He whose mind is fixed on My personal form, always engaged in worshiping Me with great and transcendental faith, is considered by Me to be most perfect.~ Bhagavad-Gita 12.2
Our Dharma-Kshetra (where religious rituals were performed) may have been violated and turned into a battlefield of Kurukshetra yet one must remember Dhritarashtra was fearful about the influence of the holy place on the outcome of the battle, that it would work for the sons of Pandu favourably, because by nature they were all virtuous. Even Duryodhana who despite being protected by the most experienced general Bhishma; dreaded Bhima who protected the limited forces of the Pandavas. Our virtuousness became our force and many battles of life we triumphed, producing our own victorious Bhimas.
Born post exodus Aakash Koul found his inner calling at a very young age and music became his realization of the absolute truth, just like devotional service. A ardent enthusiast who is constantly engaged and does not let a single moment pass without devoting his activities to music, therefore making it his meditation.
“When I was 11 or 12 years old, a particular singer would pass through the gali (lane) in mornings, playing his harmonium, singing religious songs in Hindi and Punjabi. It seemed he came from far and sang for money. I was enamoured by the pitch and throw of his voice, the whole neighbourhood could hear him, even from far. I would start following him for perhaps 2–3 kilometers, even till the nearby village. He would try to shoo me away, but I was persistent. I noticed people would pay him so I would get all the money from my piggy bank and ask him to allow me to play his harmonium. When he would take a break under a pole or at a shop, I would play his harmonium. He eventually understood that I wanted to play the instrument badly. Even now when I am visit home, he recognizes me.”
“Singing is in my DNA, I learnt singing in Kashmiri from my father who sings quite well. He has inherited this talent from my grandmother. I also learnt the harmonium from him. Before singing any Kashmiri song, I seek his guidance. My grandmother also helps me with pronunciation. At home my father, mother and grandmother would quite often sing Kashmiri bhajans and songs. This got me interested in understanding Kashmiri language, culture, and poetry.”
“I was not able to get formal training in music because of our financial circumstances also like many parents my father wanted me to opt for a stable job. I do not blame them, but I could not convince my parents about pursuing a career in music. They perhaps did not wish to see me struggle in this field.”
Aakash did not get an opportunity to showcase his talent in school, once he was in college, he started participating in intercollege cultural events. The confidence started coming when he faced a huge crowd of 500–600 people for the very first time while he was performing live! “I sang ‘sandese aate hain’ and got a huge applause. The appreciation motivated me to the extent that I practiced daily on the guitar with my brotherlike close friend Rachit Gupta, during those 3 years of graduation. Daily practice improved my singing phenomenally.”
“During the lockdown I got a chance to learn more about Kashmiri music and poets and started posting my performances on Facebook. I received lot of encouragement and support. I got a chance to perform live on some Kashmiri online platforms like JKVM Gaashtarukh and a virtual concert of KOA (Kashmiri Overseas Association), also Giltoor, Koshur Raag etc.”
This new find is being sobriqueted as ‘Vijay Malla reincarnate’! One can see he puts his heart and soul into singing and it seems to come effortlessly. Despite not being formally trained and with limited amenities Aakash has sincerely followed his passion. Because of social media he has become very popular amongst a varied audience. He confesses he owes his success to his father who has been his inspiration and his idol.
“My passion for music keeps me driving, I really want to explore this in depth. These days I am learning about our great Sufi poets (Lal Ded, Prakash Ram Bhat, Shamas Fakeer, Rasul Mir, Soch Kral, Master Zinda Kaul) and their writings.”
“Kashmir has produced many talented singers, I think every singer has his/her own style of singing and uniqueness of voice. I love to listen the legend Vijay Malla Ji, Janab Gulam Hasan Soofi Ji, Waheed Jilani Ji & Shameem Azad Ji. Some of my favourite songs include ‘Be aaro teer mo laay mye haah chum maay chayni’, ‘Loal Naran zolnam seenay’, ‘Madano parde royas tulle’, ‘Doy khaer Karus pout aalav’, ‘Afsoos Duniya’, ‘Wafadaar Mouji’.”
Aakash absorbed everything that he learnt and observed at home. His grandmother would narrate stories to him in Kashmiri as that was the only language she knew, and his parents would translate them to Hindi at times because his Kashmiri was not fluent. “Whenever I would talk to my grandmother in Kashmiri, she would laugh at my lack of ability to speak it properly, but she would teach me with love and care. I continue to listen to her stories in Kashmiri and ask her the meaning of Kashmiri lyrics whenever I am stuck.”
I choose not to judge him for his inability to speak his mother tongue effortlessly and one cannot disregard the vacuum! Parents fleeing persecution and then living in obscurity, the search for identity, the replantation, the young saplings, and the void. These youngsters are pendulating between everything they experienced and that they did not experience, sometimes it’s the connect and sometimes it’s the disconnect!
“I was born in Jammu. My father is a Central Government Employee working in CPWD department and my mother is a housewife. We are originally from Anantnag. My great grandfather (Late Sh. Tara Chand Koul) was a Sarpanch and lived in Gund. Later the family shifted to Janglat Mandi.”
