Book   : Taran Gari
Poet   :  Zareef Ahmed Zareef
Language  :  Kashmiri
Pages   : 116
Year of Pub. : 2012
Price   : Rs.200
Publisher  : Owais Publications,  Srinagar, Kashmir.

The book Tarangari (Cheating), draws its content from the existing circumstances in the Valley. The theme of this  book is traditional, original, entertaining and social . This is certainly a work of power, individuality and originality and the  flames of sufferings of Kashmiri society seem to engulf the heart of the author.
The foreword by Nazir Jehangir, gives a broad account of the book under the Kashmiri  phrase "yas lagi tus lagi sarkari”. He  describes the author as incidental, accidental, induced and  Bolshevik poet. Tarangari,  a brief collection of  critic poems, sonnet, rubaiyat and couplets  is an assortment containing all sorts of unaddressed issues which author   believes have erupted   from his adolescence till date; however, the content is not related to a particular period or regimen as for as   relation of the subject to   contemporary history  is concerned.
The introduction being free from suspense shows the poet is open and extrovert. The intellectual qualities of writing are simple and clear, however, emotional qualities have humor, wit, satire, harmony and rhythm. Symbolism is decorated with parody and effective lyrics. The poetry used is simple.
The central concern of the poet goes that deceiving tactics and cheating is the order of the day. In this context the author puts forth diverse matters in which cheating or deceiving prevails. Is it urbanization and sky high land prices, making under privileged to touch heights, watching havoc of flood from aeroplane by the administrators, front benchers gaining back door entry or undue importance to degrees. He apprises the  situation which  led  to filling of a potential waterway,  destruction of dal and anchar lake  and sowing of paddy in    Wular lake, looting of forests by smugglers and guards  jointly, however, the author consoles  himself  for forest loot, he says, men and women cannot tolerate their eyebrows and pluck them,  how can they afford growth of dense forests in Kashmir! The poet  shrivels as how cheating is deep rooted in our society! For a factory, a mosque is kept mortgage with the bank and loans secured on bogus names, the local bakeries inducing gastritis!
The poet enters the grand maternity hospital of the valley and sees Lalded, bed ridden and finds death angel wishing admitted ladies to live longer! Keeping in view the role of leaders in cheating, author advises lip sympathizers of the nation   to stick to the practice of  living  for themselves and their kith and kin as they did while compromising on sex scandal or  migration of Kashmiri pandits.
The author expresses concern over winding up of carpet and shahtoosh  industries, downfall of Kashmir trade and introduction of Amritsar shawls and for which he holds responsible our entire society - butchers, backers, teachers, doctors, traders, officers and ministers.
 Entering the marriage institution, the poet feels concern over two disastrous issues; late marriages and looking for working brides and changing priorities of Kashmiri society viz, getting education, searching job, buying or borrowing a car and keeping a guard at gate and pretending being a rich.
 The poet has described our examination system unique wherein those not appearing in exams are declared successful; example quoted is many matriculates of the academic year 1991 occupying wonderful places in administration.
Another major shock is mobile phones. Our youth, both boys and girls alike are roaming with mobiles deciding date and venue of meeting resulting in waywardness. In a chapter entitled miscellaneous the poet touches in detail  many matters although not in any sequence viz, Eid celebration , drug abuse, unemployment, and prenatal sex determination.
In the end the author gives a list of English words used in the book. Amazingly only 33 English words in 116 pages have been used. A critical analysis revealed that some words have been merely used to give rhythm to the stanza or a balance to the lyric; hence reveals richness of Kashmiri language.
The book is an eye opener for common Kashmiris.

The author is chief Scientist and Head, Veterinary clinical Services Complex,SKUAST-Kashmir.Feedback: dmmakhdoomi@gmail.com

Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 7 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
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