Hallucination
Summer 1931, hamlet in South Kashmir, this hamlet is on the high rise as compared to rest of the surrounding village shaded by unrivaled plane-tree, by walnut, apple, apricot watered by a clear sparking stream. The grass banks of which are streaked with coral red of willow rootlets surrounded by tender green of the young rice plant, handsome fields of the Imbrzal, this hamlet called Battapora rich in natural beauties. Out through the luxuriant foliage peeps the cultivator’s cottage with its tumbledown, thatched gable roof, each cottage has a garden plot well stocked with vegetables. Close to the cottage is the wooden granary, an erection like a huge sentry box, in which the grain is stored, and from which it is taken out by a hole at bottom. There is no crowding of houses, and each man’s cottage stands within its ring fence of earth called Dos. The houses are mostly made of unburnt bricks set in wooden frames of timber of cedar, pine and fir, the roofs being made of rice straw pointed to throw off snow, outside first floor of the house is a balcony approached by ladder, where Kashmiri delights to sit in the summer weather. One house here reflecting the grandeur is five storeys, tall and two balconies on top floor, belonging to Zaildar(Landlord; and head of surrounding villages responsible for revenue collections and administration of the area) is made of burnt bricks and roof is made of lake reeds, pretty windows and doors of lattice work. In the center of the village surrounded by ring fence of witling, under the shades of elms is the village temple built of solid masonry approached by flights of stone steps. The roof of the temple is high and pointed covered with tin plates, when early morning sun glints on the tin roof and turns it burnished silver the effect from distance is very striking.
This hamlet is separated from rest of village ‘Fathepora’ by stream on one side and cliff on the other side the remaining sides are open rice fields, apple and walnut orchards of the village. This hamlet of around fifteen families are Batta’s (Kashmiri Pandits), except one Muslim family living in the kitchen garden of Zaildar taking care of garden and supplying of vegetable supply to the Zaildar’s kitchen and helping women folk in house choirs. Kashmiri Pandit generally wakes up early in the morning puts on wooden patens, and with a water-jar in one hand, goes down to river for bath, prays on riverbanks. If his father or mother is dead, he throws water in air and utters the names of his ancestors back to seven generations after prays, he dresses up, put on the saffron mark {Tilak} on his forehead, and resumes his job. Since month of June is generally auxiliary time for the villagers, by now rice in the fields is full blown and requires just watering and care from stray animals these days’ villagers offer collective morning prayers to the deity and deity of Battapora is “Ganesha”. Today after prayer was over Damoodar Nath sat under the old elm tree and started weeping loudly, was in deep sobs, fellow villages tried to pacify him but of no use, at least they expected to figure out the reason. Damoodar Nath was no ordinary man; generally, strong person easily withstanding toughest circumstances, so small concerns would not break him down. His contribution to the village was evolution of unique financial system by which villagers were voluntary donating for the social cause and community celebrations whole hamlet was gratified to him in setting up this unique revenue collection system for community welfare. So him sniveling like this put whole gathering of morning worshipers in deep worry, they tried utmost but of no yield so they finally decided to get Zaildar Shiv Ji in the temple to pacify Damoodar Nath.
As per social code in Kashmir the youngest has to volunteer for any tasks in the family, therefore, Vishamber Nath youngest among the morning worshipers rushed to inform the village head’s house, which is in close proximity to the temple. He hurried through main compound gate and knocked door of house, this house was the second tallest building in South Kashmir; height of building was way of revealing the prosperity of the family. On knocking the door cautiously, Kakni wife of the village head came out and waned, Vishamber Nath for making noise, as it will disturbZaildar still sleeping on top floor balcony. Vishamber Nath narrated the commotion in the temple to Kakni. Accompanied by Kakni, Vishamber Nath went to the fifth storey, while he remained outside the balcony’s entrance, Kakni went in to apprise ShivJi of temple commotion. On hearing the whispers outside balcony, ShivJi woke up, glanced on his palms, and quietly recited Mantra. {Meaning; in the centre of the palm resides Lakshmi (Goddess of Wealth); on the upper part consisting of fingers belong to Sarswati (Goddess of Knowledge); and the lower part consisting of fist belongs to Govinda (Lord Krishna akin to virtuous Way of life, and preacher of Karma Yoga i.e. selfless duties) for the whole the day be my inspirations. Put it simply this mantra means, “Man’s best friend are his ten fingers, and rationale of life is selfless service to mankind”. After finishing the daily ritual of mantra reciting Kakni narrated he the temple commotion. Had it been other person he would not have bothered to come out so early in the morning, a habitual late riser, but Damoodar Nath had been his key consultant on interacted village issues and enjoyed great regard from Zaildar for opting to remain bachelor and support large families of his two brothers. On listening to the unpleasant scenes in the temple complex, he wrapped his white antelope fur stole around and departed for temple followed by Kakni. .
