Our News Folio –  From Chandigarh -  Murti Sthapana in Kashmir Bhawan

March 28, 1999 was a day of pride for Kashmiri Biradari living in Chandigarh. Mohali and Panchkula. On that day, in the newly constructed third storey of Kashmir Bhawan, the sacred idol of Maa Durga was installed by Smt. Uma Devi Ambardar and Smt. Mohini Razdan amidst chanting of Vedic hymns by Pandit Ramesh Zadoo. The solemn occasion was marked by the presence of H.H. Swami Ved Swaroopananda Saraswati, who had come from Faridabad along with Shri J.N. Kaul, President AIKS and other devotees, to consecrate the Murti-Sthapana.

Hundreds of Biradari members - men, women and children-participated in the Havan, which preceded the Murti Sthapana. It was an occasion for immense joy and excitement for the Biradari in general and the organisers in particular to see their aspirations fulfilled.

Sqn. Ldr. B.L. Sadhu, a Trustee of the Bhavan, recalled the strenuous efforts made by the previous Executive Committee members headed by Smt.

Hema Madan and Shri R K Bhan to complete the first storey of Kashmir Bhavan amidst adverse circumstances. He also eulogized the zeal. enthusiasm and hard work put in by the present Executive Committee headed by Shri PN. Ambardar in augmenting the funds and seeing to it that the construction work went uninterrupted till its completion of two more storeys. He expressed satisfaction that the dream project of the Chandigarh Biradari stood so majestically now.

On this occasion, some Leelas composed by late Shri BL Razdan, who had an ardent desire that the murti of Maa Durga should be installed in the Bhavan and who had made enormous personal contribution to this project, were sung by Shri Sadhu and Smt. Sheela Kaul.

Thereafter, in his brief address Shri J.N. Kaul congratulated the members on this achievement and exhorted them to remain united and uphold the traditional and cultural heritage of Kashmir. For this, he hoped, the Bhawan could now be converted into - a hub of activity.

The function ended with partaking of naveed by the devotees.

[From our Chandigarh Correspondent]

From The Capital- Shaheed Sarwanand Premi Remembered

At a solemn function held in New Delhi on May 1, 1999, glowing tributes were paid to veteran freedom fighter and prominent Kashmiri poet and scholar, Late Sarwanand Kaul 'Premi', on his ninth death anniversary, by eminent writers and scholars. It was on this very day that Premiji and his 27-year old son, Virendra, were beaten to death in the most brutal manner by Kashmiri militants in their native place, Soaf Shall, Dist. Anantnag in Kashmir.

Premiji, it will be recalled, had dared to send a rejoinder to an article in a local newspaper writen by a Jamait-i-Islam activist, criticising the idea of a fundamentalist state in comparison to a secular state. It was only for holding such liberal views that he and his son were strangled to death and their eyes. Premiji was a noble and deeply religious person in whose house a rare manuscript of the holy Quran was found placed with reverence in his puja room.

From The Capital- Najafgarh Zone KPs meet.

A large number of Kashmiri Pandit residents of the Kashmiri Colony at Paprawat Road, Najafgarh, organised a Hawan on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi at the temple complex under construction

From Bangalore - Kashmiri Hindu Samiti

I had the pleasure of meeting some of the office bearers of the Kashmiri Hindu Samiti (Karnataka) Bangalore, and then attending one of the monthly meetings of their Managing Committee on June 6. 1999. The Samiti holds elections every two years and for the current block of two years, 1998-2000, the following are the office bearers

President-Shri- R.K Mattoo

Vice-Presidents-S/Shri ML Kaul & DN Kaul

Secretary-Shri KK Zutshi

Jt. Secretary-Shri R K Bhan

Treasurer-Shri Arvind Waza

In addition there are eleven members of the Managing Committee.

The Samiti has been engaged in a number of activities, including performing annual Havan, organising community meetings on importance. festivals like Navreh, providing help and assistance to the biradari members physically, financially and in many other ways. There was a complaint made by the Samiti that their activities have gone unreported in the Koshur Samachar. They were assured that all their activities and functions would thereafter be reported through the Samachar if they sent the reports regularly. They, in turn, promised to enlist many more subscribers for the journal. Those among them who were regular subscribers were very appreciative of the contents of the Samachar.

