPT, Nava Sheva, Navi Mumbai.
Tel: (Res) 7472215.

Matas Pran Nath, 302-B, Sunrise, Navghar Road, Bhayander. Tel: 8045685.

Change of Address :
Raina Dr. Avtar
Old Add: D-2, Flat 31, Greenfield's Hsg. Soc.
New Add: A-5, Flat No. 77, 
Greenfield's Housing Society, Opp: Fantasy Land, Andheri (E), Mumbai 400 093. Tel: 8252281.

• Shri D.N.Kaul (father of Sukant, Anupam & Supragya) of Vastu Park, Off Evershine Nagar, Malad left for his heavenly abode on 13th August 2002 at Mumbai.
• Sunny, Nephew of Shri Kakaji Safaya of Nerul, Navi Mumbai met his fatal end due to accidental electrocution on 13th August, 2002 at Jammu.
• Smt. Santosh Warikoo W/o Late Rattan Lal Warikoo (originally of Bana Mohalla, Srinagar) of Satlaj, Jangid Complex, Mira Road (E) left for her heavenly abode on 25th August 2002 at Mumbai.
• Shri Mohan Lal Tikoo, father of Shri Anil Tikoo of Vastu Enclave, Veermata Jeejabai Road, Andheri (E) left for his heavenly abode on 11th September 2002 at Mumbai.
• Shri Onkar Aima of Rattan Priya Apts., Cadell Road, Mahim, left for his heavenly abode on 28th September 2002 at Mumbai.

 One thing to ponder. Milchar is published once in every three months. In today's fast changing world, this time gap is too much. Readers completely lose track of the articles and stories published in parts. Can't its frequency be increased? Kindly give this issue a serious thought. Being one brought out in the metropolis of Mumbai, Milchar could also play a big role in advertising biradari matrimonials. This would not only help the community, but also lead to raising finance for very survival of the magazine. And it can only be done if the magazine is published more frequently.

M.K.Kaul
Talab Tillo, Jammu

I have been reading Milchar for the last over three decades. Over the years, there has been improvement in its presentation and getup. Needless to say, there is noticeable improvement particularly in the last few issues. Credit goes to the hard work and sincere effort that is put in by the editorial team. It is also a matter of pride for the Kashmiri Pandits' Association, to have put the entire Milchar on internet.

 Articles published in Milchar are of interest not only to us, but also to members of other communities. A special reference may be made to one of the most informative articles 'From the Pages of History' by Shri J.N.Kachroo in the last issue of Milchar. This article is a piece of research conducted by the author over the years and gives a graphic description of events with accurate dates right from August 1947, which are milestones in the history of Kashmir.

Tribhuwan Bhan
Borivali, Mumbai

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