Gopal Sharma
CHAMLYAL (IB), June 27: For the first time in the history of Baba Chamlyal Mela on Indo-Pak border in Ramgarh sector of district Samba, as many as seven serving judges from the Pakistani judiciary and even the media-persons witnessed the event, dominating the decorated men clad in uniforms.
Ignoring the poor pace of dialogue process between two sides and amidst bon-homie, both sides exchanged the traditional sweets and fruits and Indian soldiers offered holy earth and water (Sharbat & Shakker) from the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas, popularly known as Baba Chamlyal situated about 200 mt on this side of the International Border for the Pakistani public, anxiously waiting on the other side. Due to heavy rain in the morning, the main exchange function between two sides was delayed by about two hours as the BSF men had to slush out massive water logged in the fields and erect tents and make other preparations for the common event.
While the troops on both the sides along the LoC are engaged in exchange of firing in Poonch and Rajouri sector, here at the Ramgarh zero-line, a perfect bon-homie was witnessed today between the Border Security Force men and the Chenab Rangers of Pakistan of Sialkote sector.
Top officers and members from judiciary on both sides were engaged in joint photo- sessions and greeting each other on the occasion. The people from both the sides including Hindus and Muslims have great respect for this shrine and every year lakhs of people throng the shrine to offer special prayers and offer ‘Chadar’ and sweets at the shrine. In fact, despite many odds, this is the place and holy shrine of Baba Chamlyal on the Indo–Pak border which bridges the gap between the two sides and makes the people to come closer to pay obeisance together at the shrine and celebrate the fair with great traditional fervor and gaiety, ignoring the past events.
Sector Commander from Sialkote Brig Wasim was leading the delegation of nearly 40 odd guests from Pakistan. He was accompanied by Wing Commander Faizal from 12 Chenab Rangers, Wing Commander Qaiser, Wing Commander Tahir, Wing Cdr Zaffar, District Officer Coordinator (DOC) Sialkot, Mr Abid, seven serving judges from Pakistani judiciary, hailing from Sialkote and Lahore.
From the Indian side, Sector Commander BSF from Samba (Indresh Nagar), DIG Varinder Singh, Dy Commissioner Samba R K Varma, SSP Israr Khan, ADC Mr Jamwal and several officers from 200th Battalion of BSF accepted the offerings and ‘Chadder’ from the Pakistani counter parts for the shrine of Baba Chamlyal. They dispatched trolley of good earth (Shakker) and tanker of Holy water (Sharbat) to Pakistan.
Though there was no formal briefing by the top officers on both sides for the joint media group, yet some of the officers and guests and media-persons exchanged their views during mutual interaction at the site. For the first time, the BSF men imposed restrictions on the visiting Indian media and curtailed their movement behind the barbed wire while no such restrictions were there for the Pakistani media covering the event for the first time. Indian media expressed strong resentment against the attitude of the BSF men for not allowing them to cover the event properly.
Amjad, a senior officer from Chenab Rangers expressed that a large number of devotees on Pakistani side were willing to come up to zero-line and meet their Indian counterparts and participate in the event but due to restrictions they were not allowed up to this point. He said earlier, it was three- day fair but now a days, it has been turned into one day fair. Amjad said people have been losing interest in the fairs these days.
He disclosed that like in the Indian side, there is another shrine on the Pakistani side of Baba Chamlyal but main shrine is in the Indian territory. He said the people on Pakistani side wait anxiously for the ‘Sharbat’ and ‘Shakker’ from the shrine of Baba in the Indian side. But about three decades ago people on both the sides were jointly attending the fair.
A tractor trolley loaded with good earth (Shakker) and tanker of water (Sharbat) was handed over to Pakistani officers by the BSF men. They carried the same for the public waiting on that side. Sector Commander Chenab Rangers Brig Wasim accompanied by judges handed over the highly decorated traditional ‘Chadar’ to the DIG BSF, DC and SSP Samba for the shrine of Baba Chamlyal. It was laid on the tomb of Baba Chamlyal on behalf of the devotees of Pakistan. The members from Pakistani judiciary were witnessed feeling free to interact with the members of the Indian side and exchanging pleasantries. They in fact, dominated today’s event which otherwise was only Pak Rangers affair on earlier occasions, indicating that judiciary was turning stronger in Pakistan. The serving judges even had good and lengthy photo session with the Indian officers and other guests. The BSF officers also had photo session with the Pak media persons.
Pakistani media-persons from News One, Express News, Nawai Waqt and Sach News exchanged their views with the Indian counter parts and also shared their experiences in Pakistan. Bilal Ahmed from News One Sialkote said that Pakistani media was allowed for the first time to cover this event while the Indians were doing it for the last many decades. He said that special request had been made to the Pakistani administration for allowing them to cover this event at the zero line. “Insha Allah, next year more media-persons from Pakistani side would witness the event. Both the Governments must allow the interactions of the media-persons of both the countries and it is good for bringing people closer,” Bilal maintained.
On the last Thursday of June every year fair is organized at the shrine of Baba Dalip Singh Manhas and it is said that by applying good earth mixed with water from the well of the shrine on the affected skin part, any skin- related disease gets cured. The people stay here for some days and get this treatment and go without disease. Due to this miracle the people from far off areas visit the shrine of Baba Chamlyal and get treatment here.
Earlier, in the morning at around 10.15 am at Battalion level Flag meeting of the Commanding Officers on both the sides was held at the zero line in which modalities were chalked out. The district administration and BSF had made elaborate arrangements for the Mela which was formally inaugurated by former Minister and MLA Vijaypur S S Slathia in presence of DC Samba. The unique feature of this mela is that Baba Chamlyal is revered by people on both the sides of the international border. Nearly two lakh people thronged the mela on both the sides and many departments and banks including SBI (Cantt Jammu) had established stalls for the public.
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