BY AUTAR MOTA
DEODAR
Deodar ( Cedrus Deodara ) or Kashmir Cedar is also known as Divdhor in Kashmiri. Though a high altitude tree, Deodars also grow in the low valleys. I have seen some Deodar trees near Harwan as well. Its wood is ideal for making furniture, boats, houseboats, bridges, railway tracks, doors and window frames, etc. This is perhaps the best of timber that is produced in the state of Jammu And Kashmir in terms of utility and durability. Paddy husking mortars or Kunz was also made from this wood. Deodar wood is quite expensive and can withstand hot, moist and various other climatic conditions. It is a choice wood for building construction. Resin is also extracted from the roots of this tree that has much commercial utility. At some point of time, Deodars must have been available in every part of the Kashmir valley. I have found that every old building or shrine in the valley has plenty of Deodar wood used in its construction. Doda district, Jammu used to be a rich source of Deodar wood. Most of us must have seen Deodar wood sleepers being moved to Jammu ( Akhnoor ) from Doda, Bhaderwah and Kishtwar using Chenab river as the mode of transportation. I am told that before 1947, deodars from Jammu forests were transported to Wazirpur ( now in Pakistan Punjab ) through the waters of Chenab river.
Hindus believe that forests full of Deodar trees or Devadāru trees are the abodes of the ancient sages who were devoted to Lord Shiva.
HIMALAYAN BLUE PINE
The Himalayan blue pine is known as Kaayur or Yaari- Kul in Kashmiri. This is again a high altitude tree. It grows in the upper forests and this wood is used for making doors, windows and frames and furniture in the Kashmir valley. This evergreen tree can grow up to a height of 150 feet. It has a thick grey-brown bark. Kaayur wood is a poor man’s Deodar. A poor variety of this wood is also used as timber and its charcoal is also used in Kangris. This tree also gives a white resin and the portion with resin is known as Laesh ( in Kashmir ) that burns instantly. As a timber, Kaayur was also supplied through the government-run depots to consumers in the Kashmir valley. There is a popular Kashmiri saying ” Kaashur yaar guv kaayur naar “ or ‘ The burning charcoal of the kaayur timber is a friend of the Kashmiri’ .Another Kashmiri saying ‘Vunn tchein yaarein daai sundh sugg ’ or ‘‘The jungle pines are irrigated by god only’ makes this tree closer to Kashmiri life. This wood decays easily on contact with the soil. Himalayan pines are also a commercial source of the turpentine and tar.
NETTLE TREE
Nettle Tree is known as Bremiji in Kashmiri. A tree that grew from a small shrub to a magnificent shady tree in graveyards and shrines of Kashmir is facing extinction.
Bremjj Happens to be amongst some oldest trees world over. Known as Nettle tree outside Kashmir, it grows in many areas of Asia, Europe and the US. It also grows in Australia and some African countries.
A cool shady tree that was seen near graveyards or Ziyarats of saints in Kashmir, whereat, as per local belief, it was planted by the Syeds from central Asia followed by Sufi saints. They possibly believed in providing some cool shade to those who lay buried.
In 2010, I could locate a few Bremiji trees in Malla -khah graveyard of the city near Rainawari and just one inside the Budshah’s tomb in the downtown area of Srinagar city. May be more are still there in the villages that I could not check. I can only say about the city where it is almost extinct.
The fruit of Bremiji, reportedly sweet to taste, invited a variety of birds to this tree during summers. In Kashmir, the tree would flower in mid-April with seeds ripening in mid-October. The size of the Kashmiri nettle tree is comparatively small. Normally it grows to a height of maximum 10 to 12 feet from the ground and from top it spreads like an umbrella. The fruit is also smaller than the size of a cherry. The flowers are hermaphrodite( having both male and female organs ) and are pollinated by bees. Its leaves remain bright green in summer season and turn yellow in autumn before they fade away for winter. A very slow growth spread over many years changes a small shrub into a tall shady Bremiji tree. The tree can also grow in dry soil.
Many poets from Kashmir have used this tree symbolically in their poems. I came across its mention in a Gazal of the noted Kashmiri poet Rafiq Raaz. This Gazal was written during the dark days of militancy in Kashmir. I quote four lines as under:-
Dhoo’r hu’thh Bremiji kullis aayii zabaan
Natcheini laejji la’sha hubba shab chhu siyaah .
Paan gotchh la’bana yunaai gham chhu yutuaai
Taaf gotchh raah e khudaa shab chhu siyaah
( Rafiq Raaz )
(Faraway, that nettle tree has started to converse now,
There, those dead bodies too are up and dancing.
Lord! help us to trace out our own self now,
Sunshine this way Lord, these nights are pitch dark now)
Autar Mota is a blogger, columnist and writes for local and national papers and journals
