Här-van

40 Pages·2008·1.34 MB·English

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här-van
Monthly net-journal of 'Project Zaan'
Project
Zaan
Know Your Roots
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`Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ cçççÆmçkçÀ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç
~ Vol 2 : No. 2
Jç<ç& 2 : DçbkçÀ 2
~ February 2008
HçÀjJçjçÇÇ 2008
City of Srinagar
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02 The monthly här-van
~
nç@j-Jçvç `Òççípçíkçwì ]pççvç' kçÀçÇ cçççÆmçkçÀ vçíì-HççÆ$çkçÀç Jç<ç& 2 : DçbkçÀ 2 HçÀjJçjç Ç2008
In this issue Editorial Kundan
Editorial
Our Sages
- T.N.Dhar Kundan 02
Know Your Motherland
K
- Cover Photo & Brief 03
ashmir, as the story goes, was established by a sage by the
uçuçe JççKç 03
Editors' Mail 04 name Kashyapa. It derived its name from this sage and was called
Literature Kashyap-mara originally. The Chinese travellers have referred to it
- Sahitya Akademy Award for
as Kashparera. He must have thought of converting this place into a
Dr. R.L.Shant
forest dwelling where various sages would meditate and undertake
- Nagarjuna Ganju 05
'Tapasya' or penance. No wonder, therefore, this sacred land has given birth to a galaxy
kçãÀøCç pçÓ jç]pçoçvç
- pç³çç çÆmçyçÓ 06 of sages, saints and savants. These sages can be grouped into various categories. The
Question Bank first group is of Buddhist saints. They not only guided the local devotees but also
- Zaan Archives 06 travelled to far off places in Tibet, China and many East-Asian countries and spread the
Health
message of Mahayana Buddhism, as formulated in the fourth Buddhists conference
- My Medical Journey
- Dr. K.L.Chowdhury 07 held in Kashmir. The prominent among them are Kumarajiva, Sanghabhuti, Punya Tirtha,
kçÀçJ³ç - cçç³çç cççín, ®çuç DççÌj Dç®çuç Vimalaksha, Dharma Mitra and others.
- ìçÇ.Svç.oj kçáÀvovç 10 The second group would be of those who propounded Kashmir Shaiva philosophy
Samarpan by Saadhak
and its three schools of Spanda, Pratyabhijna and Tantra. At the head of the table in
- Piyaray Raina 11
this group is Vasugupta, who discovered 'Shiva Sutras' engraved on a rock called
kçÀç@çÆMç³ç& o@çÆhçl³ç 11
'Shankarotpala', which had to become the foundation stone of this non-dualistic
kçÀçJ³ç - JççKç
- YçÓøçCç cçuuçç YçÓøçCç 12 philosophy in the years to come. He was followed by great sages, Utpaladeva,
Mysticism & religion Somananda, Bhatta Kallata, Abhinavagupta and Khemaraja etc. Although this philosophy
- Introduction to Naada Yoga was in a way resurrected by these Sages, as it is believed that the originator was Sage
- Dr. C.L.Raina 13
Durvasa, yet it can be safely said that It was their writing, presentation, explanation
kçÀçJ³ç - ®çççÆvç yçj lçuç jçJ³çcç ...
and enunciation that this philosophy gained the importance that it has. While the works
- cçncçÓo içç@cççÇ 14
of Abhinavagupta stand out, particularly his magnum opus, Tantralok, the contribution
Peculiar & Uncommon Kashmiri
Words & Phrases 15 of other sages is no less significant. This doctrine believes that the creation is nothing
kçÀnçvççÇ - ³çn pçiç kçÀçÌDççW kçÀç cçíuçç but the manifestation of Param Shiva and since He is real, His manifestation also has
- Dçpç&ávç oíJç cçpçyçÓj 16 to be real. To this extent it is an improvement on the Advaita of Adi Shankara, who
kçÀçJ³ç - Jçe]pçcçuçe ]pçvç êçJç considered Jagat as Mithya or Maya.
