1975 saw another upheaval when Khalid became president of Punjabi Sahat Sabha and some of the writers felt jealous. Ever agile Khalid decided to hold a Punjabi conference in Srinagar and the move was supported by many including Ajit editor Dr.Sadhu Singh, Gurdwara Prabnandhak Committee Amritsar, president Gurcharan Singh Tohra, Tagore Hall Srinagar was chosen for two day proceedings on 7-8th July. With Khalid’s personal efforts around two hundreds delegates attended despite some people playing a spanner in the wheel going to the extent of playing communal card saying , ’ how can a Musla (derogatory for Muslim) organize such a conference. ?” But Khalid’s personal contacts brought people like Prof. Tiwari, Dr.Atar Singh. Prof Sant Singh Seekhoon, Dr S S Ahluwalia and many. S M Abdullah presided over and Punjab CM Giani Zail Singh was the chief guest. An un wanted episode cropped up when Punjab CM tried to convince some that a resolution supporting emergency be passed . However, a subtle but strong opposition from the participants saved the day for Khalid . It was due to this conference Baba Farid chair was introduced by Giani Zail Singh in Jammu university which later turned into Punjabi department.
In an other incident in 1979 Khalid read out his one more story Beday Di Lanka in Punjabi Sahat Sabha at Srinagar which was presided over by Ali Sardar Jaffri. The story was trashed out by Sabha members, however, Jaffri was all praise and asked for its Urdu translation which was provided during breakfast meeting. The story was published by Jaffri in his own magazine Guftgu .The story had an impact upon a big name Khushwant Singh who translated it into English and published in Illustrated Weely of India . Khalid’s other stories have been translated into other languages including English . English translations have been done by the likes of Khushwant Singh,Dr.Lalit Gupta, Adrash Ajeet, Mushtaque Barq and Shafi Ahmad. His story was adopted for Pothwari film Lakeer and few of his drams have been staged across the country.
At the time of Op Blue Star Khalid was posted in Jallandhar .Khalid’s friend Sohan Singh Mesha would come to Khalid’s place to smoke .The curfew was lifted after 13 days and Mesha appeared to smoke and then took Khalid in his car for a ride and buy some essentials . On the way the car got some dent due to a rickshaw puller , Mesha lost cool and slapped the puller. The traveler inebriated condition ridiculed Mesha and took out a twenty rupee note and offered to Mesha. Mesha was further enraged but the traveler took out a hundred rupee note .Mesha lost cool and shouted on top of his voice, “ You bastard you show off your money. Tell your Indra bitch that Sikhs are not dead yet. We are not a community on sale and we don’t sell our respect.” Khalid tried to control Mesha who even abused him with the derogatory Muslia word. But later Mesha apologized to Khalid.
An important event in Kashmir history became the new turn in Indo Pak relations and the Uri Muzafarabad bus service was started. Khalid had booked seats for him and his wife . Some frantic calls were made from unknown numbers who were discouraging travelers from traveling. But Khalid stood his ground and not only rebuffed the caller but forwarded the numbers to IGP(CID) for appropriate action. With this Khalid’s name acquired publicity and media outlets, local as well as international, approached him for interviews. But the event was more dramatic when sabotages in the form of burning of TRC building, few militant attacks etc happened. However, the political leadership both state and national level were bent upon success of the event which finally happened.. The buses however crossed kaman pul with dignitaries welcoming passengers. In POK the welcome proceedings continued on a high scale. However, khalid ridiculed two banners reading Kashmir banay ga Pakistan and Kashmir Pakistan ki sheh rag hai saying , “ Kashmir is nobody’s jagular vein or inseparable part because for last 70 years as much blood has been drained that veins are not visible and all our body parts have been broken. Similar views were expressed by him at the breakfast meeting with POK PM Sardar Qayoom Khan who objected to Khalid’s outburst saying we have sacrificed for Kashir. Similar exchanges continued in some other meetings where Khalid and POK people expressed divergent views about Kashmir resolution.
