(A Kashmiri Folk-Tale) By Prof.
Wakhlu Long ago there ruled a magnificent king over Kashmir.
He was a strong youngman, bearded, healthy-looking, with wide-shoulders and of jovial disposition.
The people were economically prosperous, trade and commerce was thriving under the benevolent rule of the king.
The law and order was nearly perfect and there were no thieves and robbers and crimes occured very rarely.
The king had one tragic flaw; it was his being very sensitive and to whom the slightest annoyance was absolutely intolerable.
He was very fond of sports and hunting.
It was toward the end of May, that delightful time of the year when spring seems to be beseiging the whole country and one day the king left for hunting in a forest along with his companions.
While pursuing a hangul deer he went far ahead of his companions and even crossed the boundary of his territory and found himself in a well-kept garden which was filled with flowers of many colours and many sizes, coquettishly arranged in studied disorder.
The lawns were dotted with flower beds.
There were a few chinar trees.
The king wondered as to who had created this dream of a garden.
He espied a young damsel strolling by the garden paths.
To describe her is to gild a lily.
However, I may try; everything in her lotus face, framed by soft black tresses, was attractive; her low forehead, her bright almond-shaped eyes, her small nose, her full voliptuous lips and above all her walk, that half-indolent half coquettish swaying of her hips were maddeningly alluring.
The king was struck by her dazzling beauty.
He walked up to her and directly said to her, "If you consent, surely, I would make you my wife." The maaiden rather imprudently replied, "I would be glad to marry you and get a child and the boy should marry your daughter." Her bitter reply embarassed the king and made him angry and without saying anything further, he came away gingerly.
The king made enquiry about the girl and came to know that she was a princess.
He resolved to marry her and sent a clever messenger to her father, who obtained an audience with him.
The king received him in the reception room.
The messenger prostrated before the king and said in a humble manner: "May happiness and prosperity be granted to you by the Almighty! Our great king of Kashmir has heard about the virtues and accomplishments of your noble daughter and desires to marry her.
I have been deputed by him to request you to grant this auspicious union." The king felt inexpressible pleasure in accepting the offer and the messenger returned to Kashmir and informed his master.
After a little while the king invited the king of Kashmir for wedding ceremony at his convenient date.
So His Majesty of Kashmir along with his ministers, courtiers, eminent personalities of the State, the flower of the army and a large number of servants, all dressed splendidly and gorgeously, riding on magnificently caprisoned horses, left for the country of his bride.
They also carried loads of gifts and presents for her.
To receive the bridegroom's party the city was decorated with imperial splendour.
The streets and squares were strewn with flower petals while the meanest homes were decorated and hung with drapery and rich stuffs.
The bridegroom was graciously welcomed by the other king and after a couple of days Kashmir's king along with his wife came back to his country.
The bride was accomodated along with other wives of the king in the royal harem.
She was filled with indignation and sorrow when the king did not visit her nor spoke to her for the first few days.
She felt restless, perplexed and alarmed on the indifference of her husband.
Soon after, in accordance with the tradition, she went back to her father's home.
There she did not speak of her estrangement except to her mother when she was overcome by poignant feelings that made the tears mount up to her eyes.
Her mother consoled her, comforted her and took her in close embrace.
She advised her to wait and not worry.
Three years passed and her husband, the king of Kashmir, did not sent for her nor enquired about her.
Though surrounded by luxury yet in her isolated distress she was utterly nonplussed and hunger for love.
She thought her marriage would end in futility.
Then one day she had her first awaking and felt that she must look at life seriously in a positive and pragmatic spirit.
She prayed to God, mustered up all her courage and told her father that she desired to travel and see some adjacent countries.
She also requested him that he should order one of his wazirs and a company of some valiant soldiers to attend to her during the journey.
Her father admired the calm assurance of a woman who had self-confidence and determination and he approved her proposal.
After some days the princess left for her journey attended by a trustworthy wazir who was kept in charge of money, jewels and other necessities that she would require in the way.
She visited almost all the adjacent countries and acquired much knowledge about their rulers and the people.
Last of all she arrived in Kashmir, the country of her husband.
She had changed her attire so that she could not be recognised by her husband.
She was keen to see the court, the markets, trade and commerce and other things.
She camped outside the city and discretely wrote a letter to the king saying that she was the daughter of a certain neighbouring king, not mentioning the name of her father and desired to see the city.
When the king of Kashmir got the letter he personally, along with his Wazir, went to receive her.
When he met her he was dazzled by her charm and elegance and regal appearance.
She thanked him with a voice that was still fresh, vibrating and sonorous.
The king conducted her to his palace.
A splendid suit of rooms was allotted to her there.
The rooms were glamourously decorated and furnished with embroidered carpets and silk curtains.
There were velvet-covered bolsters and pillows.
He implored her to stay there for quite some time.
She agreed on the condition that he would call upon her frequently and stay for some time with her.
