Pandit Prem Nath Shastri
Epitome of KP Identity
By Vijay Tikoo
Pandit Prem Nath Shastri In
his last words Pandit Prem Nath Shastri attributes the success of his
‘Vijyeshwar Panchang’ to not as much to his own efforts but the overwhelming
support of the Kashmiri Pandit Community. These words from a man who knew that
his death was not far away convey both a sense of accomplishment as well as
feeling gratitude Pandit Prem Nath had reluctantly agreed to give up the job in
state education department after completing his education and join his
father and Guru Pandit Aftab Sharma to bring out the Kashmiri Panchang
‘Vijyashwari Jantri’ now a household name amongst Kashmiri Pandits.
In fact ‘Vijyeshwar
Panchang’ over the years has become one of the most important guides for the
Kashmiri Pandit Community in their day to day socio-religious dealings. Not that
Kashmiri Pandit Community did not have alternative ‘Panchangs’ to adopt. In
fact Brahman Maha Mandal of Kashmir for quite sometime has been taking out a
‘Panchang’ which many Kashmiri scholars opined was more accurate. Yet the
Pandit Community almost through a silent consensus chose ‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’
as a guide in their socio-religious dealings. Perhaps for its better
presentability and simple language. Or with this confidence that the family of
Prem Nath Shastri had carried on this task for three centuries and shall ensure
its continuity in the future as well.
Pandits recognise
‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’ as one of the most important institutions for
maintaining their identity during such times when pressures for dissolution of
the same are multiplying.
Pandit Prem Nath
Shastri’s role during his life time did not remain confined to just carrying
ahead a family tradition but in institutionalising it in such a way that its
relevance in the social life of Kashmiri Pandits only increased with each day.
During the years in exile, ‘Vijyeshwar Jantri’ became the most important
instruments for Kashmiri Pandit to holding on to his identity. When the news of
the demise of Pandit Prem Nath Shastri broke out, displaced Pandits received it
with a stunning silence. Pandit Prem Nath Shastri through ‘Vijyeshwar
Jantri’ and numerous other works endeavoured to protect Kashmiri Pandit
identity and with his demise people feel as if a fulcrum around which they could
rebuild their socio-cultural fabric in exile was lost.
During the years after
the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989, Sh Prem Nath Shastri had become
acutely conscious and concerned about the dangers to the cultural identity of
Kashmiri Pandits in exile. ‘Our ritual traditions have become as important as
they were never before. Not in their negative degenerated form, but in their
positive essence. Our traditions will hold us together in exile,” he once said
to us while thinking aloud on the tragedies that befell upon Kashmiri Pandits.
Not surprisingly, he undertook the arduous task of commenting and explaining the
main ritual traditions of Kashmiri Pandits. He brought out small booklets, audio
cassettes on the significance and performance of almost all important religious
traditions and rituals of Kashmiri Pandits. These capsules like Karam Kand
Deepak, Shivratri Puja, Sandiya, Antim Sanskar, Janam Din Puja has had a marked
impact on the Kashmiri Pandit Social life in exile. While as in the Valley such
ritual traditions were the forte of only a small section of ‘Gaurs’-the
priestly class of Kashmiri Brahmins, in exile through these simplified and
written and audio capsules practice of the ritual traditions has become possible
for one and all. Very gradually the families of displaced Kashmiri Pandits have
become active participants in their religious traditions. The simple and erudite
expositions of Shastri Ji both in written and audio forms on such works like
Panchastavi, Bhawani Sahsranama, Mahimnapaar, Bhagwat Geeta, verses of Lal Ded
have been a profound attempt to bring the spiritual tradition of Kashmiri
Pandits within the reach of the displaced Hindu society from Kashmir.
Shastri
Ji also understood very well the importance of preserving the Kashmiri language
for the survival of Kashmiri Pandits as a distinct entheno-religious group. In
all his public discourses and social interactions Pandit Prem Nath Shastri would
urge the new generation to speak Kashmiri language, and transmit it to the
coming generations. He also wanted the digeneous script for Kashmir to be
revived. In fact his ‘Sharda Primer’ has been one of the few attempts
to revive ‘Shardha Script’ amongst Kashmiri Pandits.
In his day to
day living Shastri Ji was an epitome of traditional Kashmiri Pandit living. He
always wore the traditional Kashmiri Pandit Pheren and the turban. His living
room reflected not only the style but also the discipline of a Kashmiri Brahmin
scholar. No chairs, arrangement of books on the rack, his writing desk,
everything bore a traditional mark, besides his strict working schedule. But
most significant was his own personality which was typically a Kashmiri Pandit
type.
The glow on his face,
inquisitiveness of eyes, soft but stern voice and the aura of discipline. He
appeared deeply orthodox by looks. But just a small conversation with him would
convince about his flexibility of thought.
During his last days
he had developed taste for listening to the ‘audio cassettes’ of Osho. His
son had to purchase Rs 10,000 worth cassettes which Pandit Shastri would listen
while fighting his disease. ‘He (Osho) has been misunderstood by the people of
India. But I am a Kashmiri Brahmin. I cannot deny him his due,’ he would tell
his family during his last days.
One of the last wishes
of Pandit Prem Nath Shastri had been to publish a ‘Panchang’ for Jammu. Most
of the work on the same has been already completed under his supervision. His
sons as a tribute to him are going to bring out the first issue of
‘Ranvireshwar Panchang’ very soon. When one of us pointed out to the eldest
son of Pandit Shastri that the mantle of the social and religious
responsibility, which Shastri Ji had carried on his shoulders, now fell on him,
he was overwhelmed and said with moist eyes in all humility, “I am feeling the
weight. But I will do my best with your co-operation”.
Source:
Kashmir
Sentinel
- Publication of Panun
Kashmir
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