IKS to compile 1947 songs of illiterate Kashmiri labourer Aasi

Srinagar, May 26 (UNI) The Institute of Kashmir Studies (IKS) has decided to compile a booklet of songs of an illiterate Kashmiri labourer ''Aasi'' who was singing moral boosting songs in 1947 to prevent panic in the city.

He said he had learnt from UN Goodwill Ambassador, Madanjeet Singh about Aasi who composed songs and sang them in the streets of Srinagar.

His songs boosted the morale of the people of this City and went a long way to prevent panic.

However, the governor said he did not have the good fortune of meeting or hearing of Aasi at that time.

I learnt about him much later from Mr Singh, he said adding the IKS is compiling a booklet of his songs so that they may be available to the present and future generations of Kashmiris.

On the occasion, the picture of Aasi taken by Mr Singh was displayed while the Governor recalled the horrendous devastation and destruction of Baramulla by raiders.

General Sinha said during those days he witnessed the Kashmiriyat in action in Srinagar when he found National Conference (NC) volunteers maintaining order in the city.

There was no communal tension and no communal violence. The city reverberated to the slogan of Hamlawar Khabardar, Ham Kashmiri Hindu Muslim Sikh Tayaar, he said , recalling the words of the father of our nation that he saw a ray of hope in Kashmir.

He said this Institute has been set up to make the vision of hope and peace into reality.

''Today from the ancient city of Srinagar founded by Emperor Ashoka, the unique Prince of Peace in the history of mankind and from the city where the great liberal and popular Bud Shah ruled, we are striving to get that light of hope, illumine the world. Kashmir has been called the Paradise on Earth. Kashmiriyat embedded in amity and brotherhood is the message of Paradise', he concluded.

General Sinha also referred to the presence of Mr Singh in Srinagar in October 1947 when he too was here as a young Major, and said' ''We saw different perspectives of Kashmiriyat in action at that time in Srinagar.

We had not met in those days. More than half a century later we met for the first time here in Srinagar, Mr Singh as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and I as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir.

UNI BAS YSS LS KN1524