DEWANKHAN AT BADIYAR

Yesterday, while talking about Bobji, my grandfather, 
Pt. Shiv Nath Raina, I made a special mention about this gentleman,
LATE SH. SAMSAR CHAND KOUL,nick
name GANHAR ( 1883 __1977 ).
I do not wish to do a biography on him
because I am not competent enough.
Sh.Samsar Chand was a sage like GURU
and elderly FRIEND of Pt. Shiv Nath Raina
who was a drawing master by profession
but a great Artist, Modellar and innovator
by disposition. He loved Nature and its
FLORA and FAUNA.Naturally Pt. Samsar
Chand had a great influence on BOB JI,
(Pt. Shiv Nath Raina ). It will not be out of
place to say that Sh.Samsar Chand
being a great ORNITHOLOGIST , was truly
Salim Ali Of Kashmir.
He was a TEACHER ,ORNITHOLOGIST AND AN AUTHOR. He taught in MISSION
SCHOOL, FATEH KADAL where he was
held in great esteem by the promoters
and the Principal, Late Tyandale Biscoe.
He has authored many books like ,
"BEAUTIFUL VALLEYS OF KASHMIR AND
LADAKH " and " BIRDS OF KASHMIR,
SRINAGAR AND ITS ENVIRONS " These
were multi volume books published some
where in 1940's.
Pt. Samsar Chand lived in the close 
proximity of VETAL SAHAB TEMPLE , 
at MOTIYAR in RAINAWARI which is close
to the abode of great SAINT , JEEVAN
SAHAB.
Pt. Samsar Chand was Neat and Tidy Tall
and Simple Gentleman. He wore a Dastar
( turban ) and in his later days carried a
Cane (Long walking stick ).
A SHAIVIST , fond of travelling there is 
hardly any place in Kashmir which he did
not visit. He would travel very long distances exploring the Secrets, Beauty
and Bounty of nature. Glaciers, Mountains
Lakes.Diverse Flora and Fauna of Kashmir would fascinate him.
Pt. Shiv Nath Raina shared the passion of
his sage Guru and whenever he found time he would accompany the Guru in his
expeditions.
Once I saw my dad ( Late Mohan Raina )
doing a portrait. Upon enquiring he answered , "This is Late SRIDHAR DULOO
a common friend of Bob ji and Pt. Samsar Chand. He is the person who 
brought the people of Ladakh to Light from darkness. He worked relenlessly in.
the difficult terrain and rough weather to
spread education and awarenss."
Now I realise that Dad made INNUMERABLE PORTRAITS OF ALL THOSE PEOPLE WHO EITHER IMPRESSED HIM OR INFLUENCED HIM.
He did a huge portrait of Swami JEEWAN
SAHAB which was installed in his Ashram
by Late Shyam Lal Pir who was Dad's
Colleague in THE DEPT. OF INFORMATION. In my pursuit of REDISCOVERING THE ARTIST MOHAN 
RAINA , Iam trying to obtain pictures of as
many His works as I can.
Coming back to Samsar Chand Ji, his
students in mission School among host
of others were Bakshi Gulam Mohd., 
G.M.Sadiq, Dr.Nassir Ahmed Shah , Prof.
M.S.Want and P.N.Jalali.
Unfortunately like many other greats of
Kashmir, Samsar Chand ji too did not get
What he deserved. The British Govt.though gave him some war pension, 
He passed away in oblivion UNSUNG.
His great grand son, is Aditya Raj Koul of
" Times Now ". His grand son is Mr.Utpal
Koul who runs a publishing house under
Utpal Publishing House in Delhi. In his own way he is carrying forward the legacy of his Grand father who was " GRAND " in
true sense.
Incidentally Utpal is married to Advaitvadini , the sister
of my Artist friend Kapil Koul .
The photo though not very sharp shows
Late Samsar Chand Koul (Ganhar )with his late wife Smt. LachchKujji ( May their
soul rest in eternal peace ! ). Photo is by 
courtesy of Sh. S.N.Koul, grandson of sh.
Samsar Chand .
( Sudesh Raina )