DEWAN KHAN !!
you to an UNUSUAL GUEST
at DewanKhan. Unusual because
in late seventies, I would see this
person coming regularly almost
daily to our house at Badiyar Bala
to meet my father, Late MohanRaina
and every time my father used to
avoid him. This was quite unusual
about my Dad because I know he
would welcome anyone whosoever
came to meet him.
This person was tall, bespectacled
and well built. I was curious to know
why he was being avoided.
I had often seen this man walking
through our area almost daily. I wanted to know not because I wanted policing him but because I
am inquisitive by nature.
One day I saw him in GovindNawdara
shop in Ganpatyar. He was being
cheered and prompted by a group of
grown up boys who were laughing,
giggling and winking at one other.
Later I came to know that he was a
HUMOUR POET AND A FRIEND OF
ANOTHER HUMOUR POET, KHAZIR
MAGRABI. Their poetry was loaded
with vulgar, porn humour. Yes, you
have guessed it right ! The person
I am talking about is
MAKHAN LAL KOUL( MAHAV ).He was known for his so called humour
genre poetry on some personalities
and topics like; " Dal Shikara", "Kutub
Minar" , Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah and
his family" "Raghu Nath Bhan"and
"Raja Haider". Raja Haider was a
powerful Pathan from ruling Pathan
family of Kashmir. Haiderpora of
Srinagar was named after him.
Many a times Mahav Sahab was
thrashed, beaten and bruised by
National Conference supporters and
others for caricaturing Sheikh Mohd.
Afzal Beigh and Bakshi Gulam Mohd.
He has caricatured many K.P. leaders
also through his poems.
There is an anecdote of 1977 when
Janta Party came to power. Jagjivan
Ram had to address a gathering in
Polo Ground, Srinagar.Due to some
reasons he got delayed. MakhanLal
was sitting on dias alongwith Shamim Ahmed Shamim and other
dignitaries.Mahav Sahab was
requested to say something to the
Crowd. Before he could start the
crowd became hysterical and in one
voice they roared and whistled ,
" Aslee Kalaam Pesh Karo" (Recite
your original poetry )
He worked as Sub editor for Urdu
Newspaper ," Khidmat". Nand Lal
Wattal was it's editor. Later I realised
that he would come to meet my Dad
on Nand Lal's reference(He wasDad's
good friend).Makhan Lal wanted my
Dad to make his father's portrait .
He was a graduate from Lahore and
a true "Arya Samaji" . For Khidmat he
would translate stories from English
Newspapers of Delhi. He would
travel on foot carrying a bundle of
newspapers to his home for
translation.His poetic stance was
anti establishment.
Anybody who was somebody in the
bureaucracy, media, politics and
other professions knew him and
listened to his poetry.Some took him
to Ahdoo's Hotel to relish his poetry
with Kebabs and tea. Some times he
would be seen in Coffee House or
Kailash Cafetaria, Amira Kadal.
His friends and admirerswho enjoyed
his humour naughty poems failed to
see the shadows of want and need
looming large in his personal life .
None came to his rescue on this
front. He too never sought personal
favours.
It is not that he wrote only naughty
humour. He was sharp, witty with
knowledge of Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu
Hindi and English. His Kashmiri
poem will show his genuine true
humour.
" Khaaer( sort of fungus which has
permanent damaging effect on the
scalp) gayee alagh ta alagh ha guvv
Traam Nigaaro, Khaarie rath ha
kashun ta Traam chhuy aaraam
Nigaaro, Traamus anaan chamak
me vuchhuaai teelvaari teel, Kharrie
kyaa kares ha rogan_e_badaam
Nigaaro "
Khaaer is one thing and baldness is
another, my love !
Khaaer is bleeding and itching and
baldness is a comfort my love !
The bald shines with oil takrn from
the kitchen oil pot, what can expensive almond oil do to a person
suffering from Khaaer , my love !!
There is another genuine humour in
Kashmiri which comes to my mind
but so far so much. I will leave you
here till tomorrow .
( Sudesh Raina )
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