Nand Lal Wattal - Unbiased Journalist-2

Gargi Wattal (Tandon)  

Shri Wattal believed in a simple and life . He came out of his bed at 4.30. A.M. He would finish his normal activities like shave, shower by 5.30 AM. Grandma and his wife would go to Hari Prabath to offer prayers and also have a morning walk. Then he would meditate and recite shalokas from religious books. Though a God-fearing man he never wore religion on his sleeves. He would start digging and scanning through newspapers and then editorials. He always said that the editorial was the life and soul of a newspaper and much thought and rational thinking must go before it is finally written. Free from writing of the Editorial he would devote time to read books before going to the office. Shri Wattal would be at the office after 12 noon. At the office he would devote time to administrative and editorial matters. People from different shades, from politicians to intellectuals, writers, professional colleagues and others, would come and discuss freely anything with him. He had great patience to listen. He would say that a journalist should keep his eyes and ears open.

Khidmat was an official organ of the National Conference and, then, of the Congress Party It was the paper of the ruling parties since 1947 to 1975, But it never behaved like the proverbial mouth organ of the ruling party. Shri Wattal would not spare his pen whenever the Government was wrong. His no-nonsense attitude would create enemies among the senior party leaders including ministers. It was openly said that Khidmat was the personal fiefdom of Mr. Wattal and its premises were out of bonds Shri Wattal had put it on a strong edifice and as such it never needed any financial support from the party. Shri Wattal had offered to quit several times but on the intervention of the Chief Minister and the party President was persuaded to stay on. Though being a party paper he never took dictations-even from the Party President or the Chief Minister They had full faith in him that he would project the views of the party in the night sense. Khidmat was a serious newspaper where news was published only as news without any slant. Shri Wattal had neither a "foe" nor a friend" when it came to news. He never allowed sensationalism to invade the paper. This centrist approach in his professional life had endeared him to everybody and this was the principal reason why people felt comfortable with him.

Shri Wattal had a helping nature. He would not say "NO" to anybody who approached him for help. They included people from all walks, irrespective of caste, creed and religion. A political activist would come to put in a word for him with the senior leaders, job seekers would seek his help for getting jobs, those in service would come to have their problems solved. They were all very confident S that being a highly respectable person S his word would carry weight with the =higher authorities. He was very much liked and respected by the younger 9 generation Reason being that he had the power of issuing free cinema passes for all the cinema theatres in the city. All that he had to do was to write down on a small piece of paper the number of people to be admitted. It was a problem to walk with him on the road because he would be greeted by a large number of people. He never gave unwanted suggestions/advices save him blushing if somebody praised him at social gatherings. He never discussed his profession in public.

Shri Wattal was a journalist in letter and spirit. He never used his paper to further his interests. He never adorned stage to address Seminars and forums. He was a media shy person. He never wrote under his name in the paper. Apart from editing he had vast experience of reporting. In addition to reporting on political matters and matters of social importance he had covered all the three Indo Pak wars 1947, 1965 and 1971. He had received several commendable letters from the Ministry of Defence. He wrote centre- page articles under the name "IBLIS" - translated into English it means satan. He wrote humour column under the name "Sang Reze"

Some people want to know about Shri Wattal's contribution in fighting terrorism. They are right because he never addressed seminars or meetings to denounce terrorism. He had the courage to denounce the abduction of the daughter of Mufti Mohd Sayeed, in a telephonic interview with BBC which was broadcast live on that very day. This was at a time when terrorism was at its peak and terrorists were ruling the roost in the Valley. This was also the time when the so called "fearless" journalists were bending on their knees to please the terrorists who had become "heroes" in the eyes of the public Again during another telephonic interview with the BBC, which was broadcast live, he denounced the barbaric acts of terrorists and stressed that the secular fabric maintained over the centuries should not be allowed to be torn and harmonial relations between different communities should continue. He knew he was inviting the wrath of terrorists. Immediately he was asked to leave the Valley. He carried the crusade against terrorism by writing for Radio and TV when the news sections of these organisations were shifted to Delhi. Jammu Radio requested him to highlight the problems faced by Jammu. He himself put it on the air. His last broadcast was on September 13, 1997. He breathed his last on September, 17, 1997.

Shri Wattal had no complaints and was thankful to God for giving him an opportunity to contribute his bit to the society in general and to the J&K state in particular. He had been witness to most important events in the pre and post independent eras of the state and had seen them happening from close quarters.

Shri Wattal's life was a saga of courage and patience. He lost his granma when he was not 40 and had seen family tragedies coming one after the other but was not depressed. He was fond of good things and good life. He was full of humour and cracked jokes at his own expense and would bring house down with his witty jokes. He was a man of high tastes which was evident from the construction of his house which he constructed from the first brick to the last nail. He loved flowers and had a well maintained lawn and backyard where he grew vegetables and fruits. He was fond of good clothes and maintained an excellent wardrobe. He loved non vegetarian food though he was not a big eater. He would join his friends over drinks at social gatherings. He loved to watch Cricket and movies on the TV. He was in excellent health. I don't remember him falling ill for a day or two. He never took medicines, nor visited doctors' clinics. About him it can safely be said that born disease free he left this world disease free.

Shri Wattal longed to go back to the Valley and sit on the verandah of his house to watch the different moods of nature.

When Shri Prem nath Bazaz wrote his book Kashmir in Crucible he presented a copy of this book to Shri Wattal with a remark on the Book "To Nand Lal Wattal, Kashmir, in whose service you have grown grey."

Shri G.M. Sofi, Editor Srinagar Times, said about him: "If one were to compare the calibre of Shri Wattal with that of the present-day journalists, one would be disappointed. Today there is glamour, allurement and much more. But Journalism today is bereft of the soul from which the society and social environment derived life. By his manner and style of functioning, Shri Wattal set an example for others to emulate".

(concluded)

(The writer is the granddaughter of Shri Wattal. She is working as Associate Vice-President of HDFC Life Insurance, Mumbai. The write up is based on what Shri Wattal and elders in the family have told her).

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Courtesy:-  Gargi Wattal Tandon and April 2012, Koshur Samachar