NAND BAB

Kashmir, or ‘the rishi vaar ‘ the valley of Saints. I just returned from Kashmir, and I saw none, but xthere must be still some left in the hidden corners of the troubled valley. Strangely, just after my return, I happened to see a photograph of such a rishi (mot/darvesh ) who was knows as Nand Bab. This particular photograph of Nand Bab reminds me of Salvador Dali, the noted Artist-surrealist if you just paste those famous pointed moustaches on the image. I don’t know if Dali had any premonition to predict a particular event, but Nand Bab had, if one believes what people talk about him.

Who are Maet ( these mad, saint, darvesh, poets) ? They are eccentric, spiritually elevated and sometimes capable of uttering verses. For reasons unknown, they are always in a hysterical mode, and therefore, unaware about the form societies are obliged to adhere with. They have hardly anything to do with politics, religion or other logical forms of thought. In short they are a different species and yet they give a lot to the people they come in contact with.

So if Nand Bab had to say something to A, he turns to B and says something in a twisted way. And if he has something to say to B he turns to C and delivers a volley of words to the audience, which is free to be interpreted. People would never dare to offend him even if he slaps or spits a person. People still talk about miracles of Nand Bab. He was unpredictable like other such saints.

They were always in the world, I believe they still pass effortlessly through societies irrespective of the times. The blind prophet, Tiresias, predicts the fall of King Oedipus. That is indeed literature, but this indicates that such people have indeed lived upon this earth in this form or that form. They are in fact products of the very complexities of our social behaviour. I believe, a cool scratching of our respective minds can guarantee us the presence of such a trace in each one of us. EVERY ONE IS AN ARTIST, said Joseph Beuys, the great German performance artist who includes in his SOCIAL SCULPTURE this kind of a possibility also, besides his profound discourses on the understanding of anthropology. Therefore, SOCIAL ORGANISM AS WORK OF ART.

Prof. Ghulam Mohd. Shaad in his monogram ( published by Sahitya Academy ) on Abdul Ahad Zargar, the last Sufi Saint Poet of Kashmir, writes a little about some miracles of the said poet besides his great poetry. Both Nand Bab and Abdul Ahad Zargar died 1970 A.D, approximately.

The eyes in the image found, of Nand Bab, encompasses such a complexity. He was offering talismans ( Rach/taveez). A strange triangular kite like form near the shoulder suggests about the possibility of a talisman he himself was sporting. In the image he looks somewhere, but also look at you. These eyes are full of compassion, but the nose is so unpredictable, with mouth open to utter: the mystery of Kasheer (Kashmir).

So, mapping Kashmir, this way too.

Posted by : Vipul Koul . Edited by: Ashok koul