- Dç@³ç&çÆvçcççuç 17 Kashmir Shaiva Philosophy talks of thirty-six elements starting from the gross
Post-exodus publications of KPs earth and going up to the subtle Param Shiva and explains the various stages of this
- B.N.Sharga's 'Sharga Puran' 18
spiritual journey. This journey, it is explained starts with the notion of duality of the
Mémoir
- Lahore, Prior to 1945 subject and the object and ends with the non-duality of the two. These sages referred
- Arjun Dev Majboor 21 to above were erudite scholars whose teachings benefitted the learned, educated and
kçÀçJ³ç - yççkçÀe³ççlç the practitioners of spiritual endeavour. With the advent of Lalleshwari on the horizon a
- uççuçe uç#çcçCç 22 new group of sages came on the scene. These were popular sages who communicated
Our Heritage
directly with the common man. Lal Ded and her sayings called Vakh and Nunda Rishi
- Temples of Kashmir - 4
and his sayings known as Shruk created a mass movement of piety and purity and
- C.L.Gadoo 23
kçÀç@Mçáj DççíHçjç - yççôcyçájçí yççôcyçájçí .. taught the lesson of simple righteous living to the common Kashmiri. Another great
- oçÇvçç vççLç `vçççÆocç' 26 saint that followed was Alakheshwari Rupa Bhawani but she was a class apart. She
Hatim's Tales was an incarnation of Goddess Sharika and her sayings were full of depth and knowledge
- hççoMççn mçeb]pç kçÀLç 30 and, therefore, their purport could be understood by a chosen few, who were at a very
The Other Face of a Teacher high altitude of spirituality. Her predecessors and senior sages Krishna Kar and Peer
- B.K.Dass 33
Pandit Padshah were also sages with distinction in their own right. While Krishna Kar
]pçjç nbçÆmç³çí 33
was in the class of a master, Reshi Peer performed miracles to the astonishment of all
Kashmiri Rhymes from ...
- lçyçjoçjç mçyçej kçÀj - 5 and sundry.
- [ç. yççÇ.kçíÀ.cççí]pçç 34 During the half millennia gone by, another three distinct groups of Rishis emerged.
kçÀçJ³ç - - lçyçjoçjç mçyçej kçÀj - 4 The first group was of those Muslim saint-poets who were influenced by the Advaita
- DçvçáJçço pç³çç çÆmçyçÓ 35 philosophy of the Vedanta and Kashmir Shaiva Darshan. They wrote poems giving
çÆmçuççÆmçuçeJççj expression to their belief and feelings and these poems became very popular in the
- kçw³ççn kçw³ççn Jçvçe?
- cç.kçÀ.jÌvçç 36 Continued on Page 3
Internet Humour 38
Editor: M.K.Raina ~ Consulting Editor: T.N.Dhar ‘Kundan’ ~ Layout & dtp: [email protected]
Photo Feature 39
Your Own Page 40 Editorial Office: G-2, Pushp Vihar, Shastri Nagar, Vasai Road (W), Dist. Thane 401202, Maharashtra, India.
nç@jJçvç cçççÆmçkçÀ February 2008 ~ HçÀjJçjçÇ 2008 02
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03 The monthly här-van
masses and are sung to this day with devotion. The Know Your Motherland
prominent names in this group are Shams Faqir, Swaccha
Kral, Wahab Khar, Asad Paray, Nyama Sahib, Rehman
Dar, Ahad Zargar etc. The second group was of those Hindu
sages who wrote devotional Leelas in praise of Shri Krishna,
Shri Rama and the Mother Goddess. Pandit Paramananda,
Krishna Razdan stand out as the two luminary sages in
this group. More recently many more poets wrote Leelas
and devotional poetry but the one name that needs to be
made mention of is of Master Zinda Kaul. His poetry was a
combination of devotion, mysticism and knowledge.
City of Srinagar
The third group is of a host of saints, who lived almost
River Jhelum (Vitasta) and Old Fateh Kadal in
in every nook and corner of the valley. Some of these were
foreground, Hari Parbat in background
well read in mundane terms, some were less read but
spiritually exalted, some were recluse who spoke very little S
and communicated much less, some were outwardly rinagar is the summer capital and the largest city
eccentric and performed miracles to alleviate the suffering of Jammu & Kashmir State. It is 1585 Mts. above mean
of their devotees but all of them were the source of sea level. Its area is 218 sq. kms. and it extends from
enlightenment, solace and satisfaction for the multitude of Harwan to Panta Chhok and Chhanapora to Gulab
people, who visited them, sat at their feet or sought guidanceBagh. There are two famous lakes namely Dal Lake
from them. These sages either belonged to a lineage of and Anchar Lake and two hills namely Shankracharya
preceptors, or were self-initiated but majority of them were Hill and Hari Parbat Hill in the city.
householders with a detached attitude. They were without
Srinagar city has also been known as Himavat, Shri
any pomp and show or ostentation. The spiritual practices
Nagri, Parwarpor and Parwarsenpor. It is said that the
taught by them to their disciples ranged from yoga, mantra-
original city named as Shri Nagri was established
japa, kundalini yoga to devotion and breath control to control
between Zabarwan Hills and Pandrethan during the
of the mind and senses. Some even emphasised the need
reign of King Ashoka in the 3rd century B.C. According
of performing the prescribed rituals. Every one of them has
to Heun Tsang, a Chinese traveller, the city streched
followers. Aashrams have been established at various
from Harwan to Zewan.
places in the valley and outside where obeisance is paid
to them, meditation and prayers take place and annual There is a fort on Hari Parbat Hill. During the reign of
functions are held on their birthdays and Nirvana days. Akbar, a 20 ft. high stone wall was constructed around
Publications are brought out giving detailed information on the fort for a length of 5.6 Kms. During Mughal period,
their life and teaching. Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Cheshma Shahi were
We have disciples of Swami Laxman Joo, the great also laid.
