1554, a year which has been just a combination of numbers for others, but it gave a stunning gift to Kashmiri nation.
Near the striking fields of saffron, a peasant mother delivers a nightingale of Kashmir and gave her name Zoon as she was beautiful as the moon. Yes, I am talking about none other than, but our very own talented and legendary kasheer poetess ‘’Habba Khatoon’’.
She was born in a small village named ‘’ Chandrahar’’, this village was more famous for its saffron production than Zoon gave it a new identification.
Habba Khatoon was a remarkable Kashmiri poetess of the 16th century, Zoon was her birth name which means ‘’Moon’’ .She got a title ‘’Habba Khatoon ‘’ when she married last ruler of independent Kashmir Yusuf Shah.
Zoon was an ordinary peasant girl, but she had a great quest for knowledge unlike other peasant girls. Her father helped her to look for knowledge and sent her to the local ‘’Maktab’’ (school), which enhances her poetic skills. There she got familiar with the writings of the great Persian poet, Saadi’s Gulistaan and Bostan. She also learned some Arabic as well, both these languages helped her to boost her gifted poetic vision. Different historians told different stories about her personal life.
There is no consensus between all of them and authentic proof of their credibility .But it’s widely admitted that Khaba Khatoon got married with an illiterate peasant boy in her early ages .Regrettably, her husband and new family failed to understand her gifted poetic vision and treated her brutally. Her husband divorced her and she left his home. Zoon was so beautiful and she had melodious voice. She introduces ‘LOL’ means lyrics to Kasheer poetry. She used to sing her poetic verses.
The Golden wine cups of night,Habba Khatoon ,Never return these hours ,Why are you cross with me ,Song of the restless stream ,Lol of the wild yellow rose ,Lol of the lonely Pine ,Gather Violets O Narcissus ,I Lost all day on the way was her masterpieces. She was queen of Kashur poetry and excel her field.
The beauty of her poetic verses was that she always tried to depict the sentiments of the common people through her poetry. There was romance in her verses and profound pain, a pain of separation from her beloved husband. When she got divorced from her husband and her family kicked out of the house, she was so hurt and sad. One day she was singing beneath the Chinar trees when last independent Kashmiri king Yusuf Shah discovered her.
He got impressed by her melodious voice and charm of her mesmerizing beauty left him tacit. It was just like a fairy tale. One would definitely love to witness that beautiful moment.
Yusuf Shah Chak got married to zoon and she became Queen of Kashmir. Title of Khaba Khatoon than given to her. She was living happily with her beloved husband until cruel Mughal emperor Akbar captured Yusuf Shah and sent him to forced exile.
This incident was shocking for Habba Khatoon and surely heartbroken as well. She started drifting around the valley.
During this period she wrote many heart wrenching poems, as she had to bear the grief of separation from his beloved husband. So this is all about her sufferings and her poetic journey. Many historians wrote about her, but no one could justify with that great kashur poetess. Late Jagannath Wali wrote a play for Khaba Khatoon, he composed a beautiful song as a dialogue between zoon and Yusuf Shah Chak.
Ghulam Rasool Bhat wrote a book about Khaba Khatoon and tried to explain her poetic voyage and personal miseries. There was other many TV films and plays were made to highlight Habba Khatoon, s fabulous work and private life. But many critics think that all of them were confused and mislead the audience.
Mr. Ghulam Mohammad Hanafi of Sopore carved a tale of Khaba Khatoon in a lengthy Masnavi which considered to be more authentic. He described zoon in his own way that opens another door about her personality. Mr. Hanafi has another story which I would like to discuss in any other blog.
So the tale of the Nightingale of Kashmir ends here. It is an honour for me to write about this legendary poetess. She had a charismatic personality, euphonious voice and spellbinding beauty. In short a beautiful gift of God for Kashur nation. I can’t help saying that Zoon introduces lyrical poetry to Kashur literature.
She is still popular and a stunning inspiration for many poets. Haba Khatoon gave a new dainty to Kashmiri poetry and ruled the poetic world for ages, but need of the hour is to remember these legends because the nation who forgets their legends, lost their identity. Now the green valley is waiting for another zoon to carry on the poetic legacy.