Mean while whole village had assembled but Damoodar Nath was in no moods to listen to any one, peep of ShivJi approaching him, he rushed embraced village head and wept loudly for some time. ShivJi did nothing but slowly brushed his hand on Damoodar’s head, and was flabbergasted at the behavior of Damoodar Nath. He thought there must by some sinister problem that has traumatized Damoodar Nath. ShivJi master of crisis management to divert the attention of Damoodar and to cheer him up, he asked Kakni to prepare feast for entire village. Kakni was as subservient as the servants of the family; undertaking the husband’s tasks always give her greatest joy, she rushed back woke servants and started preparing meal for entire village, nothing unusual for her on good days and on bad villages loved to dine together, village was big extended family of same forefather. By the time any one could utter a word women folk from surrounding houses got salt tea mixed with milk called Sheer-chai {salt tea} and Sathu (fried and grinded rice) for the villages in the temple complex. The populace of Kashmiri Pandits in the hamlet for centuries has been living like extended family and grief of any one was the common concern of whole hamlet, on single call whole populace would assemble and will shear the joy or sorrow of fellow villager and today every body felt concerned for Damoodar Nath.
Once Village head had come, everyone was silent, and amazingly looking at Damoodar Nath who was looking at his cup of tea, sipping it slowly. Finally, after couple of sips Damoodar Nath began to speak, “For last few months I have been looking for job, the shop I was managing is now being managed well by my younger brother Vedlal, this year our family had two more newcomers and same income is causing strain on our stock of grains. It has been the cause of my worries for quite some times now, I was thinking of moving to capital city Srinagar or to North of Kashmir for seeking any kind of job to support my family or at least any occupation that could feed me so that our stock of food grains can till next harvest season. I discussed my problem with my friends and relatives, one day when one person from North Kashmir asked me to help him locate the address of one villager, after guiding him I told him about my supplications he told me to meet him after one week in North of Kashmir and offered me job of care taking his fruit orchid.”
“After two weeks I went there and took up the job of caretaker of his orchid; this orchid was huge one and was almost cut from rest of the world, it had hot water spring on one side and fresh water canal flowing and dissecting the orchard in two parts. On the banks of the canal in the middle of garden were tall elm tree like the one we have in our temple compound; I built my observation place on its top to have full view of this orchid. The fruits of this orchid were extremely tasty, delicious, and juicy; sometimes I was in dilemma of being in orchid or in heaven. I spent one full season there and returned at the end of harvest season and the person paid me more then expected for doing my job well and returned back to village. After reaching this hamlet, I found this helmet in disarray, all the houses were rebuilt, and no one from our generation was around. I asked one person why houses have been rebuilt; he said none of the houses have been rebuild these houses have been like this for decades. I told him that I am Damoodar Nath where is my house, I am not able to locate it. He said very arrogantly that he has never heard any such name. I enquired about my brothers Vedlal and Mankak but the person was not at all affirmative to any of my queries. I thought of him as being crazy and come to temple hoping to see some one here, but not even temple was around. This place of temple was being used as cattle grazing place when I asked someone, why cattle were being kept here he said that elders believe that cattle kept here give more milk, calf’s play here with joy and do not need monitoring, he was looking responsive, and I was desperate to seek answers to my questions but he too was unaware of my family and finally I told him, where is ShivJi he told me that he has never heard of such name but his old grandmother some times calls village canal as ShivJiLad {Lad is Kashmiri name for canal}. I requested him to please take me to her and possibly, she could answer my quest. I went to his house and old woman was sitting on the platform in the compound along with few little one of the families. I wept and asked where my family, where are my missing neighbors where has the whole hamlet gone even the temple is not around. She had no idea of any of family and temple and finally, when asked about ShivJi she thought for while and what she said shook earth underneath my feet.”
Old Lady said, “My grand father used to tell me a story, and would say that this village was not as prosperous as it is now. People of this village and some adjoining villages were often starving and since the only source of income of villagers was rice and fruit cultivation and the rice production was sustaining at the mercy of rain gods. ShivJi was the village head he often requested authorities of help built a canal for the village and making it rain independent. Then one year rain did not poured, entire cultivation was about to get destroyed for the lack of sufficient water villagers would have starved to death, as famines have been sole cause of large-scale deaths in valley of Kashmir. One fine day he gathered whole village, took them five miles away to a place of spring, and begin digging the canal, villager always trusted his wits. He was confident of taking water of the spring to dying crops, every family joined him in the venture, men, women, and children began working except for one family. In next two months canal was ready and some crops were saved. That year villagers sheared every single grain and some how survived but from next year and for centuries this village survived calamities and drought. One bold action taken by ShivJi bestows the centuries of prosperity to this village. One family that did not cooperated in construction of canal, called him lunatic, in spite of canal pass through their fields but they couldn’t take the water from it, they were punished by ShivJi for not cooperating with rest of villagers that day, and the land belonging to descends of that family doesn’t receive water even today.”
I screamed, “You mean ShivJi lived here centuries ago, and there is no trace of his family and rest of families.” She said, “One frenzy wave came and all those families were wiped by it. No one knows what happen to them but the legend of ShivJi still exists here.” After hearing her I came to this place of temple where
Cattle were kept for grazing and started crying loudly, I had no place to go, no friends, no family, no care taker like ShivJi. I lay there like an orphan, then suddenly I was being jerked, I woke up and saw Vedlal jerking me and telling me to go to temple. I hugged him when I came to know that this was all Hallucination. I fear what if the hallucination of mine becomes reality, where shall we go, what if one breeze wipes our village?”