Shaiva scholar of our times, Swami Nanda Bab, Bhagavaan
Srinagar was known as the City of Seven Bridges till
Gopinath Ji, referred to as Jagat Guru and many others.
1957. All these bridges connected two parts of the city,
The Koshur Samachar has brought out three special
bifurcated by river Jhelum, also known as Vitasta. Ali
numbers on the saints and sages of Kashmir. A
Kadal bridge was the oldest, constructed by Sultan Ali
comprehensive volume has been brought out by the
Shah in the year 1415 A.D.
KECSS, Pamposh New Delhi, edited by me with the title
'Saints and Sages of Kashmir'. This gives authentic Srinagar has many places of historical and tourist
information on the life and message of a number of saints. interest. Mughal Gardens rank first amongst them.
This galaxy of saints has given us messages that will stand
us in good stead in our lives, directions to live lives of purity Photo courtesy: Kashmir Overseas Association, USA
and piety and shown us the path to attain the supreme Descriptive material: Project Zaan Archives
truth. We must feel proud of this great treasure, which
needs to be preserved and propagated for the benefit of the
mankind. uçuçe JççKç
Let me conclude by quoting Lal Ded, 'Asi Aesya tai
asi aasav asi dore kaerya patavath, Shivas sori na yun ta
Dçç@jmç vçíçÆj vçe cççôoáj MççÇj³ç
gatshun, ravas sori na atagat - We only were in the past
and we only shall remain in the future. Shiva will not cease v³çj Jççdzç&mç vçíçÆj vçe MçÓjç vççJç~
to come and go just as the Sun will not stop rising and
cçÓKç&mç Hç=vçávç sá³ç n@çÆmlçmç kçÀMçávç
setting.' How true, the life is beginning-less and unending,
immortal and eternal. ³çmççÌ cçççÆuç oçbomç y³çnç ]®ççJç~~
[[
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04 The monthly här-van
Editors' Mail
BHU, Varanasi dharma.tripod.com/
Mahara Namaskar One of these books has also been published in
Thank you for being so quick. The issue has come out India by Motilal Banarasi Dass. You can get all this
well. I think that all the names of scholars and yogis information and more by searching my name in Goggle.
listed in the issue (Eminent Personalities) do not With your permission, I would like to take the
necessarily belong to Kashmir, although most of them information from your Website and create a book titled
have been to Kashmir at one time or the other to seek Explore Kashmir Pandits. It would be similar to Explore
guidance or approval of their work from scholars at Hinduism that I wrote a few years back.
Sharada Peetha. Patanajli is one such name.There may (http://www.hoap.co.uk/explore.htm#ExHi)
be some more, I guess. Congratulations for doing the This book will be made available in USA at a
job so efficiently and in time. nominal cost to Americans, especially to politicians,
With regards scholars, News Media, etc. I will finance this project all
Rajnath Bhat by myself. The book will be edited by me, but will identify
------------------------------------------------------------------------------all the original authors of various sections/articles as
Miami, USA you wish. It will have a paragraph of bio-data of each
Dear Pandit Kundan Sahib, original author in the front of the book. I will not take
Namaskar. any credit for writing the book, but will thoroughly edit it
Hope you are all doing on nicely. I read your Hindi poem to fit the language, format, and writing skills that are
'Kavi' published in 'här-van', Janury 2008 issue.You havenormally used here. There will be no word in this book
put the essence of Kaavya Shaastra in these Hindi versesthat will send the reader to a dictionary. Simple language,
though written in free verse. Me and Jaya ji discussed clarity of thought, and abundant explanations will be
this poem, and really enjoyed the quitessentials of the provided. Off course, I would need references to the
poem. I would request you to render the same poem in material which is not common knowledge.
Kashmiri, to be published in the 'här-van'.
Regards What is my motto:
Chaman Lal Raina I want the world to know who Kashmiri Pandits are,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------how they have been treated by history, and what they
Dear Raina Sahib : have contributed to the cultural heritage of India. I want
I have been regularly getting mails from you, updating our own children born in USA and other Western
us with your very noble initiatives. I am glad you are countries to know their roots and be proud of themselves
keeping the interest alive in our past and showcasing it and their heritage.
to us in a manner that further ignites our interest in our I am a founding member of KWI (Kashmir Welfare
cultural heritage and legacy. Initiative), that was initiated last year in Chicago. We
Best regards, have collected and spent over $30,000 for the residents
ashok ogra of the Mishriwalla Camp in Jammu during the past one
[email protected] year. We will continue this initiative in future. Proceeds
------------------------------------------------------------------------------from the sale of this book, if any, will be contributed to
Chicago, USA KWI.