He came again next day and nearly every day.
She for the first time felt a sort of conjugal happiness.
The time spent by him with her had the strangeness of a dream.
One day he became so animated that he embraced her vehemently and an amorous alliance grew between them with the result that she became enceinte one.
Soon after she expressed her desire to depart for her country.
She promised that she would again visit Kashmir at the appropriate time and said to him, "O king, there is need of all human beings for love." She gave the king her ring and in return the king presented his ring and handkerchief in token of his own love for her.
Her parents were jubiliant on receiving her back particularly when she told her mother that during her sojourn in Kashmir she had been with her husband and she expected a child by him.
The queen informed her husband immediately who was rapturous to hear the good news.
Soon the princess gave birth to a male child.
The boy grew up and was given full education and he became clever and learned.
He also got training in arms and fighting.
As he grew up a promising boy his mother was determined to make him a very clever thief, as she had a plan of her own.
She wanted to get her humiliation by her husband vindicated.
Therefore, the most clever master-thief was appointed to give him training and educate him in the skill of treachery and thieving.
After the completion of his training when the prince would be perfect in this art the master-thief would be amply rewarded.
After about three months the prince, who was named Shabrang, became quite perfect in the art of trickery and stealing.
The princess, his mother set to examine him in this art.
She asked him to climb a nearby huge chinar tree and steal the hawk's egg from its nest without the bird knowing it.
Accordingly, Shabrang at once climed the lofty tree and with subtlety and skill he inserted his nimble fingers into the nest and deftly took away the egg without the notice of the bird.
Then he descended from the tree and gave the egg to his mother.
Next she told Shabrang to get the pyjamas (trousers) of a labourer who was on his way to his house.
Shabrang went into the field and remained some distance from the man.
When he came near Shabrang he asked him, "why are you looking up in distress." He replied with a sad look, "I was playing with my costly coral necklace when I unwettingly flung it up there on the tree.
If you go and climb the tree and get my necklace, I shall suitably reward you." The innocent man climbed up the tree.
In the meantime Shabrang found a reed and filled it with ants.
Then taking the reed he climbed up the tree till he was about a yard from the labourer who could not see him because of the abundance of folliage and the noise of the parrots.
Next he got the reed to his mouth and blew strongly against the man's trousers.
Soon he was itching and saw his whole leg covered with dreadful ants and realised his sole recourse was to strip of off the trousers and thow it on the ground.
As soon as the trousers fell on the ground, Shabrang came down the tree and picking up the trousers, ran to his mother and handed it to her.
"My boy, now you are completely competent thief," she said to him.
She further told him that he was the son of Kashmir's king with whom she was lawfully married but who abandoned her without any apparent reason.
She continued to say, "Now I want to avenge the humiliation.
Go to Kashmir and gain the favour of the king so that he appoints you on some important post in his palace and later offers his daughter in marriage to you.
When this stage comes send for me and I shall come atonce and talk to the king who will feel remorce and get reconciled to me and make you his heir apparent." Immediately Shabrang went to Kashmir.
It may be said of Shabrang that he had an attactive form, a certain grace of manners and an air of nobility.
He was able to make friends with the king's doorkeeper.
He became his favourite on account of Shabrang's easy cordiality and amiablity.
He intoxicated him with his compliments.
The doorkeeper liked Shabrang so much that he intrudced him to the king and eloquently praised him.
The king was impressed with Shabrang's appearance, tall and elegant personality.
He thought him a youngman of great promise.
After sometime Shabrang thought of going on stealing expeditions.
He stole at night some valuable things from some houses here and there and deposited them in a pit in a nearby field.
In the morning he was punctually present at his duty.
By and by many people lost their property and no trace of the thief was discovered.
There was great hue and cry in the city.
The people were compelled to appeal directly to the king to get the thief caught and punished.
The king got angry and called the Kotwal (Inspector of Police) and ordered him to find the thief immediately.
Accordingly, the policemen were posted in every street and corner of the city and ordered to keep a strict watch and he himself went round the city for the whole night.
But all was in vain for SHabrang was able to steal again and dump the things in the same pit.
Then the king upbraided the Kotwal and ordered him to discover the thief within a week.
During seven days the Kotwal tried every means to catch the thief.
He went incognito changing himself in various dresses.
He offered great prizes to persons who would give any information and promised that the thief would be pardoned if he surrendered.
He also offered bribes to the people who would help in finding the thief but all proved futile.
Shabrang continued to rob the people.
They felt insurmountable horror.
Nobody felt safe..
The king asked the Kotwal to take the help of the army.
All the policemen and militarymen were on alert.
The Kotwal also supervised the whole arrangement done meticulously.
It may be mentioned that Shabrang could mimicry the voices of girls, women, old and young other men as well in a marvellous way.
During his rounds the Kotwal saw a figure working in a garden by the riverside.
He rushed to the place.
