By Shafi Ahmad
During a tea break ask him to speak about the cup or the tea and he will use his oratory to talk about the slip between cup and the lip. The English proverb is an alibi for him to elaborate the intricacy of the human relations. And while waiting for the community feast locally called the Wazwan ask him to denounce the unnecessary wait inflicted upon the guests by the fellow guests and he will end up with history of Wazwan including quantity of mutton ,the chef’s charges ,expected guests and the approximate amount of gifts to be collected. He runs his pen or computer mouse slowly but the tip of his tongue is faster in cohesion with his memory so to speak extempore better than something written on paper. The memory card in his natural computer is of extendable limits stretching wider and contracting never. His fellow speakers at the functions are wary when asked to speak after him because he runs through the approved agenda of the meeting leaving others high and dry and yearning rather craving for words. They say ‘drowning man catches at a straw to sail through ‘but this man picks threads here and there to wade through the theme he is asked to speak about. He at times, may feel short of time but never short of words as words, sentences and bibliography props up in front of him like on the teleprompter screen. When others flip through written pages to prepare for their speech this man has signalled ‘The End’ with his magniloquence.
He is Mohamad Amin Bhat popularly known as Amin Bhat. When asked for his bio his reply was, “What have I done to have a bio?” And my reply was just to tickle his rib cage, “I know you are worthless but I like people of your clan.” And my question if any interesting/hilarious incident occurred in your life he was quick to add ‘I met you.’ But that was hilarious not interesting was my immediate response.
He was born and brought up in northern town Baramullah. Amin Bhat Started his artistic career four decades ago as a Founder member of Mehboob cultural Society Baramullah, a theatre group of repute in Kashmir. Amin Bhat has always been in hurry; be it his oratory or the award winning speed. His first Stage play Man-a-Kis Wanas manz, staged in 1985, won him a cultural academy award followed by his first Nationally awarded Radio platy Nav Tre – Aana Satovuh( 9×3=27) in 1987.
His innovative style of experimentation in traditional Kashmir Theatre ( Band Pather) adopting contemporary Socio Political themes earned critical acclaim and many State academy awards for plays like Myon Kaya Soonchu? Ye Naar Kaem Deut? Yes Ye Hajat Tas Te Rawa . These were written and staged before 199O.
Amin Bhat likes and lives for theatre, does not shirk experimentation and boldly takes initiative to plunge into newer areas. His most acclaimed plays termed as plays of Identity by Indian Express have been staged during the past one decade when a bold initiative was taken by Bhat and some of his theatre colleagues to re-start theatre activities in Kashmir.
The plays like Naad, awarded as the best play by Academy and Doordarshan, Tchal ( The Trap), White Paper, Shinakhti Card have been acknowledged as classic in Kashmiri literature and filmed by Doordarshan. White Paper and April Fool are some of the highly acclaimed stage plays written and directed by Bhat. These plays, portraying the prevailing circumstances and aimed at objective artistic analysis of the situation have created a space for intellectual inter-action in a charged atmosphere particularly for the uniqueness of their non-propagative approach as most of them speak between the lines and the thematic message is conveyed without any loud expression of words or action. This initiative in trying times can be termed as Renaissance of the Kashmir Theatre. Theatre runs through the blood of Amin Bhat. He gives second preference to all other than theatre and knows well the intricacies of theatre. Amin dedicated a theatrical episode to his slain brother who had lost life just a few days back.” says acclaimed writer, poet and director Bashir Dada paying rich tributes to the doyen of theatre movement in Kashmir.
Bhat has also been writing short stories in Kashmiri language and some of the stories written by him includ
ing Kotar mour,Tamashi ta Tamashi, Rang Barangi Dastar to mention a few have earned him critical acclaim. Possibly Bhat had heard Nigerian American writer Chimamanda Adichie who explains the dangers of writing a single short story, may be in her own environment.
Amin Bhat, is the President of Kashmir Theatre Federation, a representative forum of 20 Theatre groups of Kashmir, striving for revival of Theatre in Kashmir. He also is former General Secretary and present President of oldest and largest literary organization Adabi Markaz Kamraz, (Federation of different literary organizations) striving for the preservation and promotion of Kashmiri language. Besides being actively associated with Kashmir Theatre.
Bhat has written many serials, films and plays for electronic media and his film “ Kiran Kiran Ujala” has bagged the best film award from Doordarshan. Popular DD Kashir, Morning Show Good Morning J&K previously titled as Subhai Subhai which bagged National award has been anchored by Bhat for past three years. Regarding Amin’s TV engagement Bashir Dada has high praise for him be it writing, direction or even acting.
Regarding one incident Dada says, “I was once offered few scripts which I rejected being poor. But then I pounced on one script which I felt of high standard, I did not know the writer’s name. It later turned out to be Amin Bhat’s creation implying I had selected something on merit.” And when Amin’s protagonist, the little child , seeking whereabouts of his missing father dials 786 to talk to God, Haamid takes shape giving Amin the recognition as a vibrant film script writer. Feature Film ‘Haamid’ based on Bhat’s play Phone number 786 produced by Saraygama bagged the National Award as best feature film award in 2019. Other than theatre, film , broadcasting and story writing Amin Bhat is a linguistic activist fighting for the upliftment of mother tongue Kashmiri. In a conversation he says ,“till Kashmiris dream in their mother language the Kashmir and Kashmiri will live long.” And in his own unique style he addresses the women folk reminding them of dangers of pushing out the mother tongue from their household replacing it with an awkwardly mixed up one liners eg Labi labi chalo, Ek meundoo aur khao, Upar say uncle ke kapday utaro etc.
The sarcasm adopted by Bhat hits the nail at its head and those acting against the interests of mother tongue feel the arrow directly hitting. He often recites the stanza ,”Kashiri saet chi kashier saeri nata wairanaki hairan kaaw.” (With Kashmiri language comes the recognition of being a Kashmiri and without mother tongue all are like wandering birds .)
Apart from theatre, literature, films he is best known as Tanzeem Saaz ,running institutions and has been seen attending to minutest details during bigger or smaller meetings; be it water bottles, amplifier system, seating arrangement or the parking lot. As Dada believes his perfection I would love to request him to take up the job of “Event Manager”.
Noted writer, columnist and ace translator Mushtaq Barq explains Amin Bhat’s personality , “Amin sahab is a typical and genuine artist who utilizes wit and ingenuity at ease. I remember a line from a poem… Give a man a horse and he can ride. Amin sahab’s humour is glued with satire and serious taunt. A chain smoker by nature but his eyes shed the dew whenever Natiya Qalam is recited.”
With so many jobs to attend to and as many facets of his personality one thinks whether Amin Bhat is multitalented ,doing justice to all issues or more confused ,not knowing which one is most suitable for his personality.
Post script : He does not possess iconic talent viz drama, literature and cultural activism only but is handsome and smart having photogenic appearance . His friends and foes, fans and detractors, envious and haters have one line common for Amin Bhat ‘On every birthday ceremony he grows two years younger.’
Shafi Ahmad is a columnist and can be reached at wanishafi999@gmail.com