Namaskar: Please let me know what you think of this and if
you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free
Congratulations for the wonderful job you have done to to contact me.
include a wealth of information about our community on Regards and best wishes,
the Project Zaan Website. I enjoy referring to it all the Bansi Pandit
time. I would like this information to cross the boundaries
of our community and reach Indians and non-Indians all
over the world. I have a plan for it. Before, I describe this Readers' views encourage us
plan, let me introduce myself.
to further improve the quality
My family lived in the village Wahibugh of Pulwama
District. I graduated from REC in 1967 and taught there of our journal. Kindly send
for four years and immigrated to USA in 1972. I have two
your comments and
sons who are well settled here and I live with my wife in
Chicago area. I am a nuclear engineer by profession. suggestions to
I have authored and published three best selling
[email protected]
books on Hinduism in USA. http://sanatana-
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05 The monthly här-van
Literatue Nagarjuna Ganju
Sahitya Akademy Award for Dr. R.L.Shant
S
ahitya Akademi gives twenty four awards to literary Saam and a collection of prose writings, Kaeshri Nagruch
works in the languages it has recognized and an equal numK-itab; co-edited a tri-lingual dictionary (Hindi-Kashmiri-En-
ber to literary translations from and into the languages of glish). His two collections of poems, Khoti Kirnen, Kavita
India, both after a year-long process of scrutiny, discussionAbhi Bi, and Kashmir Sahityak Sandarbh and Samay Ke
and selection. The awards are meant to recognize and pro-Tevar(both criticism) in Hindi. He is also a columnist in Hindi
mote excellence in Indian writing and expanding the very (Kshir Bhawani Times, Jammu) and English (Naad, Delhi).
definition of Indian literature by acknowledging new trendsHas founded the exiled Kashmiri writers' NGO Samprati in
and movements. They are a reflection of current tastes and1995. presently the editor of Vaakh, Kashmiri literary quar-
contribute to the formation of an Indian sensibility. terly. Recipient of J&K Cultural Academy Award, Rashtra
The Akademi also gives special awards called BhashaBhasha Samiti Puraskar (twice), Sovit Land Nehru Award,
Samman to writers/scholars for significant contribution to HRD Ministry Hindi Directorate's Award, UP Govt. Hindi
the languages not formally recognized by the Akademi as Sanasthan's Sauhard Samman (twice), K. P. Sabha,
also for contribution to classical & medieval Literature. It Jammu's Samman, Maithilisharan Gupt Samman,
also has a system of electing Fellows and Honorary Fel- Sahasrabad Samman, Sharika Samman, Krishnaju Razdan
lows, as also offering Anand Coomarswamy and PremchandSaraswati Puraskar, Bhasha Bharati Award and Vidya
Fellowships. Vachaspati from Hindi Sahitya Sammelan, Prayag.
Every year since its inception in 1954, the Sahitya 'Tshen' is a collection of short stories which are noted
Akademi awards prizes to the most outstanding books of for their imagination, sensitivity and structure. Objective in
literary merit published in any of the major Indian languagesdealing with human situations, the writer shows mastery
recognised by it. The award carries a monetary componentover his craft. The agony of the characters that are dislo-
and a plaque. cated in time and space is etched with instance sensitivity.
This year 0n 20th Feb. 2008 SAHITYA AKADEMI The work is a convincing addition to Indian short fiction in
AWARDS 2007 where presented at Kamani Auditorium, Kashmiri.
New Delhi and special feature was an award in Kashmiri to I, on behalf of my self and on behalf of the BATTA Com-
Prof. Rattan Lal Shant on his book (Tshen) (Short Stories) munity, salute this COMMUNITY ICON and a noble great
Rattan Lal Shant was born in 1938, in Srinagar, Kash-Soul.
