Habba Khatoon Mountain in Achoora village of Gurez Valley symbolizes the essence of eternal love. The glimpses of the Habba Khatoon Mountain reflect the story of Habba Khatoon and her husband Yusuf Shah Chak, who was of Dardic descent. The mountain is remembered in memory of Habba Khatoon and her beloved Yusuf Shah Chak.
Habba Khatoon (1554-1609), lovingly known as Zoon (the Moon), was the Nightingale of Kashmir. She was from a humble subaltern peasant family, but her inclination was towards the poetic world. She used poetry as a medium to express her miseries, love, and spirituality.
Habba Khatoon emerged in an era when women were trapped in patriarchal conundrums. Apart from her romantic love story, she is considered a towering figure in the fields of poetry, literature, and spirituality. Her poetry has a deep touch of spirituality, love, and nature, and she has gained immense respect and love from those who know her poetry.
She acquired the title Habba Khatoon and is popular among Kashmiri masses.
Melodious Voice of Habba Khatoon
The melodious voice of Habba Khatoon attracted the emperor Yusuf Shah Chak. He saw her in the fields, and after listening to her melodious voice, Yusuf Chak proposed marriage to her. Her poetic ambiance, literary taste, and spiritual empowerment invited the emperor to fall for her. The emperor Chak was overwhelmed and loved her to the core.
She is the one, who warned Chak against meeting the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Her intuition was so strong that she would know the repercussions of meeting Akbar, and she did not allow Yusuf Chak to visit him.
She was separated from her husband in 1579 when the Mughal Emperor Akbar arrested Yusuf Shah Chak on reaching Delhi and imprisoned him. Chak emperor finally died in the prison and was buried in the Indian state of Bihar.
Loss of Queen's Lover
The heavy loss made the Queen Lover (Habba Khatoon) fall deep in pain and grief; her life became a living hell without her better half.
The Habba Khatoon Mountain peak today stands as a testament to the love of the Emperor and his Queen and it carries within its bosom the story of love and pathos.
Besides the Habba-Khatoon peak/Mountain, Habba-Khatoon Spring is highly revered by the people of Gurez and the tourists coming from different parts of India. The divine and sacred nature of this spring defines the symbol of sentiments and emotionality that it brings forth.
From scriptural pieces of evidence and historical references, the impact and relevance of this ‘spring’ have never dimmed. Habba Khatoon spring comes from an underground source in Achoora village of Dawar Tehsil.
Dawar Tehsil, the main town of Gurez Valley, sits at the foothills of Habba Khatoon and the shades of Harmukh Peak, with the Kishanganga River running alongside it.
Dard-Shina Valley
Gurez Valley, also known as the Dard-Shina Valley, is one of the remarkable cultural minorities in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Its unique traditional and cultural heritage speaks volumes about the assets of the Dardic civilization. Beyond its socio-historical significance, the richness of the Kishanganga River and the lofty Himalayas add beauty to the Dardic civilization of Gurez.
The sense of coexistence between the rivers, and mountains, and the distinct cultural ethos enhances the civilizational aesthetics of the Dard-Shina ethnicity.
Tourists and people from all parts visit the spring, adding to the socio-cultural significance of this place. A large number of people visit this spring to drink its water, having healing effects.
Tourists who visit Gurez Valley always visit this spring to drink water, which they believe will detoxify impurities (both within and outside the body). Before returning to their native places, they take some bottles filled with the spring water as a blessing.
Majestic Peak - Habba Khatoon
The majestic Habba Khatoon Peak and the surrounding landscape are not merely geological wonders but living testaments to the enduring spirit of the Dard people. They encapsulate the very essence of the Dard community, a story of a people whose strength is as unyielding as the mountain itself, and its beauty is as enchanting as the gentle flow of the river.
The interplay of these natural elements serves as a powerful metaphor for the intricate tapestry of Dard’s life, woven with threads of resilience, strength, and unwavering beauty.
The rich Dardic tradition carries a rich cultural heritage that has taught them to live sustainably and in harmony with nature. Gurez Valley has maintained a sense of Dardic-ethnic uniqueness and reflections of the eternal love between Yusuf Shah Chak and Habba Khatoon.
This can be observed among the Dard-Shina, who for thousands of years have continued to preserve their unique ethnic identities. The present-day micro Dard-Shina ethnic community of Gurez is deeply rooted in their land, where they know how to survive, not only holding onto their ethnic identity but also fulfilling the minimum requirements to keep it alive.
Geological Marvel of Nature
They lead a communitarian existence, where generations succeed one another, speaking the same language, cherishing valuable traditions, and maintaining a rich civilizational ethos.
The majestic Habba Khatoon Peak, nestled in the outskirts of Achoora village (Dawar), stands as a resplendent testament to the indomitable strength inherent in every Dardi person. It is a symbol of beauty and fortitude, gracefully towering over the landscape.
This geological marvel captures the essence of the region and reflects the enduring spirit of the Dard community. The peak’s towering presence, reaching towards the sky, mirrors the strength and resilience deeply ingrained in the Dardi people.
Like the peak, they stand tall and unwavering in the face of challenges, embodying a collective strength that has withstood the test of time. The beauty of the Habba Khatoon Peak lies in the symbolism it holds for the local inhabitants.
(Dr Suheel Rasool Mir is a Senior Research Fellow Sociology, working on the Borderlands of Kashmir and Ladakh, Sociology of Ethnicity and Sociology at Margins. He can be contacted at mirsuhailscholar@gmail.com)
Have you liked the news article?