By Nazir Jahangir
I have said it before also that great men, whether artists, writers, poets, journalists or leaders, are born, not made or produced. Circumstances give them just a way and help. Circumstances can stimulate passion but cannot create a great heart. These are the great men who make history. There is a long list of people born here who made history by their sacrifices and great contributions to human spirit and art or journalism.
It is very rare when a man with vision is born in any nation. We too have honour having many men with vision and great skills born here We can just say our soil produced them. Late Khawaja Sannaullah Bhat Sahib, founder and editor of daily Aftab, was one among them. He was my guide in journalism also.
On the basis of my personal experiences I can say I discovered him a man of individuality whose success laid within his ownself, not dependent on outside conditions. He was a competent journalist with integrity. He was a graceful personality and that grace flew through him to those people also who worked with him. At times, he would look agonized. But if he felt hurt by anyone, he would hardly forgive him. That flaw caused him losing his friends and welwishers. He would dislike sycophancy to a large extent.
Forgiveness is the quality of life and where this emotion is absent, soul begins to wither there. I too learned a lot of things from him, not just journalistic skills but the meaning of dedication and self respect and confidence. (May Allah grant him highest cadre in Jannat). He was a man of commitment.
The latter years of life are most difficult in one’s life. Old man loses everything except dimly recalled memories. The man keeps getting sick usually because with the passage he/she loses the physical and mental strength. Then there is a day when every soul has to leave this world and there is no return.
It brings to mind Amir Minai’s sher:
hue namwar be-nishan kaise kaise
zameeN khaa gayi aasmaaN kaise kaise
(The head that is today proud of the crown on its head, tomorrow there will be the din of mourning song (panegyric) on his head when he dies.)
Life and death are the great lessons. People come and people go, no one remains forever. Sooner or later we too have to go.
I spent significant amount of time with the eminent journalists of Kashmir and learned so much. The big name among them is, of course, late Khawja Sannaullah Bhat Sahib.
What happened in the past becomes our history, but there is always a scope to learn from our history which comprises our experiences.
Bhat Sahib was a man of great calibre, shrewd, visionary and possessed right skills and craft of this profession. While framing a desk news on political or social affairs he knew the art of playing words and put across his point without getting entangled in any legal net. Though he did not have any significant academic qualifications but was well versed with his job.
Different types of people of diversified school of thoughts would come to meet Bhat Sahib and interact on different topics especially political scenarios, so I too would at times hear their talking and get benefited educationally.
It was 1984, when I started writing a column for “Aftab”. I was a young boy those days, and did not find myself much competent to write a column for this ‘Daily’. But, late Bhat Sahib (May Allah grant him highest spiritual cadre in paradise), the Editor in Chief and founder of this daily, insisted and persuaded me to go ahead with my writing this column. The title of that column was “Khabron kay aayene may” (In light of current affairs).
I would write the text on the paper provided to me by the concerned functionary there, and give it to the Bhat Sahib, who made neccessary corrections and help me refine my voice. I am habitual of writing satire and humor which I feel inherent in my veins, but the “Khabron kay aayene may” was a serious column and needed careful application of mind, so had no space for humorous tone.
I still remember, when I wrote about the disclosure of a treasure in our Kashmir treasury. A treasure of huge quantity of golden bricks, silver coins, diamonds and pearls, worthy of billions of Rupees was ‘discovered’ here, but then a mysterious calm was observed. Anyone, who raised voice about that treasure, was either transferred from his position or made to ‘shut up’.
In the late stage of his age, Bhat Sahib suffered from some neuro problem, as a consequence, there was a noticeable tremor in his right hand. So, his hand tremored while writing anything.
(May be in future I write about other editors also I worked with!)
Nazir Jahangir is a columnist.