mir. He is a poet-graduate in Hindi and D. Phil. He also
knows Urdu, Punjabi, Dogri and English. He taught Hindi (Dr. Rattan Lal Shant (Raina) stays at 904, Subhash Nagar,
and Kashmiri at various colleges and Kashmir University. Jammu - 180005. Tel: [phone])
Began writing in 1953, his first short story "Tshayi Gityi"
was published in Shiraza, in 1964. His important works in Contact Nagarjuna Ganju at
Kashmiri include four collection of short stories Achirvalan [email protected]
peth Koh, Trikoonjal, Raevimit Maane, Tshen, Afganu Kya
Gor? Kaeshur Afsanu: Az Tu Pagah (both criticism). He Contact Dr. R.L.Shant at
has also been translating from Hindi and English into [email protected]
Kashmiri. His edited an anthology of poems, Sombran Tu [[[
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06 The monthly här-van
From the ZAAN Archives
kçãÀøCç pçÓ jç]pçoçvç ... pç³çç çÆmçyçÓ
Question Bank
``y³çuç lç³ç cççouç hçjçvç smç v³çLç Òçyççlçvç~ Land & The People
vçcçmkçÀçj smç kçÀjçvç ®ççv³çvç çÆMçJç yççJçvç~~''
Q. Who asked Ananta to drain off Satisar?
(Vishnu)
Q. What implement did Ananta use to drain off
Satisar?
(A Plough)
Q. What was the name of the demon, who was
JçvçhçánákçÀ sáKç hççvç³ç mçJç& DçççÆokçÀçjçí
invincible in water?
kçãÀøCç pçÓ jç]pçoçvçe Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~ (Jalodbhava)
lççÆvç sá³çç uççís hççís MçíçÆj omlççjçí Q. What name did Nilamata Purana give the Valley
of Kashmir?
vççiçWê nçje jóHçÀ Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~ (Kasmira)
kçãÀøCçe lJçlçç kç@ÀçÆjLç yçv³ççíKç DçJçlççjçí Q. What is the approx. area of the J&K State under
illegal occupation of Pakistan?
ocç& jôçÆMç jóHçÀ ®ççívç Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~
(78114 Sq. Km)
n@çÆìmçe³ç cçb]pç s³ç hçvçev³ç i³ççvçe içbiçç
Q. Other than China & Pakistan, name a foreign
içbiçeyçuçmçe³ç cçb]pç Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~ country with which J&K State shared its border on
15th August 1947?
(Tibet/Afghanistan)
çÆMçJç mçeb]pç lJçlçç kç@ÀçÆjLç yçv³ççíKç çÆMçJç jóHçÀ
Dçcçj vççLç LçBçÆiçmç h³çþ Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~ Q. How many districts does J&K State have?
(14)
jçcç jçcç mççôçÆjLç mççÆvçjçíJçLçvç ÞççÇ jçcç
Q. There are two main rivers in Kashmir Valley. One
çÆ®ç$ç kçÓÀìmç cçb]pç lçmçábo Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~
is Vitasta (Jhelum). Which is the other one?
(Kishenganga)
jç@çÆiçv³çç oçÇJççÇ nábo sáKç MçÓyçJçávç mçblççvç
Q. What was the approx. polulation of J&K State as
lçáuçcçáçÆuç cçççÆpç yçJçççÆvç nábo Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~
per 1989 census, excluding population of the areas
under Pakistan/China?
cJçKçmç cçb]pç JççÇo, s³ç Ëo³çmç cçb]pç yçKlççÇ
(77,18,700)
mçvçcJçKç iç@CççÇMçeyçuçmç cçb]pç Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~
Q. According to 1981 census, what was the approx.
®ççívç DçKç DçKç Mçyo sá³ç mççcçJççÇoe DççkçÀçjçí % age of Hindus living in J&k State?
(32.24 %)
hçyç&Lç hJçKçe³ç&yçuçmç cçb]pç ®ççívç Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~
Q. What is the altitude of Amarnath Peak ?
(5280 Mtrs/17318 Ft. Cave is 13500 Ft)
mçcçboje Kççôlçe sáKç mççôvç hççvçe YççJçákçÀ vççLççí
Q. Nanga Parbat is 7980 Mtrs. high. What is its
iççílçcç vççiçmç cçb]pç ®ççívç Ðççvç oçje³ççí~~
rank in the world’s highest peaks?
(5th Highest)
iç@vççÇMç kçÀçkçáÀvç mçblççvç sáKç kçãÀøCç pçÓ jç]pçoçvç
pç³ç pç³ç kçÀçj yç@çÆJçvç³ç sáKç J³ççmç DçJçlççj~~ Q. Which is the World’s Second highest peak?
(K2 in POK. Alt. 8611 Mtrs)
]]]
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07 The monthly här-van
Health Dr. K.L.Chowdhury
My Medical Journey
Baptism by fire ~ A case of Catatonic Stupor
I
t was a clear sunny spring day in 1968. We had finishedhere I was merely to endorse, what
the rounds of male patients in ward 3 and were coming outmy boss had declared, an
on the corridor, walking towards the female ward when a incurable situation. This appeared
gentleman squeezed his way through the crowd of waiting unappetizing, unchallenging,
attendants and rushed towards Dr. Ali Mohamad Jan (Dr. uninspiring.