Corruption in government Khalid Hussain was transferred from Jallandhar in 1985 and attached to General Adm Department. He approached the CS with the request that he be sent back to his parent department , He was reverted back for further posting in Rural wing. But the administrative secretary declined him the grade promotion .He was forced to move between the minister and Commissioner’s office . After about two months when he was depressed Abdul Rehman, the peon, met him who had worked with him during Beg’s tenure .The peon advised him to meet with a bundle of ten thousand rupees for the minister. Since Khalid had no money but his friend Nasir Quraishi arranged the money. Next day the peon introduced Khalid to the minister and handed him the money . But despite accepting money no orders were issued till one day the minister spotted Khalid near Gulab Bagh, gave him a lift and divulged that Commissioner did not allow him to issue the orders. This enraged Khalid and he ridiculed the minister for being incompetent and drastically dependent upon the bureaucrat. The ridicule worked and same day orders were issued .However, the transfer orders were issued just after one month. Khalid was informed by the same peon that some other person had paid the heavier fee.
One more incident of corruption in high places will make an interesting read. Khali was posted as Deputy Director Estates Jammu when the government decided to hold elections. One day Doda DC sudhanshiv Panday came to him that his services are required in Doda and he will be placed suitably after elections .In 1996 elections Farooq Abdullah was elected the CM but khalid’s posting did not materialize. Panday was sent on central deputation and commissioner U Ghosh died. One day khalid’s Punjabi writer friend came to him informing that some bigwigs in government visit Ashram in Talab Tilo to seek blessings. The fact being that under the coloured paper big sachets of notes are placed in the sweet filled baskets. Dilip Singh took Khalid to the Ashram and introduced him to the swami with the request that he be placed Director Local Bodies Jammu. As the minister came people were asked to come to the room but on seeing Khalid minister lost cool asking the swami why he brought this nuisance fearing khalid will be source of embarrassment due to his media connections. The minister promised that khalid’s orders will be issued but without any considerations. However, orders were never issued and khalid pressurized his friend to get his money back from the Swami. It was returned after deducting Ashram fee of ten thousand rupees. Some time later when the incident was narrated to Khalid’s friend Prof. Anjali Thusoo she abused in the name of Swami saying , “he has kept my aunt as his keep , does not allow her to marry, instead keeping her as the All in all of the Ashram.
Stories of deceit particularly in the sale and purchase of land is another area of thuggery wherein land brokers, close friends and relatives have played a part.
“Don’t build a house on the banks of a river or declivity of a mountain” is what wise people have been saying.
Khalid changed his residence from old Ustad Mohella to newly come up Gujar Nagar which housed people migrated from various localities viz Kashmir, Doda, Poonch etc. Here the youngsters got influenced by a right winger who introduced them to holy war and indoctrination by literature about Khalid Bin Waleed, Mohamad Bin Qasim, Tari q Bin Ziyad. Khalid’s son Zakir joined the group and became a regular visitor to the mosque which made his mother happy thinking he was a religious child. Khalid’s wife soon got ferocious dreams which forced her to ask Khalid to move back to the original locality. Khalid ignored the sayings in humour. In 1988 terrific floods in the Tawi river engulfed khalid’s house. But Khalid did not learn a lesson and constructed 2nd storey . next year but one more flood did again some damage. His son’s namesake and domestic help Zakir Hussain received a severe electric shock but was saved miraculously. Soon Khalid received a message that his son after appearing in 10th class examination has not reported back. Frantic searches yielded no results. Political atmosphere had turned murky in Kashmir with armed militants ruling the roost and large processions demanding freedom. KPs started moving out with governor Jagmohan providing transport and other logistics. Had not government support for migration been there they could have been stopped at Jawar tunnel and residential clusters established in Qazigund area where security establishment could provide a sense of security that too in their condusive atmosphere. The fact is that lop sided approach of the government put the Kps in lots of trouble.
