RAYEES AHMAD KUMAR
The valley of Kashmir is known worldwide for it's serene beauty, pleasant climate and enchanting natural scenery. Besides this, it is famous for giving birth to a long chain of saints, poets, scholars and litterateurs. It is reported that when poet of the east, Dr Iqbal visited Valley through an invitation by Mehjoor, the former showed Mehjoor his famous poem Shikwa Jawabi Shikwa, Mehjoor too recited the famous poem of Soch Kral and when he listened it's translated version, Dr Iqbal was stunned to feel it's depth and philosophical dimensions. Among the sufi poets of valley, Soch Kral is having a distinct place and his songs are popular among the masses. To collect his songs and preserve them in the form of a book, would indeed be regarded as the greatest task to ensure the safety of the rich legacy left behind by this legendary sufi poet. This task has been meticulously done by a great daughter of this soil, Prof Dr Mehfooza Jan currently heading the esteemed Kashmiri department of Kashmir University who compiled his songs and also threw light on the life, works and poetic prowess of Soch Kral in the form of Kuliyati Socha Kral. The title page of this book is handsomely designed, published by Meezan Publishers Srinagar spanning over 234 pages of exceptional quality. Author has dedicated this prestigious collection to her father late Gh Mohd Shah, who raised her and enabled her to author a book. In it's proem, Dr Mehfooza says, poetry encompass every aspect of human life and makes them vibrant through poetic colours. Among the sufi poets who played a vital role in developing and promoting Kashmiri language, Soch Kral's part can't be ignored. Only few songs of this poet were known to the literary circles of valley, but I with the help of few selfless souls managed to gather his almost all songs. I deem it my primary duty to express my gratitude to Prof Shad Ramzan and noted historian and Litterateur Mohd Yousuf Taing in guiding and mentoring me to write this book. Distinguished litterateur and eminent writer, Mohd Yousuf Taing has written a detailed note on the mystical poetry of Kashmiri, promotion and propagation of Kashmiri language by sufi poets and critical analysis of some prominent poets of valley. According to him, Soch Kral's only handful number of songs were known to the public but an iron lady of this region Dr Mehfooza Jan worked tirelessly to make about three dozen songs of this great poet accessible to people. He has done a commentary and discussion on many of his songs particularly the one which is most famous Dapomai Balyaras yaer lagaw. Soch Kral's era,, in this section Dr Mehfooza says that he was born in 1775 when Kashmiri's were brutalized and there was chaos and confusion in every nook and canny. They were living an impoverished and hellish life, people were forced to work in the fields and at the time of harvest, a meagre amount of the produce was handed over to them. He has witnessed the era's of three ruling dynasties ie Pathans, Sikhs and then Dogras but nowhere has he mentioned anything about it in his poetry. It is because he was God fearing and much inclined towards worship and spirituality. According to Mehfooza Jan he passed away in 1855. In the following section, Dr Mehfooza has made an extensive deliberation about the progress and development of a civilisation. According to her, pottery has arrived in valley much earlier than the cave era and in every locality there are people associated with Pottery. She is of the view that few areas like Kralpora, Kralsangri and Kralpathri are famed due to potters dwelling there. Arif Kral a mystic poet of Yinder village of Pulwama was lucky enough to have a son who later became a limelight on account of his majestic poetry. She says Soch Kral was a contemporary of Mehmood Gami and has given many references of Naji Munawar, Shafi Shouq and Awtar Krishan in this section. Soch Kral's ancestral village,, Dr Mehfooza says prior to 1947 Kashmir was spread over only three districts of Anantnag, Srinagar and Varmul however later three more districts were carved from the existing districts including Pulwama. The literary landscape of Pulwama has been much fertile as Momin Sahib, Soch Kral, Mehjoor, Abdul Ahad Azad, Aariz, Mohd Munawar, Ahad Kandur and Mohidin Nawaz have been born there. Earlier Pulwama was known as Charath and Yindar village was one of it's famous villages situated on the banks of Nalla Rumshoo. From an ordinary Potter's home of Yindar village an extraordinary poet Soch Kral has gotten his birth. It is said that people would visit him on daily basis to get guidance and spiritual enlightenment. The birth and life of Soch Kral,, Dr Mehfooza is of the view that most of the Sufi poets of valley were born during the years of turmoil when it was ruled by foreigners and and living conditions were miserable. Soch Kral's parents Arif Kral and Zoon hadn't a child for fifteen years after their marriage. One day a malang/darvesh happened to pass by them asking people if anyone need anything in their life. Arif and Zoon too visited him and begged for a child. Darvesh gave them two sweet candies telling them to eat one each, and after