Religious-cleansing campaign
in 1990 had two dimensions-one, to throw Pandit community out of its homeland
and secondly, to enact cultural effacement to show that the Pandit community
never existed in Kashmir. Destruction of shrines/residential premises, personal
libraries, change of name-places, distortion of history and culture has been an
extension of the latter. Most of the families were not able to retrieve even
family albums. A Photo-Portrait of Kashmiri Pandits-Enduring Images Frozen in
Time by Messers SN Pandita and Ramesh Manwati, two distinguished
members of the community is a valiant attempt to put spokes in the campaign of
cultural effacement.
Linking to Kashmiri Ambience:
A new generation of Kashmiri
Pandits has grown up in exile. They have neither memories nor nostalgia of
living Kashmiri way of life in the ambience of Kashmir. Yet, it is this
generation that has to don the mantle of leadership sooner than later to carry
forward the movement for retrieval of homeland to its logical culmination. If
this group remains detached from the experience of rich Kashmiri way of life how
would it get connectivity with the homeland movement.
The authors seem modest in
stating objectives in bringing out the album - to show the past face of the
community and preserve the photo heritage. The rich collection or
rare photographs, published in the album not only reflect the social life of
Pandits but also indicate the pattern of social change over years. It also shows
how Kashmiri Pandits value their history.
Architecture and Costumes:
The photo-album focuses on
almost all aspects of Kashmiri Pandit social life. In the section on residential
architecture one comes across peculiar wood-work reflected in Dab, Vurusi, Daeri
Damdar, Panjaer Daer, Kathkar, exquisitively carved main gate-door etc. The
photographs dealing with costumes show the extent of change in dress over a
period of time. Pattu Coat-Pyjama, Dastaar, Grass Pulhour, Pheran, Thaz
Khrav, etc. all come alive in pictures. There is a photograph showing
bridegroom and bride in Gangvyas and Mekha Paizar respectively.
Rare
Photographs:
The authors have laboured
hard to procure photographs that look unique e.g. - Bridegroom on horse back with
Pot Maharaza, child couples, Maharaza with Aelae Maal, Mekhala Maharaz with
Zarbaf Lat etc. There was a reformist movement in 1925-1930, advocating strongly
the case of widow-remarriage among Kashmiri Pandits. This was strongly resented
by hidebound sections of Pandit community. The photo-album carries picture
depicting solemnisation of one such widow-remarriage. Many old photographs
dealing with Pandit marriage and Mekhala ceremony find space in the album. The
authors have even managed to put in the album photographs on preparing
Phak
Chai
and Waer. There are photographs on performance of Mahayagna. A
photograph that one rarely comes across - Performing Partheshwar Puja is
also incorporated.
Social Life:
Photographs depicting social
life include rural women washing untensils/clothes on Yarbal, Rich Fruit trader
with his retinue of employees, Puja around a spring asthapan,
Kashmiri Pandits with their family Guru, Group outing to a religious place,
anniversary function at an asrama, visits to a festival place and
enjoyment in an old style merry-go-round, sheen jung (snow fight),
basking in autumn sun in the angun, open air classroom, playing of
school band. There are innumerable group photographs of staff and students of
schools and SP College. The authors have also included a photograph of
Rajkiya Pathshala, one of the oldest Pathshalas of Srinagar
city. The photographs on treks to Gangabal, Sheshnag, Harmukh and
Amarnath
Cave are also included
but display poor quality. There are couple of photographs depicting rural
Pandits at work in their fields.
1947 Tribal Raid:
The section dealing with
photographs of 1947 Tribal invasion is a feast to students of history on
contemporary Kashmir. The photographs show the relief work being carried on by
members of Pandit community to provide succour to victims of Tribal raid. One
photograph shows Pandit lady volunteers undergoing training as members of
national militia. There are also few snaps on taking out of Vidh Bhagwan
procession on the day of Zaramasatam.
There are three vintage
photographs - Swami Vivekananda in Kashmir, Pioneer photographer Pt. Vish Nath
Kampassi in his studio, two Pandit traders in 1875 (photograph taken by
Geographer Frederick Drew). Three photographs taken recently recall nostalgia - Somyar
Ghat, boat shop selling nadrus and a
tonga raida
carrying Monji (Kadam) for sale. These
photographs are also remarkable for their quality. The albums carries
Foreword by Sh. Jagmohan, former Governor of J&K and a useful Glossary
at the end.
Drawbacks:
However, there are few
glaring lapses. The authors have not provided captions, detailing the source,
year and the personalities in the photograph. The photograph-Vivekananda in
Kashmir as per circumstantial evidence could not have been taken by Pt. Vishnath
Kampassi for two reasons. One, Swamiji had carried a photographer along. This is
based on the premise that Swamiji's troupe took a number of pictures in
Kashmir - all of very good quality. Secondly, Pt. Vishnath Kampassi was a novice
at the time of Swamiji's visit (1898) with hardly 5 years experience. We do not
have good quality photographs taken by Pt. Kampassi during the period 1893-1900
to substantiate a hypothesis that the photograph of Swamiji with Kashmiris could
have been taken by Pt. Kampassi.
There is also strong
possibility that this photograph was taken at Swami Ramji's asrama at Fatehkadal.
It is a matter for investigation. The authors in their desire to document
everything pertaining to Pandits' social life have stuffed the album with some
extremely poor-quality photographs.
These blemishes apart,
bringing out this excellent photo-album is a pioneering effort on the part of
authors, guided purely by labour of love. Conscious of few drawbacks, the
authors intend to rectify these in the enlarged second volume. They need fullest
cooperation of the community.
Title: Enduring Images
Frozen in Time
- A Photo-Portrait
of Kashmiri Pandits
Authors: S.N Pandita,
Ramesh Manvati
Price:
Rs 3150 (Discounted
Price)
Published by Authors.
