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Milchar
August-September 2003 Issue
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Editorial
… P. N. Wali
Our ‘Zaan’
 Four
years through, the 'Zaan' project of Kashmiri Pandits' Association and
Lalla Ded Educational and Welfare Trust, is still going strong. I don't
mean that it has not lost the steam, as most of our initiatives do with
the passage of time. I mean it positively at least from the perspective of
the persons who are energetically pursuing it. Also from the point of view
of those sections of the community who have taken notice of it and even
advanced it by their participation.
'Zaan', a project to connect the members of the
community to their origin and identity in the wake of exodus seemed a
possibility. I have always felt that identity becomes an important issue
in personal life immediately after the bread and butter issues are
tackled. Need for affiliation follows the hygienic needs of food and
shelter, even in the view of Moslov. To strengthen our sense of identity,
an awareness of history, culture, social moves and physical contours of
the place of origin becomes essential. 'Zaan' was initiated to assist in
this awareness.
During the first three years, it issued two volumes of
Information Digests and one volume of a 'Basic Reader' for reading
Kashmiri in the Devanagari script. It is felt that books published in
themselves may not disseminate the intended knowledge. It should be
supported by incentive to read them. The 'Zaan Quiz' programme was
accordingly devised and consistently held during last three years. This
year, the 'Quiz' programme is scheduled for October 19th.
In its fourth year, 'Zaan' has seen another volume of
the information digest, which carries further the content portion of the
earlier volumes. Zaan's involvement in Kashmiri language, as it should be
written or read has further increased. This year, a special 'Work Book'
was designed to make reading still more simple. To test the book, a
workshop on Kashmiri language was held at Kashyap Bhawan on 7th September.
As a process, it was very well received.
On the fillip side, while the persons involved in the
project are advancing the idea with vigour and zeal, the response in terms
of participation in the project programmes from the biradari is not as
encouraging. Last three quiz programmes, though enthusiastically attended
by a number of persons, had not a large and diversified attendance, as the
organisers would have wished. The recently held Workshop on Kashmiri
Language, was also not largeley attended as to compare with the efforts
that went into organising it. What is the reason? I would not like to
surmise. I would like the readers to give me the clue. Will they please?
This was the couplet I quoted to Mr. M.K.Raina, who had
put all his efforts in making the Workshop a reality. I am sure, one day
the members of the community emerging from the Moslov's hygienic factors
will feel the need for identity and positively involve themselves in
finding means to strengthen it. It will be at that time, that search for
the initiatives like 'Zaan' to help them, will be made. No wonder, we have
received an order for Zaan books from London, while American friends have
put it on website. This need is going to surface one day. Till then we can
wish patience and preservance to those behind the programme. The message
of Zaan will spread. Of course, help from biradari members will make the
process quicker.
P.S. : An offshoot of the Workshop for Kashmiri
Language was a fine titilating poem in Kashmiri ' -
kathí manz kath' by Shri M.K.Raina, which in it contains all the vowels
and consonants used in writing Kashmiri, both in Devanagari and Roman
scripts.
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