Dear,........,
Hello. I must have worked in S.P.School for a little more than a year. Although I was happy and content with the job, the prospects for future looked bleak. My elders at home wanted me to find a different avenue. Meanwhile an advertisement appeared in the English language news paper. The advertisement was for about 200 posts of Shift Assistant in All India Radio. The selection was to be based on successful completion of entrance test to be followed by interview. The scale of pay was Rs. 210-470. Engineering graduates, Diploma Holders and Science Graduates were eligible for applying for the post. I studied very hard for three months and did well in the written test. They tested us on science, mathematics and general knowledge. There were about ten candidates for the test in Srinagar Centre. I waited for the results but none came. One day I met a friend of mine who had also sat for the exams with me. He informed me that he had received a letter from All India Radio informing him that he had not passed the written test. Armed with this information, I wrote a letter and sent it to All India Radio asking them to let me know the result of the test. A fortnight later I received a letter in return informing me that I had cleared the test and had been called for the interview which I had not attended. This started a case for me. I immediately informed them that I had never received the interview letter. They conveyed the letter registration number and date on which it was sent through India Post office. I went with this information to the local India Post Head Quarter in Srinagar. They informed that the letter had not been received in their office at all. It seemed to have got lost in transit. They gave me a letter with this statement. I sent this letter to All India Radio, asking them to call me for the interview. I was informed that the interview process was over and I could not be called for the interview. I made my first trip outside Kashmir in August 1962 to pursue my case with All India Radio in New Delhi. I will detail my experience of the bus/rail journey in a separate post.
Meanwhile All India Radio issued another advertisement repeating requirement of about 200 candidates for the same post in 1963. I applied for the post again. Just before the exams date, I was informed by All India Radio that I need not sit for the exams. They informed me that I would be called for the interview with the other candidates after the exams results would be out. In mid December 1963, I got a letter by registered post calling me for the interview in Late January 1964. I started updating and preparing myself for the test. I did lot of reading and updating myself with the current affairs etc. My ill luck was creating hurdles upon hurdles in my plans to get the Central Government job. On December 27, 1963, the loss of the holy relic (Moye Muqadus) at Hazratbal Mosque in Srinagar was announced. Immediately the entire population erupted on to the roads. Everything came to standstill. No transport, no office, no shops. Srinagar and other towns in Kashmir valley got completely isolated. There would only be processions in every lane of the valley. It was rumored that the Chief Minister was responsible for the loss of the holy relic. The public went after the politicians. We Hindus got chickened out and remained confined to our houses all the time. I remained tense, because the bus service between Srinagar and Jammu got suspended. After about ten days, the state bus services started booking for Jammu but there would be no passengers. I was told that unless there would be thirty passengers, would they confirm their booking. I did not have the money to book an entire bus. At home it was decided that I could take my sister with me to Delhi. That way at least two passengers were available for the transport services. It took about a week to confirm that there were thirty passengers. My sister who is about 15 years younger to me and myself were therefore able to leave.
We reached Delhi without any problems. We stayed with our Buva Jee. (Our father's sister) On the appointed date, I left my bua's place in the morning and took a DTC bus to All India Radio. A good omen happened. I found a pen in the bus when I was getting off. I attended the interview. There were three persons taking the interview. I did well and appeared to have impressed the panel. In the first week of May 1964, I got an offer letter. My posting was at All India Radio Srinagar. I joined at All India Radio Srinagar on 07 May 1964. The local staff was pleased. It was the first time a Kashmiri has been appointed to this post based on the All India Selection process.
Some interesting details about the holy hair. The hair was supposed to be from the beard of the Prophet. This hair had been placed in a glass jar also holding water from a holy spring in Saudi Arabia. The jar was sealed tight. This holy relic used to be housed securely at Hazratbal Mosque in Kashmir. On two or three days a year on Prophet's birthday and other days important to the Muslims, the relic would be displayed from the balcony of the mosque and multitudes of the devotees would feel blessed.
Immediately after the loss was reported, the Central Government sent its best intelligence personnel to Srinagar to investigate and recover the relic. Now people feared that the Government would create a fake relic and pass it on as the actual one. This was repeatedly announced by the political leaders and the public that they would not accept a fake one. They said that there were only three tests which could prove its authenticity. No: 1. That this hair in the jar dances around in the jar when muslim devotees sing songs in praise of the Prophet. No: 2. That this hair would not burn in fire. No: 3 The relic can be recognised by a local saint, who at that time was very old and almost blind. The Central Government sent Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri to Srinagar to ensure the recovery. On 04 January 1964, it was reported that the relic had been found abandoned at some stray place in the valley. A statement by the old saint was recorded wherein he said that he had examined the relic and it was genuine. The statement was broadcast over the radio repeatedly. This announcement was cause for widespread celebration in the valley. It was rumored that after a few days, the old saint said that he was not sure about the genuineness of the holy relic. But it was too late. The Government was thus successful in cooling the explosive situation. It was never revealed who had taken away the relic.
Bye for today.
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