The timeless treasure of the heart
Mohammad Hussain Khan
I can never forget the wistful feeling that enlighten me every time when I pass through my village that stored my favourite memories as a child. Each memory holding its own story. They are what shaped me into the person I am today. The life given us by Almighty is short, but the memory of life well spent is eternal.
I remember the time of the year 1994. It had been raining since morning. Aihsan knocked the door and I permitted him to enter in my reading room.
Aihsan: Akaji, the level of water has gone high in the river Vaishow. The crops were submerged and hard earned property of villagers was lost.
Alas! It is pitiable replied I. Does the chinar tree on the bank of river Vaishow stands still there? I asked. Yes, Akaji. Replied Aihsan.
Aihsan, I have sweet memories attached with the chinar tree. In our childhood we used to play cricket, volleyball, kabbadi and Galli Danda under the shade of this chinar tree. In the sweltering heat of sun, the tired beggars, travellers, bakerwalls, palmists, singers and fisherman were heaving sigh of relief under it.
These people from different walks of life were making us aware about many hidden treasures of the universe. At noon, the snoring of the sleeping people under the shade of this chinar tree was adding a new charm to the place. It was the place for an ornithologist to study the diversified habits of birds.
Chirping of birds on the chinar tree and their melodious songs were adding luster to the scene. Both diurnal and nocturnal birds of different habitats were paying visits to this marvelous place. Its green leaves with wavy margins, woody stems, and strong boughs with slanting top gave tongues to the poets.
It was not only summer that this chinar tree was drawing the crowds but in autumn women were collecting the leaves of this chinar tree and burning them to keep the traditional “Kangri” hot when snowfall takes over the landscape. Besides, our schooling in primary classes during summer was coming about under the shade of this chinar tree.
This had provided all round development to eager learners for living morally, creatively and productively. This chinar tree was an inspiration for all of us. To allude, chinars have attracted poets, poetess, writers, politicians and philosophers. Chinars have made many poets to cry, writers to drop ink to make millions think, philosophers to shape their academic discipline and thinkers to think seriously. That is why Allama Iqbal (R.A) sums up the legacy of chinar tree visa-a-vis Kashmir by this beautiful Urdu couplet:
Jis khaak ki zameer main ho aatish-e-chinar,
mumkin nahi ki sard ho wo khak arjumad.
Referring Kashmir as land of celestial dust but it has in its conscience the part of chinar. Lalded also mentioned chinar in her wakhs. Habba Khatoon’s melancholic melodies were sung under the shade of chinar tree.
Aihsan: oh! Great.
It was 6 P.M not remembering the day but year 1994 when I was pained to learn that the chinar tree too was flooded. Memories remain and are like fluctuating wave lengths reversing back and fro, yet maintaining the balance.
Oh chinar! You helped people when they had felt loneliness and sadness. You had awakened creative knowledge among the locals. You had engaged many to look at various issues of life in a variety of ways. You had attended the people’s needs and feelings.
I look back to the days when you were with us. Miss you so much. You had always cared for the people. It is very hard to control my emotions. I want to have you in my dream with all wonderful moments and sweet memories. What a wonderful childhood I had under your shade. I have many stories to tell you. I enjoy sleep but no dreams.
Yeh bi aik ishq ka sangeen jurum hai yaro,
naind aati hai, ghar khawab nahi aatay.
Oh! Chinar, you were a sincere friend who had embalmed men from all walks of life when their heart was wounded. You were not only a source of pleasure but also of inspiration and education. You have taught us to be humble, firm and determined. Your very memory sends in the men strong ripples of happiness.
Tairay sayai mai yeh aalam aik khullay daftar kai jaisa tha,
Kabi hansna, kabi roona, kabi ladna, kabi girrna,
shakayet bi nahee karna wo kaisa yar bachpan tha.
To quote words worth.
“One impulse from the veneral wood may teach us more of men, of moral evil and good than all the sages can” since you were a heritage tree of Kashmir, so let me protect your progeny as I am being indebted to you by a cogent reason.
(The writer can be reached at [email protected])
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