Dr. Shiben Krishen Raina
The brutalities of terrorism in Kashmir have inflicted immense pain and anguish in the Kashmiri psyche. Over the past three decades, successful attempts have been made to portray the heart-wrenching pain and suffering caused by the terrorist atrocities and the resulting displacement of Kashmiri Pandits/Hindus through various collections of poems, stories, and novels. Notable among the exiled but resilient writers from Kashmir are Shashi Shekhar Toshkhani, Mohan Nirash, Chandrakanta, Kshama Kaul, Ratan Lal Shant, Agnishekhar, Maharaj Krishan Santoshi, Pyare Hataash, Maharaj Krishen Shah, Auatar Krishna Razdan, Brajnath ‘Betab’, Maharaj Shah, Ashok Handoo, and others.
In this series, a new name recently emerged, that of renowned Kashmiri poet Bhupendra Singh Raina. His poetry collection “Raktim Tandav” is a heart-touching compilation that depicts the pain of the displacement of Kashmiri Pandits so immaculately.
Broadly speaking, the ‘Displacement Literature’ of Kashmir is a direct confrontation of the uncompromising, cruel, and non-nationalistic forces with the nationalist forces. It forced the innocent minority community to yield before the barbaric majority, resulting in the massive exodus of the “Pandit community” from the Kashmir Valley. For the past three decades, Pandit have been struggling to preserve their dignity and honor. The tale of the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1990 is a narrative of human suffering, agony, and the violation of human-rights. Today, this tragedy, with all its lamentations and contradictions, has become a subject of concern and challenge for every thinker, intellectual, and advocate for the welfare of these people.
As already said, the pain inflicted on the Kashmiri psyche by the scourge of terrorism has given birth to heart-wrenching emotions and their narratives, which have been successfully expressed in literature over the past two to three decades, and continues to be portrayed even now. Reading such works not only provide insights into the emotions and craftsmanship of the authors of these painful writings but also provide a valuable treasure for Indian/Hindi literature alongside Kashmiri literature.
Bhupendra Singh Raina has written extensively in Punjabi. He is a renowned author in Punjabi literature. He has published seven novels, two plays, and a collection of poetry in Punjabi. In his Hindi work “Raktim Tandav,” (Bloody Dance) the first part of the book consists of approximately forty poems primarily focused on the tragic displacement of Pandits from Kashmir and the second part includes more than twenty poems, incorporating the poet’s intense emotions. As mentioned, the literature related to the plight of Pandits, whether in Kashmiri, English, or Hindi, is primarily composed by Kashmiri Pandit writers who were exiled from Kashmir. On the other hand, “Raktim Tandav,” written by Bhupendra Singh Raina, a Sikh writer from Baramulla, Kashmir, is a poetry collection that highlights how people of almost all communities/religions in Kashmir have been affected by jihad/terrorism. Whether they are Pandits/Hindus, Sikhs, or followers of any other sect.
The initial lines of “Raktim Tandav” are highly intense and carry a profound message. They symbolically indicate the poet’s purpose:
“I am striving to distribute
The agony of my homeland,
Of my society,
Of that bloodshed that went in vain
In the alleys, in the ruins.”
Most of Bhupendra Singh’s poems vividly express his restlessness and anger. They beautifully portray his extraordinary sensibility to understand and witness the painful situations related to his community’s displacement. His tender heart gets agitated by the tragedy of “Kashmiriyat” through the menace of jihad. He says:
“Where the seeds of ‘Kashmiriyat’ were sown,
Now thorny bushes have grown,
Neighbors are no longer neighbors,
Friends are no longer friends,
No one possesses a compassionate character.” (Swarg)
The day of January 19, 1990, will be written in black letters in the present history of Kashmiri Pandits. It was the day when the Pakistani-backed jihadists mercilessly expelled the offspring (Kashmiri Pandits) of the Kashyap land from their own soil, forcing this peace-loving community to suffer misery at every turn. Bhupendra Singh Ji vividly describes this scene with a heart full of emotions:
“That dark night, the black night,
When voices echoed from the mosques,
Pandits, leave this land or convert to Islam,
Leave your women behind and become slaves,
This land is ours, we have to purify it
From the unbelievers who don’t believe in Allah.” (Nishkasan Ki Chetavani)
The anguish of displacement has deeply affected the poet’s mind and intellect. This pain has permeated every fiber of his being, from the blissful memories of home and family to the fire of terrorism. All the cruel situations, from the description of terrorist atrocities to the agony of separation from his home and family, emerge vividly in every line of the poet’s verse. The poet’s depiction of the conditions generated by terrorist extremism and the resulting devastation in society deeply wounds his mind: It was very difficult to abandon the home,
Tying the footsteps to the courtyard of ancestors,
Every wall of the house was crying,
Windows were shedding tears,
The soul was becoming helpless. (Jehad)
The diversity of emotions can be seen in abundance in Bhupendra’s poems. While some express helplessness, others exhibit enthusiasm. Some reflect despair, while others show anger. Some contain cries, while others are silent melodies. The collection of poems skillfully and accurately captures and combines every emotion that emerges from the poet’s heartstrings. By calling the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits the loss of trust and hope, the poet cries out:
This exodus was
The exodus of hope and trust,
This exodus was the exodus of Kashmiriyat,
Exodus of:
Centuries of cultivated relationships,
Culture, history,
Embedded in every vein,
The civilization of Vitasta,
Sermons on Nunda Rishi,
Celebration of Baba Rishi,
This exodus was
The exodus of Laleshwari’s songs,
Centuries of Sufi music that resided in our soul, (Palayan)
The use of a simple and profound style is the distinct characteristic of Bhupendra’s poems. They not only captivate the reader but also compel him to ponder deeply:
Every time the ruler
Brings a new storm,
Every time there is an insult
To the lineage of sage Kashyapa,
While changing religions,
The majority has become the minority,
The golden story’s moments
Have been lost in remnants. (Ganapatiyar)
In his collection of poems “Raktim Tandav,” Bhupendra Singh has compiled poems that directly emanate from his mind and expose the harsh reality he has experienced. He holds the chaotic situations and the tragedy responsible for religious fanaticism and the failure of the system. Yet, amidst all this disorder and distress, the poet does not lose courage. His mind shines with rays of hope, which is the beauty of this poetry collection. He says:
Forests, mountains, rivers, streams,
And all the soil of Kashmir
Bear witness to the grasp of Hindu power,
Bhadra Kali, Ksheer Bhavani, Mattan,
And the Shiva cave of Amarnath,
Are direct evidence of the devotion of the Pandits.
Who can break these roots of the Pandits?
Who can alter their steps back home? (ItihaaskePanne)
Almost every poem in Bhupendra Singh’s “Raktim Tandav” is unique and leaves an immense impact on the reader’s heart. I extend my heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Bhupendra.
(The writer is Former Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Rashtapati Nivas, Shimla (HP).
