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| From an image published in 1952 |
A popular old ditty from Kashmir on Maths and its mind befuddling mysteries.
Algebra Nay Jabar Kiya
Waqt Ki Rahi Tangi
Kalam Bechara Kya Likhay
Kakaz Rahi Nangi
Algebra unleashed terror.
There wasn’t enough time.
What could the poor pen cover?
Naked, was left the Paper.
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In Kashmir, Kagaz is Kakaz.
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I first came across that ditty thanks to my grandmother who would use bits of it to taunt me while I would fall asleep while reading. Then, recently, I came across two lines in book ‘Srinagar: My City My Dream’ by Zahid G. Muhammad‘, a complete ‘Kashmir Nostalgia’ trip, (first and only book that someone actually bought from Flipkart based on a recommendation on this blog). Then, today, I came across the full ditty in ‘Cashmere: Kashir That Was Yarbal’ compiled by Somnath Sapru. [PDF download link].
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