Saturday, March 10, 2012

Akis gom zah; methar gam shethar; kawas gayam kukil.


Akis gom zah; methar gam shethar; kawas gayam kukil.
One became two; friends became enemies; the crow became a dove.
Sham S. Misri
In a village in Kashmir there lived two fast friends. They were friends from the very childhood. One friend belonged to a rich family and his name was Karim Haput, while the other belonged to a poor family and his name was Hassan Pacha. The two friends read together in the same school and would help each other in their studies. When they had to appear in the tenth class examination, Hassan Pacha, the poor boy managed to pass while his rich friend failed in the examination. Hassan Pacha, the poor friend felt very bad at the failure of Karim Haput, his rich friend. However, the Hasan Pacha, the poor boy moved to the city where he got some job with some minister. Karim Haput his rich friend stayed in the village and joined some business.
After many years, Karim Haput, the rich friend moved to the city in connection with some business. He knew his friend was living in the city. He searched for his old friend, Hasan Pacha, and finally found out where he lived. He went to his home and there he met the parents of Hassan Pacha. Hasan Pasha’s father would wit on the road side, keep a gunny bag beneath him on which he would keep some sheep legs to sell. By selling the legs of sheep and goats, he would earn some money to make his ends meet. Sine Hassan Pachas father was selling the sheep legs or goat legs he was given the name Pacha. Hassan Pachas old poor parents recognized Karim Haput, the old rich friend of their son. They asked Karim Haput to stay till their son would come from the duty. Karim Haput’s father was dealing in fur trade. It is said that Karim Haput’s father had killed some black animal which he called as “Bear”-in Kashmir Haput, hence the nick name Karim Haput. Now Karim Haput enquired about the welfare of his old friends old parents.
The old man’s reply to him was;

Akis gom zah;  methar gam shethar; kawas gayam kukil.
One became two; friends became enemies; the crow became a dove.
The meaning is that a staff was now "part and parcel" of him; that his teeth had deserted him; and that
His raven-black hair had turned grey

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