Frankly Speaking, As A Poet,  I Live In Kashmir- Bal Krishen Sanyasi

Adarsh Ajit    

Author of Shreh Ta Veh, an anthology of Kashmiri poems, written in 1962 to 2003, Bal Mukand Vaishnavi literary known as Bal Krishen Sanyasi was born in August 1943 in Shashiyar Habba Kadal Srinagar. He shifted to Chattabal Srinagar at the age of 14 and migrated from the valley in 1990 due to the turbulence, Sanyasi, after living in Jammu for few years finally got settled in Delhi. Sanyasi is fond of music, Literature and watching old films. He is a poet of revolt and continues to be so. He was arrested in 1962 in student's agitation in S.P. College Srinagar and then as a trade unionist in 1986 in the premises of Accountant General, Srinagar Adarsh Ajit interviewed him recently when he was in Jammu. Some excerpts from the interview:

Q1: What is the background of your pen name "Sanyasi"?

Ans: The pen name "Sanyasi" was adopted by me in the year 1963 by getting impressed by the word "Sanyasi" learnt from Bhagwat Gita, meaning to be detached while being attached. The magical words of Late Dina Nath Nadim along with …………………………………………

transformed me from a common man to the level of being called a poet. And according to me poetry is a bond of beautiful words with creative outlook depicting the problems which surround us and with the probable solutions.

Q2. "Being the music lover, who are the present singers of your choice? Sanyasi with a mild smile on his face and clicking his spectacles ejaculate:

Ans: Of course Ghulam Hassan Sofi, Rajya Begam, Danajaya Koul and Kailash Mehra Sadhu

Q3. Literature in Exile is full of agony, tears and is shadowed by plenty of sighs. What are your comments?

Ans. Kashmiri Pandits have suffered a lot due to displacement and this tragedy is not so small to bel forgotten. But weeping is spontaneous. Despite of sights, we cannot afford to loose life. We have to keep hope always and continued discouragement will have counter-productive results.

Q4. Can you express the whole trauma of Kashmir with respect to Kashmiri Pandits in a single couplet.

Ans. In a poetic tone, Sanyasi said in one breath:   nnnnnnnnn nnnnnnmmmmm

Vaakh matan vachan matan, zamistaan m atan (Blowing air of Kashmir was aware that cliffs, couplets and even institutions of learning would go mad an eccentric).

Q5: Was atmosphere in the valley so cloudy?

Chandan kuli van sarf katyah

Che ase naalmate kare kare

Tim asyah saas; hath shath

Ya tim asyah lach, Khudaaya racha

 (O, the tree of Chandan, speak out how many serpentines were embracing you, in thousands, in hundreds or in lakhs, speak, speak).

Q6: How much time you took in balancing the tragedy of exodus and the resurrection of your poetry?

Ans: From 1990 to 1994, no words came due to the stressed mind but in 1995 when I took the pen, it all want unstopped. And the first poem written in exile was CHAPANI  …………………………………….

almonds).

Q7. In Kashmir would you have written better than the exiled life?

Ans:  Yes, undoubtedly and  am sure that my book would have earned more accolades.

Q8. What is your concept of life?

Ans: Life has three phases, according to me Birth, Death and in between, it is romance. I even term the pathos in this age as romance.

Q8A: Do you think that exile of Kashmiri Pandits is responsible for the erosion of romantic poetry?

Ans:  Yes

Q9. And what about romantic poetry written in that side of the tunnel?

Ans: Nowhere, whether here or there. Romantic poetry is vanishing from the Kashmiri literary seen.

Q10. Can poetry be directed, guided or dictated by the ideologies of different religions or fanatics?

Ans: Dictated poetry cannot be called as poetry. Poetry is a flow of chiselled words, full of love, and loyalty and should not be imprisoned by some one's philosophies or theories.

Q11 Who has impressed you in romantic poetry?

Ans:  Mehjoor, Naadim. Habba Khatoon

Q12. What is your contribution to the literature other than the poetry?

Ans: Writing essays on various topics.

Q13.Do you think that Kashmir Pandits can save the legacy of their traditional Kashmiri Poetry being at the verge of extinction?

Ans: Only bleak chances are there. Much water has flown down the river and every effort is being made to finish this minuscule community.

Q14. How do you compensate the scenic beauty of Kashmir in your poetry when you are away from the snowy mountains, saffron fields, murmuring waters, shady Chinaars, Ituses, the lakes, the tall towering popular trees?

Ans: Physically we are not there but when we write, the whole valley reels in our minds. Flowing waters, large paddy fields, the fragrance of the flowers, jungles, lakes, bends of the river Vitasta and snow clad mountains are always with us. If

these will not be present in our minds, it will be the death of the poetry of Kashmir. Frankly speaking as a poet I live there.

Q15. Who has influenced you in poetry?

Ans:  Dina Nath Nadim, Vasu Dev Reh, Mohi-u-Din Gowhar, P. N. Koul  Saahil, Chaman Lal Chaman anda Rafiq Raaz.

Q16. Lastly, as you are called a poet of revolt and romanticism, for our readers say a specimen couplet on romanticism.

Ans:

Lakhchun Chonui Khwabas Manz Wuch

Pruchmas Vonnam Sorui Haal

Teenka Falle Taam Chaanee

Maai Hairach Haaran Haanee, Maai

(Saw the mole of your face in a dream, when asked, it conveyed your welfare. The small pebbles, we played, have your touch of love and the small conch shells, we played on Shivratri, have intense impact of your love.

Q17. What is your message to the young poets who are in displacement?

Ans: Let the shedding of tears be stopped, let the nostalgia lead them towards creativity.

DISCLAIMER:

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

Courtesy: The Martand- The Official organ of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference: 16th November, 2009