Jan). He started updating him on a patient who had been The gentleman hired a Tonga
examined by Dr. Jan some days earlier, and was now and soon we were trotting along
persuading him for a home visit, to have a second look at the Karan Nagar road towards
his patient. Dr. Jan, asked him to repeat the medicines he Chotta Bazar, taking a left to Kanya Kadal. From there we
had prescribed and with that characteristic gentle jerk of drove towards Habba Kadal to a picturesque scene - a
the neck towards right, a tick that suited him so well, pleasantly warm sun in a clear blue sky, and people in
dismissed the fellow as we entered ward 5. pherons shopping from the numerous regular as well as
Nearly an hour later when we came out of the ward pavement shops on either side of the road. The Vitasta
we found the gentleman again, waiting eagerly, with a was meandering along gently, unmindful of human activity
profoundly sheepish expression. Dr. Jan started climbing on her shores, sending whiffs of gentle breeze as we
the stairs to his chamber with the man at his heels. crossed Habba Kadal and aimed towards Babapora,
Suddenly he called me aside, "Dr. Chowdhury, can you stopping right at the 'tail', as they would call the place
please go with this gentleman and examine his patient at down the end of a narrow and long sloppy road. I was led
lunch time? It is a case of brain tumour I examined a coupleto the third floor of a small house, to a room with extension
of days back. He is in coma and I don't think we can do on to a wooden balcony called Dab in Kashmiri. It was a
much, but why don't you go and have a look, for his neat and well-lighted room with pictures of gods and
satisfaction?" Then he addressed the gentleman, "Dr. goddesses hanging from the walls, a couple of chairs, and
Chowdhury is a bright young doctor; he will examine your a table with a few bottles of medicines and glasses on it.
patient and report back to me." The patient was lying on the floor, on a mattress, bolstered
This was the first time ever Dr. Jan asked me to see with cushions on either side in this. There was a crowd in
one of his private patients, an honour he would not easily the room. As I entered, some of them sitting around the
bestow on any one. But, was this just passing the buck? patient moved aside to make place for me. I sat besides
What purpose my visit if the patient was in coma with an the patient and started examining him.
incurable brain tumour? What was my role except to go Here was a medium-sized, middle-aged man, laid on
through the rituals of examining and putting my stamp on his back, unaware of the surroundings, unresponsive to
a death warrant issued by one who was considered the any commands, unable to make any movement,. He was
last word in medicine? Yes, a brain tumour with coma obviously in stupor. He was stiff in the body and limbs;
meant death those days. There were no diagnostic aids pain stimuli did not evoke any response; the tendon reflexes
beyond a plain x-ray of the skull, while neurosurgery was were normal and the plantar response was flexor in both
in its infancy in India and non-existent in Kashmir. Naturally,feet. Funduscopic examination of the eyes did not reveal
I was not excited as I should have been if it were a differentany evidence of raised pressure in the brain. I could not
situation, say a patient who could be salvaged. I had just think of any thing else except a brain tumour. The
started my practice and was making no headway. And nowexamination of other systems did not reveal any
abnormality. I stood up, wrote my findings and told the
attendants that they should continue the instructions by
Dr. K.L.Chowdhury is a renowned physician and Dr. Jan for I had nothing more to add except that they
neurologist, based at Jammu. He has very kindly, should change the patient's posture frequently so he does
not get bed sores, lying down in one position all the time.
not only agreed to write parmanently for the ‘Health’
We rode back to the hospital and straight to Dr Jan's room.
column of ‘här-van’, but also volunteered to answer
I reported my findings and he was obviously pleased that I
health-related queries from the readers. We invite
had done my job well and reinforced his diagnosis. The
readers to send their queries to the editor ‘här-van’ attendant left, rather dismayed and disappointed.
at [email protected] to be passed on to Dr. Two days later, the patient's attendant was again
K.L.Chowdhury, or send them directly to Dr. Sahib waiting in the corridor as we came out of the ward after
completing the rounds. With folded hands, he implored Dr.
at [email protected]
Jan to examine the case himself just once again. Dr. Jan
nç@jJçvç cçççÆmçkçÀ February 2008 ~ HçÀjJçjçÇ 2008 07
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08 The monthly här-van
turned down his plea and asked me to go, have another "Has any such thing happened in the past?" I asked the
look. The gentleman looked very skeptical but dared not attendants.
tell him that he would not like his patient examined again "Yes, nearly twenty years back, he had a similar
by me, because it would not serve any purpose nor give condition for two days when he was in Patna. We did not
them the satisfaction of consultation by the big man himselfs.ee him then. By the time we were informed and traveled
There was a lot to choose between an unknown doctor andthere, he was alright."
