Jagan Nath Saqi: A Life Devoted to Radio and Theatre
UNFORGETTABLE JAGAN NATH SAQI
Jagan Nath Saqi was born and brought up in Khankaah-e-Sokhta, a neighbourhood in downtown Srinagar. His residence was situated close to the ancestral home of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad, owing to which he enjoyed personal familiarity with every member of the Bakshi family. His distinctive personality, unconventional habits and diverse interests made him a well-known figure in the locality. His penchant for acting, smoking, frequenting traditional gossip shops, travelling in a fully occupied Tonga, wearing an English-style hat and spending money with remarkable extravagance set him apart from others. His close association with certain local toughs from Nawa Kadal further contributed to his colourful public image. Among the Kashmiri Pandits, these peculiarities earned him several distinctive nicknames, including ‘Jagir Gunda’, ‘Raasa-kath’ (the dancing lamb) and ‘Jaga Angrez’. These sobriquets reflected the popular perceptions of his flamboyant lifestyle, unusual mannerisms and unmistakable individuality, making him a memorable personality in Srinagar's social landscape.
Khankaah-e-Sokhta: A Neighbourhood of Eminent Personalities:
This area in downtown Srinagar was the birthplace place Mata Roopa Bhawani, the great saint-poetess of Kashmir in the 17th century. Pandit. Birbal Dhar(who guided Sikhs to Kashmir), Pandit Bal Kak Dhar ( former Wazir-e-Wazarat), DP Dhar (well-known politician and former ambassador to the Soviet Union), Maj. General BN Dhar, Rai Bahadur Shyam Sunder Lal Dhar, Ratan Lal Dhar (former Director of Food and Supplies), Krishan Joo Dhar, (former Director Flood Control), Dina Nath Dhar( proprietor of Normal Press at Lal Chowk ), Ramchand Tickoo ( well- known cricket player ), Nand Lal 'Begarz'( writer), Nilakanth Raina (writer and trained historian), Niranjan Nath Razdan ( proprietor of Mercantile Press, Kothi Bagh), Moulvi Abbas Ansari (politician and well-known Shia cleric), Arvind Gigoo( noted writer and college professor), A N Dhar ( former HOD English Department in Kashmir University ) and many more well-known persons were from this area.
His Englishman’s Attire and Humorous Encounters with Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad:
In his youth, Jagan Nath Saqi would dress up like an Englishman with a stick in his hand and tell strangers that he was a Pashmina trader and his family had business interests in Yarkand and Lahore. Acting has been his forte since his younger days. He loved singing and music. He joined Radio Kashmir Srinagar due to the direct intervention of Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who also intervened in the allotment of a residential quarter to him inside the Emporium complex close to the radio station. He remained careless in paying the monthly rent of this government accommodation for many years and it was again Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad who waived these dues. Saqi had a comic side of his personality. One day, he attended the office wearing his old Pheran. Upon being reprimanded by Mr Chawala (the then Station Director), Saqi is reported to have told him that since Pheran was the national dress of Kashmiris, he felt proud of it. I have been told by reliable sources that Saqi didn't hesitate to come to the office in Pheran thereafter. Once he went to Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad's residence on Eid day carrying a huge pumpkin that had grown in his quarters. Bakshi burst into laughter and asked him to tell him the truth as to what had brought him to his place carrying the free-grown pumpkin. At this, Saqi smilingly put in his application for waiver of accumulated rent demanded by the PWD Department. His accommodation at the corner of the Emporium complex belonged to the PWD Department.
A contemporary of Sudama Ji Kaul, Saqi was another gifted radio artist who shared a close bond of friendship with Pandit Ved Lal Dhar Vakil, a progressive thinker and rebellious spirit who played a pioneering role in the development of theatre and drama in the Kashmir Valley. Before 1947, Ved Lal Dhar had acquired valuable experience in acting and theatrical performance while working with Kolkata’s Alfred Theatre Company. During the early decades of the twentieth century, however, the conservative sections of Kashmiri Pandit society viewed participation in theatre, drama and music with considerable disdain. Young men who ventured into these artistic pursuits were often branded as Raas-Kath, a derogatory expression associated with dancing and theatrical performance. They were subjected to ridicule, social discouragement and disapproval. The prejudice was so deeply entrenched that many aspiring artists found it difficult to find suitable matrimonial alliances, as families were reluctant to marry their daughters to men associated with the stage.
