Shiban Khaibri
It was on a morning of March in late 70s, of a particular year, when as usual for traditional breakfast, the fresh hot baked bread, buying from a frequently visited baker; this writer politely chided him, “Not the double ones”. Usually after kneading the Maida, the dough is worked into small equal boules or “Pedas” to make bread by putting them evenly spread into the oven .The baker unusually keeping a low profile said, “No dear, these are not the double ones but single ones”. In other words, he had not joined the two boules as usually he used to, on demand, when some customers would ask him. I was momentarily rendered as a neophyte to this new unbelievable development but a few customers who had frequented markets the other day, revealed that new Deputy Commissioner known as Mr. Banerjee (if the name is the same) had “set right” all errant ones doing cheating in weights and measures or were selling adulterated milk , cheese etc. Later in the day, going through local news papers, we learnt that many milkmen, grocers, fish and mutton sellers, vegetable vendors, bakers; auto drivers were straight away sent either to respective police lock ups or to the jail.
The Central Jail those days in Srinagar had no “Ameer-e- Zindan” and no writ large of any one worth his salt, extraneous to the Jail authorities. There were no “Mujahids”(traitors) around even in folk tales and no stories of any manipulations engineered to facilitate escape of prisoners . In case any hardened criminal was shifted for any reason out of the jail, he would be duly weight laden by chains so that even under loose grips of the accompanying policemen, the creature could never conceive of escaping. Paradoxically, those days there was absolutely no need felt of any “Aazadi Wazadi”.
The most “lethal” arm any Kashmiri would carry in winter months under the traditional “pheran”, was the Kangri or the “firepot” usually used to keep the body warm. It would assume the proportions of “lethality” but not causing grievous injury resulting in death, when in a quarrel in a colony or in a market, all conventional means like slaps, blows, kicks, “thol” (striking with the forehead) would not work, this kangri would be hurled on the “enemy”. Even ten times would either of the sides think before throwing this missile as that would mean loss of the Kangri including the “nursed” fire in it .That fire with a layer of ash of milk white colour atop, would result by employing traditional expertise inherited and with a slight gentle sweep, one could adjust its high or low heat depending upon how much one wanted, commensurate to exposure to cold. This ultimate and decisive missile was all to bring the two sides to a “ceasefire”. There were no AK-47s, Kalashnikovs, IEDs or RDX etc, as the proxy war contours had not been given the finishing and all launching touches by Pakistan using religion as the ploy. The popular slogans from the inner conscience of the people, young, old, men and women, were as ,”Ye kare te kare , Bub kare”, or whatever the decision of the Bub (Sheikh Abdullah) about Kashmir, that was acceptable and irrevocable. Indira Sheikh Accord of 1975 was given overwhelming support and endorsement by the people in lacs and “Bub” was really the authority and the voice of the people. Pakistan had felt its Kashmir raucous had fallen flat as the Sheikh, leader of the masses had wound up the shop of plebiscite as a prerequisite to striking the “deal” of the 1975 historical accord. The illusion of allure in respect of pushing its diabolical agenda “established” in 1947-48 by Pakistan needed some novel experiment to succeed and the resultant proxy war of terrorism in 1989-90.
Reverting to the topic, when an authority, honest and sincere, looking after administration and serving the people in the best interests, wants to assert, it can do wonders and win the hearts of the people. This writer remembers about a case of a fisherwoman charging not only some higher rate but also doing some small cheating in weighing was arrested even though she was in a family way. She complained of some uneasiness and wanted to be “spared” on humanitarian grounds. No, she was hospitalized, a policeman kept guard. Lo, none dared to charge more for goods sold. Milk either was not available or was sold unadulterated. Sheep for mutton were slaughtered only in abattoirs and not in and around shops, that too after examined by the veterinary Doctors. Rate lists were prominently exhibited and genuine prices were charged. Hoarding and black marketing had disappeared like a vapour. It seemed, in short, that a total transformation had taken place to the extent an ordinary citizen would wish, due to the “I mean business” by this new DC in Srinagar. People were happy as they felt that politicians normally indulged in delivering speeches and practically were doing nothing for the common man. They saw in the new dynamic hard core honest administrator, hope and promise. Mere talks and good speeches were not solving their basic day to day problems since bare words buy no barley. But alas, this spectacular change for the best was short lived. This dynamic hard working honest officer was charged of being harsh and too much “unconventional”. The troika of politicians, corrupt officers and hoarders- all united to cook up list if “excesses” committed by him and he was transferred from Srinagar. The situation was again “back to basics”, bread of less weight than fixed, goods were sold at exorbitant rates, and milk lavishly was (re) united with water, meters were rarely downed by most of the auto drivers. The honey mooning was abysmally short lived as much that many must have penned epitaphs over its earliest demise. This writer could nostalgically recall seeing and feeling “the light” at the end of the dark tunnel which shone for the shortest period ever and that is why lament fully, thought of paying tributes to that messiah of people by choosing this particular theme of the write-up.
A lot of assurance , timely action, no favours or fears, no succumbing to pressures and proving in reality a down to earth man are reportedly manifest in Basant Rath, the new IGP Traffic Jammu. Though a turnaround in the shortest period of time is neither possible nor expected, still some changes are visible and going through the rot and the rut having taken deep roots, miracles cannot be expected.
It is an admitted fact that we are so much hardened and prone to break the traffic rules that, frankly speaking, we need a Rath at every naka, every crossing, every lane, every time, day and night to “show” the Rule Book to us. Since that is not possible and practicable, a bit of cooperation from all motorists would make the messy and chaotic traffic situation put on rails. Our youngsters proudly using deafening pressure horns and riding motorbikes with removed silencers, four wheelers parking their vehicles overnight in narrow lanes and streets in and around residential areas, driving at night with high beam lights and without using dippers, parallel parking on narrow roads shortening the width to thwart moving of traffic, unnecessary honking while in traffic jams, emission of too much of carbon monoxide (CO) by (un)tuned vehicles are some of the common traffic violations which need to be severely tackled.
The public is all in support of IGP Rath. Let us hope a Banerjee like treatment is not meted out to him. Jammu needs him, Jammuites need him and Jammu roads “look” towards him. He should continue with the same zeal but let him carve out many Raths from out of our Traffic personnel.
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