the doyen of medicine! Nor would I dare to say no to my "What was he doing in Patna?"
boss. "He was in the army but after that episode he was
It was a reluctant doctor going to see a patient in discharged from service. We were not given any other
company of a reluctant attendant - a double jeopardy of reason for his discharge."
sorts! The Tonga sped fast on the asphalt and I tried to "Has he remained healthy ever since?"
open conversation with the attendant but found him rather "More or less, till this thing befell."
reticent, even sarcastic. After all I was only a second fiddle Suddenly the cobwebs cleared as the details of the
to the treating physician, and I had given him no reason to history of this patient poured in and clinched my suspicion
have any confidence in me. This seemed to him another that I was dealing with a case of Catatonic Stupor and not
futile exercise. brain tumour. I had read about it during our short training in
I found the patient in the same position as I left him psychiatry in my graduation days, though I had never seen
two days earlier. He was lying down facing the ceiling witha case. Yet, I was almost certain about my diagnosis -
eyes half open but vacant. He did not respond to any stimulfi.rom knowledge and intuition as much as from a logical
The stiffness seemed to have grown worse. Other than thesseequence of events and examination. Suddenly the mournful
observations, a re-examination did not reveal anything new.ambience seemed to light up with the bright light that entered
Yet, something was amiss; something told me this was from the open windows of the balcony. The supposedly dying
not a case of brain tumour. There were no localizing signs;person seemed coming to life again.
there was no evidence of a raised intracranial tension. Was "We are not dealing with a brain tumour, but something
my vision clouded because I had started with a bias, a else," I declared, animated, "Please do not worry; I am
diagnosis by the tallest man of medicine in town? What sure we will be able to help."
was the missing link? There was a surprised, but skeptical expression on
All this passed my mind quickly as I rose to occupy the faces around me. Was I just trying to humour them or
the chair nearby and a lady advanced a cup of tea towardswas I in earnest?
me. Before I could decline, another lady moved near my "Not a brain tumour? Then what does he suffer from?"
feet. "Please do something to save him. Look at his two The men craned their necks towards me.
daughters; they are to be wed this fall. His son is still in "From Catatonic Stupor"
teens. What will become of them if anything happens to "What does that mean?"
him? Pray, work some miracle." "It means a type of mental disorder we call
It was a tragic, touching spectacle. I looked around at Schizophrenia. He has obviously suffered from it when he
the anxious attendants assembled there - pretty but was in Patna and this now is a relapse. It was because of
careworn faces of the two maidens, the frightened wife, thethis disorder possibly he was discharged from the army;
saddened old mother and two fretful middle aged men, and now he was behaving odd and withdrawn before he
possibly brothers of the patient, looking on with helpless went into this state. I will admit him tomorrow and meanwhile
resignation. The boy must have been away in school. prescribe a different drug."
Sipping tea, I started asking the history in details, "But, what about Dr. Jan?" asked the attendant who
probing for clues that would help. Some important facts had accompanied me, alluding to the name with great
emerged. This man had been behaving 'odd' for quite somereverence, still incredulous that I had changed my opinion
weeks. He was withdrawn and apathetic for many days about tha patient and was challenging his Dr. Jan's
before he finally went into stupor. There was no headache,diagnosis.
no vomiting, no weakness of any limb, no impairment of "I will discuss the case with him."
visual, auditory or other faculties, no gait disturbances, no We started riding back to the hospital. The attendant
problem with bladder and bowel. He was normally intelligentturned friendly now and started asking questions on the
and working as a salesman till 3 weeks earlier. way, now that I had become a harbinger of hope. I was
"He has been in this state for a week now as if he throbbing with enthusiasm and wanted to be left alone to
were a living corpse, stiff, and immobile except for that quiectollect my thoughts. The streets were busy as usual with
heave of the chest that tells us he still lives," said his pedestrians and shoppers, stray cows and mongrels, cycles
agonized wife, as I sat on the chair, contemplating. and Tongas. Life in the valley was simple, replete with these
Yes, here was a man in stupor and yet there was wonderful images of animals and people going about their
neither anything in the history nor on examination to suggesbtusiness as the mighty mountains stood guard and the
a brain tumour. Nor was there a systemic disorder to explairniver a grand testimony to the civilization that grew on her
his stuporose state. shores and reflected in her face. And here I was, just at the
nç@jJçvç cçççÆmçkçÀ February 2008 ~ HçÀjJçjçÇ 2008 08
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09 The monthly här-van
threshold of a professional career, wondering what future the big man had agreed with me. I took him in and, before
had in store and excited about my first encounter with a he could say anything, Dr. Jan told him to do as I directed.