Political Activism, Imprisonment and Early Theatrical Career:
Saqi was also actively associated with the National Conference and frequently participated in the party’s gatherings during the early 1930s. His political convictions, radical outlook and affiliation with the National Conference brought him into conflict with the authorities during Maharaja Hari Singh’s rule, resulting in his imprisonment on several occasions. His theatrical journey had begun in the early 1920s, when he joined amateur dramatic organisations such as the Raghunath Mandir Natak Mandal and Kala Kendra. He subsequently devoted himself enthusiastically to the theatrical troupe established in Kashmir by Master Rahmat Ullah of Kolkata. Saqi also distinguished himself by performing significant roles in Urdu plays written by the celebrated playwright Agha Hashr Kashmiri and staged in Kashmir.
Beyond his artistic accomplishments and political commitments, Saqi possessed an exceptional gift for witty conversation and spontaneous humour. His engaging manner, playful temperament and ability to turn ordinary encounters into amusing episodes made him popular among friends and acquaintances. He delighted in practical jokes, narrated anecdotes with remarkable flair and entertained those around him with stories delivered in a light-hearted and captivating style. His personality thus combined artistic talent, political courage and an infectious sense of humour, making him a memorable figure in Kashmir’s cultural and theatrical history.
Pran Kishore Kaul’s Personal Reminiscences and Tribute to Saqi:
Saqi proved himself a versatile radio artist. His voice conveyed a powerful pathos that touched a chord with his listeners. He was the greedy Kaakh ( Machama's father ) of Pushkar Bhan's popular Machama series of Radio dramas. He was Rustom Chacha in another series of radio programmes. He was 'Jagger Pension' of Zoonadab, Wali Mot in the popular play Taent-k'or and Afreet of the dramatised version of the opera Gulrez He would present' "Gaami Baayen Haendi Kha'tra' from Radio Kashmir. He also had an unforgettable presence on stage. He had great quality, and never did he neglect his priority; theatre and radio drama even if he was unwell or down with critical illness. About him, Padama-shri Pran Kishore Kaul said this:-
"Saqi had a flamboyant streak in everything he did. One could see it in his walk, his talk and his behaviour with his friends and colleagues. He was older than me. I knew him before joining the Radio. He enjoyed a somewhat notorious reputation in his youth. One day all of a sudden, he barged into Radio Kashmir Srinagar and demanded his chair to sit. We were surprised to know that Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad in his capacity as the Prime Minister of J&K had telephoned PS Bhatia, the then Station Director to appoint him. Saqi had commendable talent. I included him in the cast of the film," Shair e Kashmir Mehjoor ". He did full justice to the role of a poor peasant. He could have been a wonderful film actor but he had missed that bus. I had great admiration for Saqi's acting passion. As the protagonist, he did some beyond-expectation acting in Akhtar Mohiuddin's Kashmiri play " Aadam Chhu Ajab Zaat ". On my enquiry, Saqi told me that he had lived the role. The play was selected for the National Programme of plays by AIR and we were advised to do a Hindi version also. Saqi begged me to let him act in the Hindi version. I had my doubts about his accent. I took the chance as his acting skills were perfect for the role. In the meantime, he fell critically ill. He couldn't walk. I was suggested to replace him. We had to complete the recording in a time frame. Saqi was deteriorating. And then one day he suddenly dropped in and asked for the script. After reading it, he asked me to start his recording. We went inside the studio. We were there for a long time recording Saqi, the protagonist of the story. He was flawless. He did it all in one go. My joy knew no bounds. In the end, I embraced him. I could feel that he was running high temperature. He was happy. We were equally delighted. After some days, we heard the news that Saqi was no more. That was Jagan Nath Saqi ."
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