Sona Chui Kar Panien Kaim:

(Sona you do your work)

Sham S. Misri

Not long ago one of the notorious thieves of Kashmir was Madhav Bhista. In his gang there were two other thief friends. Madhav Bhista was their ring leader because of his noval ideas of stealing. He had one good quality. He would rob the rich people and distribute the money among the poor and needy people. Madhav Bhista had a friend, his name was Sona. One day a rich family of Srinagar had to perform the marriage of their daughter. All the preparations for the girl’s marriage were done. The parents of the bride had purchased the clothing, gold ornaments and other costly utensils as gifts to be given to the girl at the time of her marriage. When the marriage date came, everybody was busy on the eve of this rich man’s daughter’s Mehandi Raat function. So many friends and relatives had come to attend the function. After having dinner they were having other celebrations; there were songs and music and some dance on the occasion. While all this was going on, a handsome smart boy(disguised thief) joined them, and sat among the ladies. He immediately began to sing along with these ladies. He took one instrument Tumbaknari in his hand and began to sing aloud the following lines:

“Chie Chookh Haeri Ta Bu chus Bona,

  Sona Chie Kar Panien Kaem.”

Which means!

‘You are upstairs, and I am downstairs,

Sona You do your work’.

This tune and these Kashmir lines echoed the air. It was repeated several times in different voices and rhymes for a long time.

After an hour or so there was some hooting of the owls from one side of the house. On hearing this peculiar noise, all the guests who were present there got confused. The youthful handsome boy who was singing along with other women folk of the host, stood up, and left the audience and went away.

 An hour later, the hostess went up into the store room to get something. To her astonishment she saw the entire dowry and gold of the bride missing.   She cried and cried aloud, but it was all in vain.

Kashmiri’s say when somebody is busy with his own work and there is none to take care of the things, even when the neighbors are also not there, we say:  “Amis Chu Gamut Sona Chie Kar Panien Kaem.”

Which means, he is behaving like:  “Sona you do your work “