He said to the persons, "What are you doing at this time of the night.
You must be the thief?" No sir, I am the gardener's wife and have come to draw the water," answered the person in a thin voice of a woman.
"Have you seen a thief going this way? enquired the Kotwal "Yes sir, but I did not raise a cry lest he should hit took away my vegetables.
He is likely to come again here to carry away more vegetables," said the person.
"How can I catch him, for there is not even a bush to hide myself," said the Kotwal.
"You can put on my pheran (an outer cloak) and get on the pole.
He got up on the pole on one end the other end came down and the woman (who was Shabrang) tied is end of the pole with a peg.
The Kotwal remained up there shivering with cold and Shabrang ran away and broke into some houses and stole the wealth of these houses.
In the morning the people saw the Kotwal dressed a woman's clothes sitting the raised end of the well-beam.
They informed the king and he himself the ridiculous situation and the pitiable condition of the Kotwal.
The king was grieved and asked the advice of the Wazir who offered to try to catch the thief himself.
When it came dark he road on a horse and went on his errand.
Shabrang also went out and sat at the door of a hut in the guise of an old woman dressed in dirty clothes and ground the maize in the light of an oil lamp placed in a wall beyond him.
The Wazir arrived at the place if hearing the sound.
"What are you doing?" enquired the Wazir.
"Sir, I am an old woman and grinding the maize.
A thief came here and took away the most my maize.
Possibly he may come again and take away the rest of the maize." "I shall wait for him here," said the Wazir.
"Sir, how can you catch him dressed as you are in magnificent clothes.
He will see you and run away.
Excuse me sir, the best way to catch him is that you may exchange your clothes with me and then catch hold of him." The Wazir thought this scheme was the best.
Shabrang gave the woman's pheran him and took his clothes.
Shabrang took the horse to some distance and then mounted on it and went round the city and even talked with the people.
The next day the people came to the king complaining about the loss of their money.
Jewellery and grains, An attendant was sent to the Wazir's house.
It was found that he had not returned and only his horse had arrived.
The king along with his servants including Shabrang went in search of the Wazir and came to the hut where he was discovered clothed in the greasy dress of woman weeping profusely.
He ordered his men to take the Wazir to his house.
Then sub-inspector of police (Thanedar) was ordered to make all efforts to catch the thief and Jinab Shabrang disguised himself in the dress of Wazir's daughter and stood in his garden.
The Thanedar arrived there and he told her (Shabrang in disguise) that if fortune favoured him and he caught the thief he would put him in the jail and torture him there.
"Kindly show me the prison, I have not seen it," said the girl (Shabrang).
Thanedar, in order to oblige the Wazir's daughter, led her to the prison where she gave him a strong push and he rolled down on the floor of the prison.
She at once closed the door and locked it.
Shabrang went to the Thanedar's house and told his wife that the Thanedar has sent him to ask her to hand over a large sum of money to give some people as a bribe who would give him the clue of the thief.
The woman got a large amount of money and handed over to Shabrang who embraced her and bade her farewell.
The king was extremely surprised to hear that the Thanedar had been put in the prison and his wife duped and persuaded by the thief to hand over a lot of money.
The king called an emergency meeting of the ministers and some wise men of the city.
After consulting it then he decided that the only way to get rid of this dangerous menace was to offer his daughter in marriage, if the thief comes forward and stops stealing, otherwise whole of the city would be divested and the people would run away.
Accordingly this offer was proclaimed all over the city.
The announcer was accompanied by a drummer beating the drum.
"O king, I am the thief and I will show you the place where I have hidden the money and property of the people and I shall hand over all things to the owners in the presence of His Highness and the Wazirs, "said Shabrang.
His Highness and his ministers as also the people came to the place and Shabrang restored all the money and property to the owners who heaved a sigh of relief and felt joyful.
The king, according to the announcement, agreed to marry his daughter to Shabrang.
He said that the arrangement for the wedding for handing over half of the country would be made as soon as possible.
Shabrang sent for his mother with the permission of the king.
She arrived quickly.
The king received her with all grace and adoration.
He expressed that he was very happy to have found her son very handsome, intelligent and well brought up.
"Your majesty is very noble but this marriage cannot be performed.
Shabrang is his daughter's brother," said Shabrang's mother politely.
The king was greatly puzzled to hear it.
The lady showed him his ring and handkerchief which made him identify her.
"Take them back and give me back the ring which I presented to you.
"Said Shabrang's mother.
Then she related him how had banished her and how Shabrang had been born to him with an engimatic smile she further said that now she had proved his words that she spoke on the first day,- "a boy would marry his sister." At last softened by such love and her strength of character, the king took the first step at reconciliation and told her that his anger had proceeded from his male vanity otherwise there was no other cause for his embitterment.
He, infact, loved her ardently, "The good God has given us love, the only allurement of life, "the king said to her with great feeling.
Then he took her to his special conjugal chamber.