problem case. Next day brought a big surprise. I would not believe
I had started my brief stint in the Medical College as amy eyes when I saw two attendants helping the patient
house physician in Medicine in the year 1962 with Col. walk towards me in the outpatients. He was conscious but
Saligram Kaul, followed by 3 months each in Surgery and confused. I conducted a quick examination. He was slow
OBGYN and a short stint of 2 months as Casualty Medicalin responding to questions, and quite incoherent; his
Officer and another 2 months as Medical Officer, Pahalgamcognitive functions were still haywire; there was mild stiffness
(the only rural duty of my career). From there, I had now; his sensory, motor and reflex examination was normal
proceeded to Delhi for my MD, and returned in 1967, to as before. I directed him to ward 3. We conducted a detailed
join back as Medical Registrar, now with the legendry Dr. interview next day and got more facts about the history
Jan, Professor of Medicine. Col. Kaul, the Principal of the which confirmed the diagnosis of Schizophrenia. We called
Medical College, had brought with him his administrative the psychiatrist. He agreed with our impression about the
and disciplinary skills from the army while Dr. Jan was a patient. Electroconvulsive therapy was started and the
civilian doctor, with his fingers firm on the pulse of the patient recovered within a week and was discharged.
Kashmiris. The former was an academician of repute, the Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder that
latter a living legend, an astute clinician and an icon. I wasresults in altered behaviors, thinking and perceptions that
lucky to have worked with these stalwarts. And here I was don't correspond with real events. Early signs and symptoms
now, a novice in the medical profession, a whiz kid just of schizophrenia - such as social withdrawal, unusual
cutting his teeth and about to confront a veteran, a David behaviors, anxiety and decline in daily functional abilities -
about to face the Goliath of medicine to inform him that hemay begin gradually before the primary symptoms of
had misdiagnosed a case. How would I stand up to this schizophrenia, known collectively as psychosis, are
baptism by fire? manifested. But disease onset may also be acute with the
I went straight to Dr. Jan's chamber directing the sudden appearance of psychosis.
patient's attendant to stay outside. Dr. Jan was finishing Catatonic schizophrenia is a subtype of schizophrenia.
his lunch on roast chicken and toast. People with catatonic schizophrenia display extreme
"What?" inactivity or activity that's disconnected from their
"Sir, I feel he does not have a brain tumour?" looking environment or encounters with other people (catatonic
him straight in the eye. behavior). These episodes can last for only minutes or up
"What does he have, then?" he asked in his to hours and days. Men with catatonic schizophrenia
characteristic soft voice, unexcited, and surprisingly usually experience their initial catatonic episode in their
unsurprised. teens or 20s.
"Sir, I feel he is suffering from Catatonic Stupor." Catatonic Stupor is characterized by a loss of all
"Dementia Praecox, you mean? How can that be; I animation, and motionless, rigid, unchanging positions.
believe he must be in his fifties? Rather too old to suffer People in a catatonic stupor will become sometimes mute
from it, don't you think?" and stare into space, remaining still for hours or days. Trying
"He is around 48, but there is a history when he was to awaken a patient out of a catatonic stupor is virtually
young. He suffered a similar episode about 20 years back useless. Usually he or she will not acknowledge their
and was discharged from the army. There have been othersurroundings, and will not respond to stimuli.
subtle symptoms of schizophrenia. Besides, if it were a The patient continued to see me for several years.
brain tumor that gave him stupor, he should have some The psychiatric condition remained under control. He never
symptoms and signs of raised intracranial pressure, some relapsed into catatonia again but suffered from hypertension,
localizing signs." obesity and chronic bronchitis and finally died of a stroke.
"What did you tell them?" [[
"I asked them to bring the patient for admission
tomorrow. Meanwhile I have prescribed chlorpromazine
(largactil). I feel we need to call Dr. Khushoo as well from ÞççÇ YçiçJççvç vçí kçÀnç
the Mental Hospital to have a look and give him
electroshocks." cçvç uçiçç cçáPç cçW, Dç]kçÀçÇolç mç®®ççÇ çÆouç cçW þçvç uçí
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cçíjçÇ ]KçççÆlçj kçÀj lçÓ F&mççj DççÌj mçpçoç kçÀj cçáPçí~
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nÌ cçíjç F&cççvç DçççÆKçj cçáPç cçW lçÓ çÆcçuç pçç³çíiçç~~
that we do not let in more than one attendant."
"Well, if you have asked them, it is alright."
- ÞççÇcçtiçJçÃçÇlçç 9/34
I took leave from my professor and came out. The
waiting attendant wanted to go in and convince himself that (DçvçáJçço: mçJçç&vçvokçÀçÌuç ÒçícççÇ)
nç@jJçvç cçççÆmçkçÀ February 2008 ~ HçÀjJçjçÇ 2008 09
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10 The monthly här-van
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