In this extract from ‘Vignettes of Kashmir’ by E. G. Hull (1903), one can read about how Kashmir was introduced to Magic Lantern, one of the first image projectors invented, named Tamasha or spectacle by locals, and we can see how this magic of images was used in missionary work. On set of magic beliefs trying to replace another set of magic beliefs.
‘THERE are men and women feeling after God in Kashmir, as in every land, and it is worth
more than a day’s journey to light on one of these.
with a magic lantern, had started for a tour in
the villages one bright spring day.
meal, my companion spread her medicines on a
little table, and was soon surrounded by a modern
Pool of Bethesda crowd, whom the news of the
arrival of a lady doctor had brought together,
while I set out to visit in the neighbouring town.
Chowdry, a state official. I was shown into the
sitting-room, where he sat upon a kind of dais,
with another man, whom I afterwards found
to be the family priest. Both men sat facing a
recess in the wall, the interior of which I could
not then see, but which I afterwards discovered
contained the hideous household god.
was spread for me on a low table, disconnected
with the dais, on which of course, as a Christian,
I could not be allowed to sit. I was soon joined by the two women of the household, the Chowdry’s mother and wife.
a Christian teacher, the Chowdry expressed great
pleasure at my coming. He seemed an earnest
man, with but little belief in his own religion, yet
not content, like so many Indians, with being
without any religion at all ; and he said eagerly :
” God has shown you English people the way ;
come and show me the way, for I can nowhere
find it.” I was amazed at his frankness, especi-
ally before his priest, but perhaps the priest
himself, like others I have mentioned, was seeking “the way.” My heart yearns over the
priests, for I have a strong idea that many
would gladly relinquish their idol worship, were
it not that ” by this craft ” they get their living.
” the Way, the Truth and the Life ” to this little
household, all, including the priest, giving me
an attentive hearing. It was but one of many
conversations I had with the Chowdry, who made
a slight deafness in one of his ears the excuse for
a daily visit to our tent.
were afterwards able to exhibit to a large audience
in his house, including more than one Hindu
priest, a fairly complete representation of the
principal events of our Lord’s life. It seemed
like a revelation to them. The women especially, sitting in front, gazed long, with folded hands
and heads bowed in reverence, at a beautiful
picture of the Babe of Bethlehem, saying afterwards to me with much emotion : ” Truly it
seemed as though God had Himself descended
into our house to-day ! ”
besides that of the sick and suffering women, who
gathered round the lady doctor for treatment.
was very helpful in many ways, and of his own
accord he sounded a gong for the women to leave
their various avocations to come and see.
provisions, but so far empty, with no aperture
through which the light could come but the door
and a window with a wooden shutter, enabled us
to show our lantern in the daytime, and so secure
a much better audience than we should in the
evening, as Kashmiris do not like going out at
night ; they have a strong belief that not only the
pestilence, but other mysterious things too,
“walk in darkness.” The long, low room was
densely packed from end to end, and as there was
no possible means of ventilation without letting
in the light, it was well we had no time to think
of the atmosphere !
courage to ask very intelligent questions.
It was a solemn moment, and an awed silence
fell on all as a picture of the Crucifixion was
thrown on the sheet. It was the one known as
” The Marble Cross,” in which the dying Saviour
is alone represented. We did not break the silence
by any explanations, but allowed them for a
moment to sit still in the presence of the Crucified
One.
But awe grew into something like enthusiasm
as we passed from Death to Resurrection and
Ascension. One could hardly have believed it to
be a Muhammadan audience.
” There will be one more picture,” I said, ” but
we cannot show it as yet.” I was referring to the
Coming in Glory, but, ere I could explain my
meaning, I was interrupted by a young man, who
from the first manifested very great interest. He
now sprang to his feet, exclaiming: ” We must see
it now, we must see all.” When he allowed me
to resume what I was saying, I told them that we
could not show them that picture, but that God
would, because it was written: ” Behold, He
Cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see Him.”
Yet even this promise scarcely satisfied them
that we had not the picture of that awful Advent
somewhere concealed.
Our lantern has told its story to many a strange
audience. We have shown it to the sister of the Amir of Kabul and her household, to a Dogra
official of high standing and his household, and to
the family and servants of one of the Kashmiri
rais or nobility, as well as to the poor sick ones in
the dispensary, so that eye as well as ear may
drink in the message of salvation.
I am using the above given extract as a postscript to a story shared by my Uncle Roshan Lal Das. On the surface it tells of the comic coming of Lantern to Kashmir. The story could have been a skit performed by Bhands of Kashmir. It could be the remnant of the above given story.
LALTEN SAHAB
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Long ago, a news spread in our ancestral village Harmain that one Lalten Sahib had arrived in Kashmir. Lalten Sahib was described as a beast with a fiery belly burning with hell fire. The affects of this news would be felt all over the valley. The news were spreading fast. The people in Harmain heard that Lalten Sahib had reached Srinagar and was now moving towards Shopian. They heard that he would soon their village too and bring the the fires of hell upon them.
Dusk turned to night and the Moulvi carried on his sermons. When it seemed he would carry on well into the morning, suddenly he stopped in the middle of a sentence about how men had brought on this curse upon themselves by their violations against God’s word, he became tongue tied, he face froze in fear, it seemed like the meaning of his own words had dawned upon him, like he was contemplating on his life of misdemeanors, like he was about to tells the truth now, but when he finally spoke, the only words that came out just before he passed off, were: ‘Run for your life, Lalten is here’. The peasants scrammed here and there and finally nestled inside the mosque whose doors were now tightly bolted. One of the faithfuls had carried the Moulvi on his shoulders and into the mosque. The shivering peasants sat praying loudly, their backs swaying back and forth. Some of them wailed and occasionally asked Allah aloud as to why they were being punished for no fault of theirs. The moulvi regained consciousness. All of them asked him in one voice, ‘Moulvi Sahib, Moulvi Sahib,What did you see Moulvi Sahib?’
‘Don’t’ ask my beloved brothers and sisters. Don’t ask. I can still see its fire. It was the devil himself. One of the darkest figures I have ever seen. Just behind you, it was moving in from the bushes. A fire of hellish hue was emanating from its belly. Only a miracle can now save us from Lalten. Pray my dear brothers. Pray. It may well be our Judgement day.’ With this everyone around him began crying.
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