twelve years of the birth of the child he told them that the child be handed over to him back. Exactly after nine months a child was born and they named him Ismail. They sent him to a madrasa but he didn't show any interest. Arif Kral put him to work alongside him, after gaining expertise in Pottery he used to sold the clay utensils in nearby villages and when he reached twelve, the darvesh again came and his parents handed him over to darvesh. He took him along and when they reached Yinder village, he was ordered to make a permanent stay there. His parents too migrated there and at fifteen he was married to Mala of Koil Pulwama. A daughter and a son were born to him who met their Lord soon after their birth. Soch Kral lived a simple life, wore a traditional kurta shalwar pheran and avoided eating meat, chicken and fish instead had strong affinity with colard greens. After offering dawn prayers he often used to taste the Kehwa. He was passionate about listening to sufi songs and when he himself began saying poetry, singers would sing his songs which would attract all mystic lovers from far and wide. Wahab Khar the famous sufi poet would attend his gathering in his early years and it is said that Mehmood Gami was his contemporary and both exchanged ideas and thoughts. Choosing mentor/guide,, One day when a malang/darvesh asked him about his name, he replied Soch Kral, replying back darvesh said Soch Lal. Soch Kral after hearing this rushed to his father who took him to Moomin Sahab of Babgam Pulwama and thereafter started his spiritual training. Thus Moomin sahab became his lifelong mentor and guide. Devotion/ Spiritual exercise,, Soch Kral was a staunch follower of Islamic shariah besides being blessed with enough spritual powers. Most often he would attend Friday congregational prayers at Dargah Hazratbal. There were many springs and Chinar trees close to his home under which he spent time to remember his Lord. Soch Kral's disciples,, he had countless disciples however only few names are known viz Sidiq Kral Pandach, Shaban Sufi Nupora, Rehman Sahab Pingalgam, Khawaja Ambar Imamsahab and Yed Kral of Wanpora. Yed Kral himself was a good poet and has said many sufi songs. Soch Kral's contemporaries,, Mehmood Gami, Karam Buland and Shah Qalandar were 18th century contemporary sufi poets of Kashmir. Among them Soch Kral had a unique stature and place on account of his spritual powers and unique style of poetic prowess. Supernatural happening and miracles,, many miracles and wonders are attributed to Soch Kral which he displayed at different intervals. Once he was going to sell his pots, at Ratnipora he found some men draging a dead bull mercilessly. He expressed his displeasure. Upon enquiring it was revealed that the bull had died without paying debt to his master. He ordered the bull to stand and pay the master his part of debt. Within minutes the bull came to life and went to his master to pay the debt. On another accasion, a group of one hundred eleven people went to his home without informing him. They had planned to take tea and meals at his home so as to surprise him. He went to his wife telling her something in her ears. All the people took four five cups of tea and full stomach meals leaving both the utensils still unempty. People of Ratnipora intended to tease and mock him by mounting him on an ass. They coerced him to mount on ass, the moment he mounted, the ass sat down and refused to stand on his legs. They called a respectable man from the village to command the ass. When he mounted on the ass, it went rushing dragging the man on ground. Villagers were stunned to observe these wonders and miracle of Soch Kral. He had never been to Haj pilgrimage, meanwhile a man who was leaving to perform the fifth Islamic fundamental came to Soch sahab. He bad him adieu and requested to say his greetings there. There at Mecca he is seeing him at every prayer and disappearing after the culmination of the prayers. After reaching back home, when he knew that Soch Kral hadn't actually gone there, he was startled and astounded. Soch Kral as a poet,, Soch Kral was an elated mystic besides being an eminent sufi poet. His poetry is a depiction of love, affection, monotheism, brotherhood, equality and mysticism. He hadn't a lust for worldly affairs and greed for materialistic world rather through his poetry, he emphasized to worship one God and serve his creation to please him. While going through his poetry it is evident that he is laying strong emphasis on offering daily prayers, hating sins and misdeeds, making contemplation and introspection of self and expressing gratitude to Allah for his countless bounties. While compiling this esteemed book, it is obvious that Dr Mehfooza Jan has worked tirelessly, diligently, with zealousness and heartfelt enthusiasm. From page 95 to 234 of the book, Author has compiled Soch Sahab's 45 songs out of which most were unknown to the public till date. She deserves all praise for authoring this prestigious poetry collection of a legendary mystical poet of Kashmir. May Allah bless the author and I pray for her contentment and longevity.
Writer is a columnist hailing from Qazigund Kashmir.
