Arvind Gigoo…. The Underrated Writer
( By: Kanwal Krishan Lidhoo)
The Literature in Exile is a term that has a global dimension. Works of great literary merit have been produced by the authors who chose or were forced to live in places other than their own. The life in exile is like living in a cauldron. It boils everything and changes the contours of existence to a totally new shape, while retaining certain flavours and tastes of the original constituents more often as a baggage than something to be valued. Many races and communities produced marvellous literature when having to assert their lost identity and socio cultural inheritance had first to de-construct their existence and subsequently apply the same to understand and face their ghosts and predicaments. This deconstruction helps them come out of their insecurities and also their comfort zones. This has happened with Jews, Asians, and Africans and nearer home to Punjabis, Sindhis and …… the Kashmiri Pandits.
The Ugly Kashmiri
Besides the marvellous literary output through books of merit in Kashmiri, Urdu and Hindi, one masterpiece in English by Arvind Gigoo, Professor in English who was forced to live away from Kashmir came up in the year 2006. The title of the book is “Ominous”…. “The Ugly Kashmiri”. But such is the power and appeal of the book that it has run out of the editions. Interestingly it should adore every Kashmiri’s bookshelf. Those who say that its context is Kashmir and only the inhabitants of that place will relate to it are holding to wrong assumptions. The satire in all 180 aphorisms has a universal appeal that cuts across regions, places and time in history. Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ quote seems to aptly apply to this book also. These 180 aphorisms have been conceived in a manner which resemble the ‘Sutras’ of ancient Rishis. They are usually one-liners and in the middle. The words of wisdom seem to exist in a void and have a deep significance. Around these ‘Sutras’ one can always load one’s thoughts and conditionings but that is not going to change the truth of the satirical aphorisms. These pearls of wisdom were not created by design. They just happened.
A Deeply Cathartic Process
Kashmir Rechords was fortunate to elicit a response from the author Arvind Gigoo sometime back. And the response was: “It actually has been a deep and cathartic process”. Like many Kashmiris he also possesses a sensitive soul, carries the concerns, joys and sorrows of a Kashmiri whether a Hindu or a Mussalman caught up in the cauldron post 1990 when tectonic shifts took place with regard to socio- political conditions in Kashmir.
The book starts in fact with an aphorism with deep spiritual meaning…… “I Still Am But I am not Still” . Though satirical it has a tremendous healing effect. The subsequent satirical aphorisms continue to jolt us, make us rue and weep and finally enable us to build an appreciation for the same. They usually shame every one of us and that is why Arvind Gigoo’s masterpiece “The Ugly Kashmiri” has jolted every Kashmiri from within and has made him or her shun their individual comfort zones.
One of his cameo is directed towards the dubious philosophy nurtured by the terrorists, who indiscriminately killed several Kashmiri Pandits and Kashmiri Muslims.
The author states in the preface, “I have never had any political commitment and religious conviction. I go on changing my opinions. I dangle between an idea and its opposite. I am sure about my doubts, vacillations and uncertainties.” He has dedicated this book to an unknown “Ahmad the Blacksmith, Whom nobody Knows because he is beautiful !”
Comments
Sanjay
Prof Arwind Gigoo is a name to recon with in the battery of scholars we have in Kashmir. A professor of English, he has taught & guided thousands students in pursuit of English language career,
Post 90s he has moved to Jammu & retired as an English professor. His son is a PG in English from Delhi University & has written half a dozen books mostly focused on Kashmir. He has also made some short films.
Prof Arwind to has a book to his credit UGLY KASHMIRIS and has written occasionaly in local newspapers in Jammu
PS:
This profile in Kashmir Records website is good attempt but the title could be changed as he is not a prolific writer like son Siddarth!
A ‘Scholar ‘would have been better word in the headline
Kashmir Rechords
Thanks for your encouraging lines and acknowledging the efforts of Kashmir Rechords… A website that aims to strike a chord with Kashmir.
Vijay Sazawal
I had the privilege of getting connected with Prof. Gigoo when he was teaching at the Government college in Udhampur, probably two decades back. He reached out to me after reading about me in the Indian dailies, and I looked forward to his postal mailings now and then as he would design his envelopes himself. However, after he retired he suddenly stopped communicating with me, and to this date I don’t know why. Even after I made contact with his son Siddharth and requested the contact number for his father (many times), the promise of re-establishing a direct contact with Arvindji never materialized. So if he reads this message, I will greatly appreciate if he contacts me. We are both in our advancing years and I would love to speak with him if possible. Thanks.
Kashmir Rechords
Thanks for your valuable inputs.
When Kashmiris Once Publically Renounced Politics! - Kashmir Rechords
[…] Arvind Gigoo occasionally presents himself as a maverick, showcasing his talent for crafting wry yet thoughtful satirical humor, undoubtedly infused with a discernible attribute of pathos.” […]