DEWAN KHAN

" HARJI LAL KO VOTE DOO "

I am sure some of you have
become nostalgic and are
laughing. Well, you have all
reasons to laugh !

In my write up on Late Pt.
Shridhar Joo Dullo, I have
mentioned his relation with
Bob ji, Pt. Shiv Nath Raina.
One of the sisters of Pt. Dulloo's
bahu ( daughter in law ), Smt.
Jaikishori was my dad's maternal
Bhabi ( sister in law ). Isn' t our
community really small ?
Harji Lal's wife and Jaikishori ji
were sisters, So, in that capacity
we knew Harji Lal.

Election time in early seventies ! The
atmosphere was not yet vitiated
with the venom of terrorism.
Peace and calm prevailed and
election fever had gripped the
valley.

Very tall (six feet and few inches)
handsome gentleman with a golf
( P cap) visited our Dewan Khan at
Badiyar Bala. He was Harji Lal Raina.
After settling down , over a cup of
Kahwa tea , he addressed my uncles,

" God bless, yours is a large family and all of you are well connected .

It is not a big deal for you to arrange
a dedicated, hard working squad of
volunteers who will campaign for my
Lok Sabha candidature. I am fighting
this lok Sabha election as an
independant candidate. You all have
to support and vote for me . I shall
bear all expenses that'll take care of
all the volunteers chosen by you .
Remember , my election symbol is
Chadta Suraj( Rising Sun ) . As and
when you are ready, meet me at my
residence. "

While leaving , he again reminded
" Don't forget, rising sun and the
slogan, Harji Lal Ko Vote Doo, Vote
for Har ji Lal "

Harji Lal Raina had been politically
active having close proximity with
Bakshi Gulam Mohammad and
Sheikh Mohd. Abdullah. He had
earlier also entered elctoral battles but would suddenly withdraw his candidature at last moment .

This 1972 Lok Sabha election, he
looked quite serious.
Born in a village near Kokarnag,
Kashmir, he settled in Srinagar where
he was posted as Tehsildar. Initially
he lived in Zaindar Mohalla and
later shifted to Karan Nagar. He
was affluent and rich by all standards and lived in a big house
adjacent to Dr.Peshin's nursing home
opposite Dr.Brij Mohan Bhan's clinic.

Inspite of the fact that he was a
charmer and a handsome person,
his demeanour was simple and
down to earth. He never showed off
his wealth and would help every one
who sought his help. There was no
exuberance or flamboyance in his
disposition.

Campaigning and canvassing for
elections began. Although Rainas
at Badiyar did not provide him any
help yet he had managed a brigade
of volunteers who would roam in
jeeps and taxis around his Habba
Kadal constituency shouting full
pitch slogans, " Vote for Harjee Lal"
" Harjee Lal Ko vote doo . Jeete gaa
bhai jeete gaa Harjee Lal jeete ga.
Chadte suraj pe mohar laga en aur
Harjee Lal ko kamyaab banaen "

Har ji Lal's wife was a strong lady
with no pretence. She would call
the shots and would supervise all
arrangements. She was fondly
addressed as "Boba" by family
members,so , the volunteers also
addressed her as Boba with respect.
If my memory serves me right, her
real name was Roopawati.
Her home during campaigning had
become a rest house for all the
workers. Free boarding ! Free meals !
Free lodging ! Free transport !
Everything on the house ! It was a
fun time for the young brigade most
of whom were college students.
Then there was cash incentive ! Boys
got money to pay for all sundry
expenses and petrol for vehicles .

Harji Lal's family never ever doubted
any one's intentions. They were very
lavish in providing all facilities, money and comforts to one and
all. The boys would introduce their
friends to Harji Lal as workers who
would ensure votes for him in their
respective areas.
It was junkets and freebies for all
without any discrimination of caste,
creed or colour. No accountability !
Hold on ! Visualise the climax .

Harji Lal's house ! From his window
down go the "DegChas", " Samovars"
" Thals" ,all bronze and brass ware.
Rolled carpets all these would find
way to the homes of workers. Tea
served in " khasoos" ( brass cups).
Empty khasoos in the pockets of
so called workers. His books, other
valuables, " Dussas" ( gents shawls )
and what not. It was free for all
and Harji's house was virtually
looted. The loot would be distributed
by the workers amongst themselves
according to their individual needs
and requirements.24×7 taxis, tasty
cuisine all provided by hospitable ,
unsuspecting and decent Rainas.

Here comes the result day. About
a dozen workers in a queue. One
of them, "Sir you've lost. You got
less than ten votes. Zamaanat
zabt( deposit gone ) . Sir we did
our best ".
Very innocently Harji Lal asked,
" I had about ten voters in my family.
Whose nine votes were those, your's
or their's ? "
He must've thought " Koi kisee kaa
nahi yeh joothe naate hain, natoon
kaa kya . I have learnt a lesson for
my life. Hence forth, I'll never fight
an election ".

Harjee Lal Raina retired as Assistat
Commissioner, Revenue, Srinagar.
He was also president of Kashmir
Youth Association, but what did the
youth give him, betrayal ?
His son Dr.Rajinder Raina is Ex
Principal, G. M.College. younger
son ,Ravi is a Mech.Engg.and is
self employed, settled in Canada.
His eldest daughter, Dr. Krishna
Bhan is married to Dr. M.L Bhan
and they are settled in London(U.K)

This article is dedicated to the
great man whose hospitality, open
mindedness , love and affection was
reciprocated by betrayal. Think and
ponder, Are we really civilized .?
May his soul rest in eternal peace !!

" Harji Lal Ko Vote Doo"
Habba Kadal, Srinagar.

( Sudesh Raina )