“My father was working in CPWD on temporary basis in Kashmir. After exodus he was without any source of income for many months. I have heard from him that he used to travel from one city to other in search of jobs. In Kashmir, we had three shops, two medical and one general store. After exodus, our whole family was dependent on my grandfather’s meager pension. My uncle had to work as a salesman at one of the chemist shops in Jammu. Somehow my father also got himself adjusted again in CPWD, Jammu. My grandfather couldn’t bear being torn away from Kashmir and suffered a brain hemorrhage.”
“Initially we lived in the migrant camp at Muthi. Later, when my grandfather’s condition deteriorated, we started living on rent where all members of our large joint family were in a single room. There was no washroom, so a temporary one was made outside the house. There was no cooking space, we used to cook in the same room where we lived. Health and hygiene started worsening as we had minimal space for living and climatically as well it was difficult to adapt. This forced us to sell our house in Kashmir and finally we constructed our own house in Jammu. Our parents somehow managed to give us a better life.”
Adversity cannot be quantified neither can the longing! A whole generation grew up not knowing what ‘home’ was or could have been.
“In 2015, I went to Kashmir with one of my relatives. I had this fear and was very scared to step outside, but I was very keen to see my house, even though it had been sold off. I was hurt and disappointed by what I saw — the half open and broken doors, devastation, the tattered mattresses, and shreds of wrappers were scattered inside; shelves, drawers and ceilings were shrouded by cobwebs. Some parts of our house had caved in, leaving gaping holes in the walls. Khud se baat karne laga ki acha hua saath mein mummy papa aur daadi nahi aaye, woh yeh sab nahi dekh paate (I told myself good that my parents and grandmother did not come along, they would have not been able to bear this sight). I could feel the pain my parents would have gone through leaving their belongings and home behind.”
“I feel proud of my community and also get inspired that after facing many hardships we started our lives all over again from scratch. We all have managed to grow and excel in every field today. Being called refugees/migrants in our own country is what hurts the most. What kept me rooted was the environment at home, like our traditions, culture, language, the food, the festivals.”
“I have always missed living in Kashmir and experiencing the brotherhood and the scenic beauty that I have heard of since childhood from my parents.”
The bright side is the pliability of humans, the ability to bounce back after every crisis and emerge out stronger.
“I have been working in corporate sector for more than five years now away from my home and have learnt so many things. You will learn and get hold of things only and only when you get out of your comfort zone. But I do miss my home and my parents.”
“After completing my bachelor’s degree, I was selected in a bank in Shimla but lost touch with music. I then got a job in Hoshiarpur, Punjab where Rachit was working so we were able to start practicing again. We started performing live on FB pages, Cafes, Bars, Events, Universities etc. We started getting signed for shows on New Year’s Eve, and other festivals in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Dehradun, Jalandhar and Chandigarh.”
The transcendental flute performance of Krishna put the Vrajavasis into a trance. The most divine melody sprung forth, making the flowing Yamuna stand still and forcing the cows to stop chewing the cud. The calves who were busy drinking the milk from the udders of their mothers forgot to drink, rather perched up their ears to listen to Krishna’s flute. The deer, peacocks, parrots, and all the other forest animals stopped their activities and listened with great attention, while the stones of Govardhan melted in ecstasy and the trees danced.
There is a mystical attraction in Aakash’s soulful singing, the audiences are charmed by the creative energy and melodious voice of this naturally gifted young man. His simplicity and enthusiasm are infectious, his innocence refreshing. He is destined to carve a niche for himself, its just a matter of time. One cannot help but notice, on this extraordinary journey he is driven by a strong desire and commitment to reconnect with his roots!
“I am fascinated by Rasul Mir who belonged to Duru Shahbad in Anantnag, trying to understand his notable works like ‘Rind Posh Maal’, ‘Gaste Vesiye’, ‘Baal Maraeyo’, ‘Mati Roz Dama Rozeh Dharem’ etc. ‘Kya chui che husnuk boash Janaan masaa roash’ written by him is the one I like the most and is close to my heart. I have sung it with my father and received a lot of appreciation for it.”
“My aim is to learn more about our music and art. I want to promote my culture through music.”
Someday this mesmerizing singer from the land of Rasul Mir will make history!
Engage yourself in the cultivation of knowledge. Better than knowledge, however, is meditation, and better than meditation is renunciation of the fruits of action, for by such renunciation one can attain peace of mind. ~ Bhagavad-Gita 12.12
Listen to Aakash here:
- https://www.facebook.com/100006725316561/videos/2964690297098452/
- https://www.facebook.com/100006725316561/videos/2872796279621188/
- https://www.facebook.com/100006725316561/videos/2787502701483880/
- https://www.facebook.com/100006725316561/videos/2772658042968346/
- https://www.facebook.com/100006725316561/videos/2752402214993929/
- https://www.facebook.com/100006725316561/videos/2716275565273261/
- https://fb.watch/2ueZhB-tuA/
- https://fb.watch/2uf19ibuNE/
~References:
*Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1986). Bhaktivedanta Book Trust.
*Krishna’s flute — ISKCON Vrindavaniskconvrindavan.com- Edition June 7th, 2019.
~ Pictures Credit: Aakash Koul
© Jheelaf Parimu