Few incidents of firing took place in Jammu area and soon one Kaka Hussain got arrested in Sringar ,He had been nominated as Area Commander Jammu by JKLF He spilled the beans and named all his associates which included Zakir the teenage son of khalid .Khalid was summoned by the police ,his behaviour, position and background helped police to believe him . Some police officers wanted to help but they had to run as per protocol. Zakir’s surrender was immediate need but there was danger of his whole family getting wiped out in revenge action. Khalid was now in Banihal on an official tour with few other officers when he woke up midnight saying ,”Zakir has been shot dead ,letus move to perform his last rites.” His officer friends tried to pacify him that a bad dream has occurred but Khalid did not listen. As he reached his house he found ample number of security staff spread over . After some time Zakir was arrested. Subsequent ,time saw various events like torture during interrogation, court process and the like and shifting of Zakir to places like Jodhpur jail. Meanwhile Khalid was appointed as Deputy Director Estates Jammu where an employee promised to help through his relative, a district sessions judge. During a private meeting khalid explained the case and requested that zakir be brought and kept in some jail in Jammu where meeting him could be easy. The judge in a strong worded order directed that zakir be kept in Amphala jail. Zakir had met some separatists in the jail but his eyes opened out which revealed that money minting was their main aim. (Also Refer AS Dulat Kashmir; the Vajpayee years). Khalid kept trying for his son’s release through courts and bureaucratic channels and the case finally ended up with an undertaking that either zakir studies further in some non local institution or gets married. The second option was accepted by Zakir but close relatives who came in droves to greet Zakir on his release were not ready to offer their daughter. The ceremony later finally ended up with the daughter of Syed Bashir Shah of Maler Kotla . One important thing about the whole episode was that Khalid and other family members were not subjected to any harassment or his official ladder was not disturbed in case of any promotions etc.
Revenge;
Khalid as DC Poonch had to face few more awkward situations one of them being Harni village episode. In Harni village of Mendhar tehsil four innocent Hindus were done to death and Chati Singhpora episode happened in Anantnag district .Harani episode was a reaction to the idiocy of some soldiers who crossed over inebriated conditions and brought seven heads and the Pak Tv kept on showing the bust of these men. Khalid talked on phone to SSP Saxena requesting him to instruct police to given full protection to Hindu minority lest any revenge killings happened. While people took precautions but SHO Harni was lackadaisical resulting in militant attack and killing of four Hindus. People got restive and political activists tried to get benefit . Later IGP Paramjit sigh Gill arrived in a helicopter ,People were persuaded with the promise that their grievances will reach PM and CM through them .The restive crowd then allowed final rites.
In the month of April 36 sikhs were massacred in Chati Singhpora and directions were issued to all district heads to maintain calm. Khalid was in maternal home for condolences when a BSF jeep arrived to take him back as per orders of Div Com Jammu. Khalid used other transport provided by friendly officers enroute and reached his HQ at 2AM. Reports suggested huge procession by all communities is planned the next day and Khalid sat with SSP Saxena scratching their heads to chalk out strategy . It was decided that district administration will form part of the procession and Khalid delivered a forceful speech denouncing the terrorist act . He requested the Sikh community to organize a Bhog in which he himself participated .
Subsequently, five persons were killed in a fake encounter dubbing them as militants . But due to public pressure bodies were exhumed and DNA proved otherwise. Five innocent youth were made the scapegoats.
Khalid a writer of repute organized literary functions including poetry reading sessions in which youngsters like Liaqat Jaffri, Anwar Khan , Swami Antar Neeru and elders like Nida Fazili, Bashir Badar and Surjeet Patar participated.
In the autobiography full accounts of political upheavals from time to time have been given. His Haj tour is fully explained. Some of the literary events have been repeated . Attitude of extremist Hindu members have been talked about .The details about infamous sex scandal have been shared.
Since the autobiography has been shared through friends, relatives , subordinates or officers some of the events have been repeated because more than one person have been witness to the events. Overall it has historical value as Khalid has been occupying some important posts from to time to time and been privy to certain administrative hiccups or classified information at the time of occurrence.
ABOUT THE REVIEWER
Shafi Ahmad is a Kashmir based columnist, and can be mailed at wanishafi999@gmail.com
