Adarsh Ajit
Count The Survivors written by Iqbal Dullu is a fictional outflow of the most talked about era and historical event of Kashmir under the rule of Sikander. The book depicts the continuity of the torturous and miserable lives of Kashmiri Pandits because of their repeated exodus in history. It is a multi-dimensional novel which details sociological, political and religious conditions of the times. The author’s handling of the historical incidents is commendable.
Sultan is a hypocrite addicted to opium and fond of women though he is biologically an utter failure. Under the influence of Timurian philosophy and the guidance of Sayid his sole motive is to convert Kashmiri Pandits under all means. And the other options are to kill them, torture them, persecute them and destroy their culture, religion and rituals of which they are proud.
But the most villainous part is played by Suhabata, who converted to Islam and named himself Malik Saifudin. Sultan is dependent on his treachery. As against Malik Saifudin (Suhabata), Humayun popularly known as Huma, a Muslim, another minister, also an important one, is generous but helpless. He pleads Sultan for mercy by saying:
‘They are learned and study arts and science of the physical and metaphysical. They possess books of value’.
But Sultan’s directive is to burn the books and release these people from the fallacy of ultimate knowledge. Sultan demolishes all arguments of sensibility by saying:
‘Books are not wiser than the blade of a sword.’
Sultan gives three options to the infidels called Pandits: conversion or death or exile.
Srisobha, the beautiful daughter of Bhana, takes a bold decision to marry Sultan. The prime plan of Srisobha is to save her community from the frenzied Sultan. It is no surprise that Bhana’s own community members ridicule, disgrace and scoff at him by saying:
‘He has sent his daughter to the palace for his own good and not for us’.
Srisobha is adamant to transform the mindset of Sultan and despite all criticism and mounting pressure she opts to marry Sultan. Bhana is in a dilemma. On the one hand he is anxious about his daughter but on the other his motive is to safeguard his community.
Chandra is sent to undergo military training under a well-knit plan. He grows strong, confident, and hard with a mission. On the other hand Sultan is hungry of physical lust but is sterile with the failure of his nerves. One night Sultan tries to have sex with Srisobha but fails. The Damaras attack. Chandra is given the charge and he tactfully, cordially, and diplomatically convinces the chief of Damaras to surrender to avoid confrontation and war. Impressed by Chandra, Sultan makes him chief of the army. Chandra and the beautiful Queen Daye begum are in love. Chandra spends nights together with Dayee Begum. First the meetings are secret but Sultan knows it and surprisingly he allows it to go further to have an heir to his throne. Malik Saifudin creates suspicions in the mind of Sultan that Damaras and Pandits have connived to usurp the throne alleging Bhana to be directly involved. Despite Malik Saifudin’s resistance Srisobha is given the status of the Queen.
Islamization of Kashmir has gone into the head of Sultan. He continues killing and torturing Pandits with a view to convert them to Islam. Malik Saifudin hands over to Sultan the heirloom of the slain man. And one day under the threat of the sword and avoiding the option of getting killed or fleeing, 37,000 Kashmiri Pandits convert to Islam. And the hand behind all this is the treacherous Malik who has already divided the realm into four divisions, viz; khas, maraz, kamraz and karnao. Kashmir witnesses famines. The river Veth is full of corpses. Malik and Sultan have no mercy.
Having failed in her mission Srisobha is shattered. Bhana advises the Pandit community to escape and take all the books of knowledge of thousand years along with them for they shall sustain Pandits in Hindustan. Pandits are divided. Bhana asks Vyda:
‘Why the whole body of their community did not come under one banner to follow a single path of ensuring their safety of life and faith?’ Surprisingly today’s disunity of Pandits is its extension. Vyda replies that the Pandits have the tendency of being their own worst critics bereft of any progressive and sage counsel. With their social fabric torn, they could hardly repulse a savage incursion of their faith. They prefer to suffer individually than prosper together.
Kalyan Purohit also says to Vyda:
‘Protect your books, if you leave the realm. They are your destiny makers because knowledge of thousands of years is stored in them.’
Bhana’s conscience echoes:
‘I have pushed my daughter into a lair of the beast. I have sacrificed her on the altar of Kali.’
Sayid says to Malik Saifudin (Suhabata):
‘You are the contender of the throne’.
Malik (Suhabata) instigates Sultan against Bhana whereas Chandra and Huma advise him to keep restraint but vigil at the same time.
Vyda and Bhana see fire all around. They are witness of the colossal wreck of religious centres. Some Pandits who don’t compromise commit suicide. Messenger of Kalyan Purohit takes a letter to Sultan with his almanac. Srisobha sends messages to Kalyan Purohit to flee with books of knowledge. Before the messenger realises this Kalyan Purohit is kidnapped from Vijayesvra. His dead body is seen floating in the river.
Srisobha wishes her parents to leave. Though worried about the future of their daughter, Bhana has no option but to leave with his wife Asmati. They face great difficulties during their journey. They witness mayhem, killings and destruction. The ailing Asmati spits blood and dies. Crossing Hirpora at Shopian Bhana too is buried under the snow. Srisobha spits her wrath and pain on the king. She thinks now she has nothing to lose. She gets up, washes her face, orders a coach, drives to her home and lights up a lamp in memory of her parents and then leaves back. Srisobha proposes for Batta Mazar. But Sultan allows parent’s name to be carved on a stone.
Malik Saifudin (Suhabata) poisons the ears of Sultan again by telling him that Srisobha is a parasite and should be turned out. Sayid has a new proposal of marriage for Sultan. Expulsion order asks Srisobha to leave the country immediately accompanied by the Commander Chandra who would escort her to frontier. Srisobha says to Suhabata:
‘If it ever happens that I regain my place, I shall have your head cut off, Malik Saifudin!’
Chandra’s conscience echoes regarding Srisobha:
‘I shall not leave you alone in this despondency and hopelessness, but shall company the Queen up to the destination’
Chandra whispers:
‘I on my own moral calling, decided to accompany her to her destination.’
Together they enter the dense jungle leaving behind the sorrowful land. Srisobha sees devastation. And the neighbouring kingdoms in Hindustan are unaffected not forging an alliance to shield the helpless.
The Epilogue describes a harsh reality because it has happened. It is happening. And it will go on happening. Only Sikander changes the faces:
‘The cluster of eleven homes was doubtful of tolerating the crushing burden of the levy. Who knew whether the seed would survive or shrivel? But it did survive by chance, to proliferate somewhat only to be hammered again in many returns of repression.’
Count The Survivors is a historical novel of the literary type with its flesh and blood characters. The historical colour in speech and costume, its sweep and pageantry, action, subtlety and analysis are its marked features.
The novel doesn’t celebrate sentimental nostalgia and unrealistic idealization. It presents a varied group of characters…..both men and women….scheming court intriguers and actors.
Here we find a climactic maelstrom of love and hate in the interlinked relationships of the historical personages. The world of this novel is a slice of the Kashmir life of the past when the Pandit civilization barring a few families was made to embrace Islam through force and even death.
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