The Original  Sher-e-Kashmir!

( Kashmir Rechords Exclusive)

People may be attributing  Sheikh Mohd Abdullah, the founding leader of the National Conference as “Sher-e-Kashmir’’ or the Lion of Kashmir, but the fact unknown to most of us is that this title was initially bestowed upon by the people of Kashmir to a revolutionary  Kashmiri Pandit, Hargopal Kaul ( Khasta) for challenging the autocracy and raising the banner of revolt against the strong and powerful Ruler, Maharaja Ranbir Singh.

The multifaceted Kaul, who was also known as Khasta, (his penname),  wanted the upliftment of the people and conferment of basic civil rights and liberties upon them including freedom of the press. For that, he was arrested for openly “preaching’ sedition’’ and causing rebellion against the Maharaja.   To harass and torture him during those dark days, the undaunted Hargopal was put in an iron cage, meant to haul up a lion or to transport the animal king from one place to another.  When caged, he thereafter came to be known as “Sher-e-Kashmir”.

There is a startling revelation of putting Hargopal Kaul in a lion’s cage by a prominent Advocate, Pyarelal Kaul in his book “Kashmir Trail and Travail’’, published in 1996. The author of the book incidentally claims to be a descendant of the Hargopal Kaul dynasty.

Tortured at Bahu Fort

According to the book, Kaul’s arrest was followed by the arrest of his younger brother, Saligram Kaul. Both were later convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for `committing sedition’. Bahu Fort, Jammu was converted into a special jail for them where they underwent the severest torture.

The Author of the book says that Saligram Kaul had managed to disappear from the jail after five years through a tunnel dug out by him and fled to Delhi, then came to Punjab. “There, he took a strong line of criticism against Kashmir Durbar. Later, Hargopal Kaul was set free after six years. Both the brothers were given a rousing reception when they went back to Srinagar’’.

In Srinagar, Hargopal Kaul was given the appellation of “Sher-i-Kashmir” (Lion of Kashmir) by the people of Kashmir for his endless struggle and for serving Kashmiris in different ways and fields.

Long after the death of Sher-e-Kashmir Hargopal Kaul (1923), a section of Kashmiri Muslims later started calling Sheikh Mohamed Abdullah “Sher-e-Kashmir”. But the other Muslims of Kashmir, particularly the followers of Moulvi Mohamed Yusuf Shah, never accepted the title of “Sher-e-Kashmir” to Sheikh Abdullah. Instead, they nicknamed him Abdullah `Gaadah’ (fish), the author of “Kashmir Trail and Travail’’ claims.

Born in Lahore

Pandit Hargopal  Kaul Khasta, whose ancestors were Dattatreya Kauls of Rainawari, Srinagar Kashmir, was born in Lahore in 1848. His paternal grandfather, Gwasha Kaul, and great-grandfather Mahadeo Kaul had migrated to Lahore around the 1820s. His father Ramachandra Kaul had maintained a household both in Lahore and Kashmir.

After completing his studies, Hargopal started his career as a school teacher, first in Lahore and then in Patiala. Later, he switched over to journalism and started an Urdu weekly Ravi Benazir from Lahore. Although raised and educated in Lahore and Patiala, Khasta always nurtured a deep sense of love and reverence for his homeland, Kashmir.  This prompted him to return to Kashmir where his family built a house in the Nawa Kadal area of Srinagar.

Publication of Twarikh-i-Guldasta-i- Kashmir

During his stay in Kashmir, Hargopal Kaul composed Twarikh-i-Guldasta-i- Kashmir (History of Kashmir) as he had access to government documents and records. This Book in Urdu was recorded by the Head of the Public Instructions department and was later first time published by Arya Press, Lahore, in 1877. His Twarikh-i-Guldasta-i- Kashmir gives us a historical account of Kashmir from ancient times to the period of Maharaja. The history is written in a free-flowing style in Urdu. The Deebacha (prologue) to the book informs that the erudite Pandit  Hargopal had sent it to Col. Halride who was the Director of the Punjab Department of Education for his critical evaluation and comments.

It was during the same period that the first political nationalist consciousness in Kashmir emerged against imperial rule through the actions of Hargopal Khasta and his brother Saligram Kaul who opposed the injustices of the British policies. The duo raised their voice against autocracy and struggled for social and political issues for the transformation of Kashmiri society.

His anti-imperialist activities, independent and revolutionary temperament made him an easy victim of the intrigues of Maharaja Ranbir Singh’s court and along with his brother Saligram Kaul, who was also a socio-politically active personality of the region.

During the period of his detention, Khasta wrote a political satire called Narsing Avtar and a masnavi entitled Gopal Nama in which he exposed the court intrigues in Kashmir. After his release, he went to Lahore and started writing in newspapers like The Reformer, Desh ki pukar, etc. He supported the endeavor towards female education and widow remarriage. Though he was working outside the State, his mind and heart were in Kashmir. From there, through his papers Ravi-Benazir and Subaha Kashmir, Khasta vigorously crusaded against the British by reporting on the political situation in Kashmir and advocated for granting full powers to Maharaja Pratap Singh. His consistent efforts through his writings exposed the British conspiracy against the Maharaja and proved helpful in the restoration of powers to Maharaja Pratap Singh.

Campaign for Women’s Education

After the appointment of Raja Suraj Kaul, a Kashmiri Pandit of Lahore, as the revenue member of the regency council, the political scenario changed in Kashmir and Khasta returned to the Valley to dedicate the rest of his life to social and educational reforms within the Kashmiri community and also outside it.

Khasta was a pioneer in the field of education. He founded a Hindu school for boys, later upgraded to Sri Pratap College by Christian missionary Annie Besant. The school played a commendable role in the spread of modern education in Kashmir. Khasta led the campaign for women’s education which was a social taboo in the valley during those days. He started a chain of girls’ schools at Nawakadal in Kashmir which was presided over by his daughter Padamavati.  A detailed document has been penned by  Dr. Ashraf Kashmiri on Pandit Hargopal Kaul, describing him as the Pioneer of Women’s Education in Kashmir.

Poet of Great Repute

Hargopal Kaul was also a poet of great repute who made effective use of his pen to express his nationalist feelings. Khasta penned down national and inspirational poetry with a progressive approach, both in Persian and Urdu, which will continue to inspire posterity. It was his tenacity and audacity that made him emerge from the several crises he faced for a new political dispensation in Jammu and Kashmir. An ardent patriot with a multidimensional personality, this great son of soil breathed his last in 1923.