Ashwani Kumar Chrungoo
It was almost around 125 years ago that Sheetalnath-Srinagar complex came into prominence due to the efforts of Pt. Hargopal Kaul who used to organise Kashmiri Pandit youth and address them in the large grounds of the complex. Geographically, Sheetalnath is in the midst of the present Srinagar city and forms part of the Habbakadal Assembly constituency of the state. In front of its ground on its southern side is situated the Kralakhud Police Station.
It used to be an island some forty years back surrounded by water on its three sides called “Maer” which was connected with a small stream having Dal lake on one side and the river Jehlum (Vitasta) on the other side. Some foolish and selfish planners during the sixties and seventies of the last century decided to dry up the water bodies in the Srinagar city called “Nalai Maer” that went through the inner city from centuries together. It used to be a source of navigation and transportation connecting the whole Downtown.
Instead of cleansing the whole ‘Nalai Maer’ with the modern technology, these water bodies were filled up with trash, earth, stones and rubbish of the whole Kashmir valley and converted into land to be used for roads and also for residential and commercial purposes. The island status of Sheetalnath also vanished in this so-called welfare measure of the Kashmir administration that siphoned huge bad money into the kitty of self-seekers.
The whole complex of Sheetalnath consists of a two storey old building housing Sanatan Dharam Yuvak Sabha (SDYS) office, Hindu Yuvak Forum (which got merged into Panun Kashmir) office, Sheetalnath management office and the Martand weekly printing press. This building, currently, is being used by the watch and ward staff of the JKP who are doing their duties there to keep a vigil on the complex. Next to this is the three storeyed building of Hindu High School, the sign board of which has been conveniently removed from it. Adjascent to the school is the centuries old temple of the Sheetalnath Bhairav, the presiding deity of the whole area. There is also the ‘Smadhi-Sthal’ of the martyrs of 1967 Hindu agitation on the southern corner of the ground.
The Hindu High School used to be a prominent school and a household name. Its preparations for the Independence Parade were star attraction for the public for decades together along with the band it used to have. Thanks to its veteran physical education teacher, Niranjan Nath, the Hindu High School would always bag the first prize in the 15th August parade at the Bakshi stadium. Its tricolour glazing uniform on the occasion would shower praises to the team from all the corners.
In order to refresh the memory and also to bring to the notice of the younger generation, it needs to be explained that the podium down the school building used to be the star attraction of the whole complex for decades together. It is this podium from which greats like Hargopal Kaul, Jia Lal Kilam, Kashyap Bandhu, Shiv Narain Fotedar, Tikalal Taploo, Amarnath Ganjoo, Shambhu Nath Peshin, Amarnath Vaishnavi and H.N.Jattu used to address Kashmiri Pandit community on occasions of importance and need.
This podium is a witness and living evidence of the social reform movement of Kashmiri Pandit community pertaining to the middle years of the last century under the banner of Samaj Sudhar Committee. A strong movement was organised by it to inculcate social reforms and to that effect, open air theatre shows were staged on this podium. Harichandraza, Akanandun, Shiv-Vivah, Heemal-Naigrai and Ram-Avtar were the most famous shows those days which would attract hundreds and thousands nearer to the podium. A battery of theatre artists was born here and groomed in the Shavalaya office of the Committee. It included veterans like Somnath Sumbli, Trilok Das, Jagar Nath Saqi, Srikanth Sopori, Madhav Tikoo, Hardeynath Gurtoo, Suraj Narain Tikoo, Madhav Das, Laxmi Narayan Kaul, Makhan Lal Saraf, Bansi Mattoo, Somnath Sadhu, Pushkarnath Bhan and Bal Krishen Kaul. They were in due course responsible for giving birth to the modern theatre movement in the Kashmir valley and Tagore Hall would be the virtual cradle for the younger generation that included among others Bihari Kak, Inder ji, Brij Kishori, Bharti Zaroo, Asha Zaroo and Shadi lal Kaul.
This podium was always a star attraction for veterans of all hues. Jagdish Abrol, Balraj Madhok, Pt. Prem Nath Dogra are among the great leaders who spoke from this podium. Mahatma Gandhi also addressed the Pandits from the same podium in 1947 where he is purported to have said, “Kashmir mein mujhe aasha ki kiran dikhai di hai, Jabki sara desh jal raha hai”. Thousands of people from the Kashmiri Pandit community thronged the grounds of Sheetalnath to participate in the 1967 Hindu agitation for months together and hundreds courted Satyagraha in the ground leading to their jail yatras.
It was the same podium which gave its refuge to one of its roaring heroes when his body was laid on it for the last darshan consequent upon his martyrdom at the butchering hands of JKLF terrorists in 1989. L. K.Advani, Kidar Nath Sahni, Prem Nath Bhat (who later was also martyred in Anantnag), Ashok Khajuria and Hira Lal Chatta spoke on the occasion from this podium on 14th September 1989, which consequently is remembered as “Kashmiri Pandit Balidan Divas”.
Today, the whole complex of Sheetalnath is in shambles. The only satisfying issue pertains to the high wall on it’s all sides with one big gate on its northern side while there is a small door also on its southern side nearer to the Samadhi-Sthal. The huge ground is fully covered by tall blades of grass and a temporary path in front of the school is a new addition to the landscape. The condition of the centuries old temple, that stands locked, is absolutely pathetic and beyond any narration.
This author’s visit to the historic Sheetalnath on the Balidan Divas this year gave rise to a Resolve to change the dynamics of the Samadhi-Sthal initially. The Resolve is to offer the Samadhi the desired and deserved dignity and status by creating the right environment around it and also erecting a Martyrs’ Memorial dedicated to those who sacrificed themselves over the last three decades in the Jammu and Kashmir state to protect and promote the honour of the country, its civilisation and cultural tradition. An appeal in this context has also been issued.
Sheetalnath, the edifice of hope and confidence of the Kashmiri Pandit community, is calling all of us to restore to it its lost glory and glaze. It has a right to call us after a gap of three long decades that has witnessed a number of its champions leaving this world for good. The SoS calls can’t be repeated, keeping in view their sanctity and that its caring sons and daughters are alive and listening to the desperate calls. Sheetalnath-Srinagar is truly calling and calling….!
(Feedback: ashwanikc2012@gmail.com)
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