The unity and close-knit nature of the members of the Biradari here in Bangalore was clearly visible during the recent untimely death of a member of the community.

[A report from "Kundan"]

From Jammu- Book on Kashmiri Lok Sangeet

Dr. Usha Bagati, Professor of Music, Govt. MAM (Camp) College, Jammu has authored a book entitled "Kashmiri Lok Sangeet" in which she has portrayed Kashmiri culture through folk songs and music composed by well known poets and artistes suiting a variety of social and cultural occasions. The book also contains references to centuries-old musical instruments played by reputed artistes in the Kashmir valley It has been published by Nirmal Publications, Shahdara, Delhi.

Dr. Bagati is the first Ph.D from Jammu and Kashmir who has done such a commendable work on the folk music of Kashmir She obtained her doctorate from Indira Kala Sangeet University. Khairagarh (MP)

From Jammu- Tercentenary of Vijayeshwar Panchang

Tercentenary celebrations of Vijayeshwar Panchang begin this year. In a press statement issued in Jammu on May 9, 1999, Jyotishi Premi Nath Shastri says: "Our forefathers had prepared the first issue of this leading Kashmiri Panchang in 1684 A.D. which, over the centuries, has bestowed on the Kashmiri Pandit community their traditional pride and always reminded them of their ethos and heritage".

To mark the celebrations, Vijayeshwar Karyalaya convened a conference in Jammu on 20th October, 1999. The conference would "appeal for introspection and aim at reversing the process of degeneration of mankind which has been dehumanized with the growth of blind materialism and fundamentalism", Shastri Ji adds.

It will also discuss issues relating to the present diaspora of Kashmiri Pandits at length and would come out with definitive remedial measures to prevent any further erosion of the Pandit identity.

Vijyeshwar Karyalaya has also decided to launch on this occasion the regular publication of Ranvireshwar Panchang to cater to the needs of people of Jammu in particular. The inaugural issue of this Panchang will be released by the noted thinker and philanthropist, Dr. Karan Singh Ji. Eminent astrologer and editor of esteemed Martand Panchang, Shri Priyavrat Sharma will inaugurate the office complex of Vijayeshwar Panchang in Gole Gujral,. Jammu .

From Bahadurgarh -  KPs form new association

Kashmiri Pandits residing in Bahadurgarh, Dist. Jhajjar, Haryana, have formed an Association named as Kashmiri Pandit Cultural Society, Bahadurgarh Office bearers elected are: Sarvashri Bhushan Lal Bhat, Convenor, Sunil Koul. Secretary, Rakesh Sathoo, Organising Secretary: Chaman Lal Koul, Treasurer; and Avtar Krishan Bhat, Auditor. Sarvashri Mohan Lal Koul, Amar Nath Bhat, Roop Narayan Koul and Dr. H.N Pandita are the Executive Members.

From Dehradun - Activities of Kashmir Sabha

A glance through the latest issue of HARMUKH, the newsletter of Kashmir Sabha DehraDun, dedicated to Kheer Bhawani, shows how active the members in this town are in keeping alive their social and cultural heritage. The newsletter inter alia contains an informative write up on the greatness of the sacred Shrine at Tula Mulla (Kashmir).

The Kashmir Sabha arranged a get-together to observe Jyeshtha Ashtami festival in a collective manner at Swami Ramtirth Mission, Rajpur Road on June 21. Apart from traditional pooja and aarti, a religious discourse by Dr. Swami Ram Kishore Das Ji was also organised.

Earlier, on March 21, the Sabha had celebrated Navreh in the premises of Radhakrishna Temple at Krishen Nagar. Hawan and aarti were followed by devotional songs and a children's programme. The gathering of over four hundred men, women and children were later served lunch with traditional Kashmiri cuisine

Shri Madan Kaul, (Kashyap Carpets), has been elected as 1st Vice Chairman, CARPET EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL, Ministry of Textiles, Govt. Of India. Prime Export Council of Indian Carpets, having an Export turnover of Rs. 2200 Crores Annually.

DISCLAIMER:

The views expressed in the Article above are Author’s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.

Courtesy: Kashmir Samiti Team and July 1999, Koshur Samachar