Tabassum Choudhary
Peer Panjal is a club of different talents that not only rules the different strata of life but also glorified the way to live life and humanity. Among many other personalities Gadi Nashin, saints are real revelations of Pir Panjal area. Famous ones are Molana Dil Muhammad, Mai Faqirni of Gambhir Mughaln, Molvi Lal Din, Sian Marghan Wala, Mirza Mohd Khan, Mirza Iqbal former MLA, Ch Mohd Hussain former minister, Mian Abdullha Khori Wala, Fiaz Hussain Inqilab, Mian Habib, Masha Lal Chand, Master Beli Ram former cabinet minister, G M Bandy etc. This write-up is story of a towering personality who worked selflessly for the cause of the people and was one of the embarked personalities of his time.
‘Lal din’ was born in village ‘Leeran’ of Tehsil Darhal of District Rajouri in 1920 in the family of ‘Baji Bakerwal’. Haji Baji Bakerwal was known for his large number of flock (goats and sheep). Haji Baji Bakerwal has 8 sons and 3 daughters and ‘Molvi Lal Din’ was his fifth son. Molvi Lal din got his initial education in a Madrassa from an Islamic preacher ‘Molna Sunaullah Kashmiri’ of Soker, Darhal. In 1942, Molvi Lal Din got married to ‘Fatima Bi’ daughter of Mian Habib of village Panihad and sister of famous poet Faiz Hussain Inqilab. Mian Habib married his daughter in a very simple way in light of Sharia. A total 21 Baratis were invited only and grandly served with ‘Sarson Ka Saag and Makki-di Roti along with Chawal, Dahi and Namak (salt)’. Mian Habib gifted his daughter a Persian cow and some sheep along with some goats and Charkha.
Molvi Lal Din always worked towards the upliftment of society and was also true to nation. In 1947, when tribal raiders sneaked into Jammu and Kashmir and were disturbing the atmosphere, at one apocalyptic night, Molvi Lal Din had an encounter with these raiders. They clutched him and were about to slit his throat, when he showed the presence of mind and told them that Indian Army is on round and if they slit his throat his cries would alert them and they would surely get their hands on group of traitors. Instead of killing, they took him a few yards away, where they can easily kill him. God’s grace Molvi Lal Din taking dark night’s cover, ran away from the clutches of tribal traitors and saved his life.
In 1959, Molvi Lal Din migrated from village Leeran in search of a better life for his kids and to feed for his flock. He got settled at village Rajpur, Kamila Tehsil Nowshera. He started his own Madrassa at Mora, Kamilakot in his house, in which religious and modern education was imparted to children of poor families, who cannot afford going to schools. He also worked in fields of local farmers on Ghla Batai (Ada Hissa) in remote border area of Nowshera.
Social life: Molvi Lal Din was politically and socially active and remained a delegate of Congress party and vice president of his block for the party in Nowshera for many years. He even remained Dy Chairman of Panchayat of Qila Darhal and was a member of judicial committee. In 1965 war, he played an active role in rehabilitation of people in border area, who were disturbed due to war. He has got a chance to interact with great leaders like Indira Gandhi, Bakshi Gulam Mohd, Syed Mir Qassim, Girdhari Lal Dogra and Sheikh Mohd Abdullah. He had also struggled for the opening of schools in his area.
Love for mother-tongue: Molvi Lal Din always spoke Gojri language. He had written many letters to the editor of Urdu newspapers Sach Jammu regarding plight of people of his area. Molvi was a Punjabi and Gojri poet and also wrote in Urdu also. He was famous among youngsters of his time and was a staunch follower of Gojri language. He had written many letters to Gojri programme at radio Kashmir Jammu for redressing day-to-day problems of people in rural areas. The feeling of helping and supporting masses, especially needy ones was so in his heart and mind that he always loved to face all kind of odds or eventualities for the pleasure of others. He always believed that service to humanity is the service to God. He was famous among his people and even now remembered as ‘Molvi of Kamila’.
Family: Molvi Lal Din is survived by seven sons and three daughters. All are educated. The elder son ‘Abdul Quyoom’ was earlier in Education Department and presently working as Administrator Auqaf, Nowshera. His second son Ch Rashid Azam Inqlabi has retired as Senior Civil Administrator (JKAS) and served in many departments and also worked as ‘Director School Education Jammu and Deputy Commissioner Ramban. Munshi Muhammad Amin worked in Indian Army. Shabir Ahmed is in Education department. Master Beli Ram Cabinet minister, Sardar Sujan Singh, Haji Gulam Mohd of Nadyala Bagla, Alam Din Jat of Nadyala, Haji Feroz Din, Molvi Ab Ghani of Lamberi, Mistry Umar Din of Marchola, Ch Hassin of Androth were his close companions. He has a close association with Sian Margan Wala and Sian Faqar Din of Pathana Tir (Mendhar). He also remained associated with Mian Nizam Din Larvi, Mian Bashier Ahmed Larvi, Gulzar Ahmed and Aslam.
Molvi Lal Din remained Imam of Jamia Masjid Nowshera for a decade. In his old age, he was deeply adored by people around him and they showed great respect and reverence for him and his decisions. He used to keep regular fast (Roza) for 14 months except two days break on Eid. Molvi Lal Din performed Hajj in 2001, along with Noor Hassan of Androth. Molvi Lal Din left this world at an age of 88 years on September 11, 2008 on Thursday at 9 PM on 25th Ramzan on pious night of Shab-e-qadar and was laid to rest on Jumma-tul-Vida, at his native village Rani Badheter of Rajouri. His Namaz-e-Janaza was attended by a number of people of all faiths.