BY KHURSHEED DAR
Kashmir has produced a glaxy of sufi poets,iconic mystics and spiritual teachers.who were very affectionate towards the society and who rendered a meritorious service to the kashmiri language and literature.Kashmiri sufi poets voiced for brotherhood,peace and prosperity.One of such a sufi poet and spiritual teacher was Hazrat Lala Aargami RA. He was a divine selection Of Rub i Jaleel. Hazrat Lal sb Aargami RA was the great wali kamil of his age. The people of the area who are still alive are well aware of the living conditions, perfections, and miracles of this towering mystical personality bestowed on him by Rub i Jaleel.He was a man of noble character from his childhood.
Born at Chattibanday Aragam ,a small village in district Bandipora on 11th March 1923 in a very pover famiy. His father’s name was Dawood Malik and His mother’s name was Dolati Ded. Both Dawood Malik and Dola ded were known for the simplicity, honesty and truthfulness in the village. It is said that Hazrat Lala sb RA received education upto 8th standard.His parents gave him the knowledge of Quran,Fiqa and Hadith.Hazrat Lala sb RA was a gifted child.His parents married him with the pious woman of a village .Her name was Gasha deddi ,a virtous and noble lady.and had one daughter and three sons from her. To feed his family,hazrat Lala sb RA worked as a milkman,labour and finally as Imam of masjid.It is said that Hazrat lal sb loved sufi poetry and used to sing in sufi mehfils.This iconic mystic poet set out for a spiritual journey at the age of 17 .It is said that his first spiritual guide was Hazrat Shaban Sahib Slur RA.It was Hazrat Shaban sb Solura RA who taught him the basics of sufism.Unfortunately his first spiritual mentor Hazrat Shaban Sb Solura left for heavenly abode.Hazrat Lala sb felt shocked after the demise of his mentor.One night he dreamt that Hazrat Shaban Sb RA handed him to another great spiritual teacher Hazrat AmaSahib Kawa RA.Hazrat Ama Sb Kawa hailed from sher e Alamdar (chirar e sharief) and had a number of disciples.He was a great sufi saint and spiritual teacher of the time.In this way Hazrat Lal sb Aargami RA became his disciple and learnt the mystic knowledge from him.It is said that his spiritual mentor loved him much because he was very genius and hardworking disciple.It was from here that he learnt the knowledge of Shariah,Tareeqat ,haqeeqat and maarifat.
This mystical skylark spent days and nights in meditations and prayers under the canopy of spiritual sky .He shunned all the comforts and pleasures and lived a very simple life.He had a number of disciples through out the length and breadith of Kashmir.
Some of disciples of Lala Sahib are; Kamal Sahib Konen Bandipora, Mam Sahib Pushwari, Khazir Sahib Kandi Kupwara, Karl bab sb ,Drugmulla kupwara, Ghulam Mohammad Zarger Josh, Ghulam Hassan Mir Rednag Lolab, Ghulam Hassan War Ganderbal, Jalla Sahib Bagroo Batmaloo and more.Hazrat lal sb Aargmi wrote thousands of picturesque sufi poetry. His poems are very rich in diction and meter.But unfortunately most of his poems are not published yet
Almost all of his poetry is in Kashmiri language most of his poems are sung by Sufi Singers in sufi mehfils.He introduced a new style in kashmiri sufi poetry.His poetic language, metaphors and smilies are unparallel.
one of his Kashmiri couplets, he exhorts a Kashmiri Pandit girl to have unrestrained devotion for her God as her favourite deity i.e. enshrined in the stone idol itself,
Bata Koori Vate Kanie Manj Chuai Dai, Karee Pooja, Yinai Mushravak Lai.
Symbolism of Lala sb Aargami’s RA poetry is magnanimous. Symbolism is the technique of describing objects and imbuing them with new meanings. Symbolism in poetry adds to the effect of the universal language and provides multiple levels of meaning for interpretation by readers. The symbolic techniques used in Kashmiri Sufi poetry by Lal sb RA are unparallel. Similarly the similes and the metaphors put to use by Hazrat Lal sb RA bring forth the intense appeal of Kashmiri Sufi poetry on the surface for further analysis.It It is important to mention here that the poetry of Hazrat Lal sb Aargami RA too is grounded in local culture.
Poeple loved him much .Hazrat Lal Sb Aargami RA died at the young age of 63,on 27th August 1988 and was buried in his ancestral grave yard at Chattibanday Aargome,Bandipora.A beautiful shrine has been built there.Thousands of people visit his shrine .The shrine of Hazrat Lal Sb Aargami is thronged by the devotees and sufism lovers on his Urs day which is celebrated on 6th and 7th May every year.
On these days a Mehfil of sufi poets is held.Sufi poets and singers participate and perform in these mehfils. There is a committee to look after the shrine ,feed the devotees who come from different parts of the valley and to make arrangements for the urs days.Hazrat Lal Aargami’s shrine is beautifully maintained.
Lala Sahib Aragami has written thousands of beautiful poems.His poetry is unparallel.
Two editions of Lala Sahib’s poetry has been published so far and the second edition named “Kuliyati Lala Aragami presented/published by Intizamiya Committee in year 2008 is the latest one.
The intizamiya committee is headed by Habib ullah Malik sb,Sajadah nasheen ,eldest son of Hazrat lal sb Aargami RA.He too is a man of letters,humble and noble personality.
Symbolism of Lala sb Aargami’s RA poetry is magnanimous. Symbolism is the technique of describing objects and imbuing them with new meanings. Symbolism in poetry adds to the effect of the universal language and provides multiple levels of meaning for interpretation by readers. The symbolic techniques used in Kashmiri Sufi poetry by Lal sb RA are unparallel. Similarly the similes and the metaphors put to use by Hazrat Lal sb RA bring forth the intense appeal of Kashmiri Sufi poetry on the surface for further analysis. Hazrat Lal sb Aargami’s poetry is so impressive and only those who are tethered with sufism can try to know its cemented strength..
Most Sufi poets of Kashmir have never been to school and it is quite impossible for a person without schooling to study the books written in any other language, but while going through the page of poetized writings of Kashmiri Sufi poets, we come across the oneness of thought process. It is surprising that these poets without formal education who cannot even read Moulana Rumi or any other poet still have oneness in intellection. It looks that Sufi poets living in any corner of the world are inter connected; divinity has bestowed them with mystical powers which enables them to remain connected. About this interconnection the great Sufi saints have described it as Elimal Yakeen and Aeinal Yakeen. Elimal Yakeen means knowledge borrowed from books and Aeinal Yakeen is practical observation of things.
Khursheed Dar is a Sufi scholar and can be reached at Khursheed.dar33@gmail.com .
