Krishan Chander Park in poonch where 14700 blooming Tulips of different varieties are welcoming visitors and locals. Krishan Chander Park is name after renowned Urdu fiction writer Krishan Chandar. Poonch might have not been the birthplace of the renowned Urdu fiction writer Krishan Chandar, yet he had developed eternal bonds with area of Peer Panchal, and with its poets and writers.
Physically and emotionally he had deep love and respect for Poonch which did not diminish throughout his life. He even chose Poonch as his last resting place. According to his will his ashes were not consigned to ganges but buried. People close to Krishen Chandar say that he loved Poonch and he wished to preserve his ashes in Poonch.
Here are few interesting things about Krishan Chand and Park:
- As desired in will of Krishen Chandar , his ashes were brought from Bombay as it was called then, and then buried at a central park in Poonch. Later the Park was named as Krishan Chandar Park.
- Chander spent his childhood in Poonch, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, where his father worked as the physician of Maharaja Poonch.
- Krishan Chandra was born at Barathpore, Rajasthan on November 23, 1993. His father was a doctor by profession. Poonch state was a protectorate under the Dogra rule. At the age of five his father got him admitted to Mendhar Primary School, Poonch. Krishan Chandar got his middle and higher secondary education from Haveeli High School, Poonch. He had his Urdu education only up to fifth standard.
- According to him he was often punished in the class because of not doing well in Urdu subject. This forced him to change the subject in sixth standard and he gave up studying Urdu subject. Instead, he opted for Sanskrit Subject. But this trick also did not work. The experience of Sanskrit subject was worse. He ultimately gave up Sanskrit subject and opted for Persian. Here he had to face Balaqu Ram who would beat Krishen Chandar for not learning Persian.
- Krishen developed a longing for mastering Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit language as he was always reprimanded by his teachers. In spite of this, he not only made a name for himself in Urdu literature but he also made Urdu as his sole interest and means of livelihood. Daily beatings from his master Balaqi Ram culminated in his article “Professor Blackee”. He dispatched it to weekly newspaper “Riyasat” which was published by renowned Journalist Deewan Singh Maftoon from Delhi.
- His novel Shakast (Defeat) is related to Kashmir’s partition. Mitti Ke Sanam one of his most popular novel is about the childhood memories of a young boy who lived with his parents in Kashmir.
- He was a bold and fearless Journalist. He was always at logger heads with native Rajas, Maharajas and Nawabs. Maharaja Patiala and Nawab Bhopal had filed a deformation case against him and even cases of embezzlement and murderous attack as he would expose their debauchery. He would go to any extent in his battle against the native rulers and this is the reason that he spent his life in those parts of India where the British ruled directly.
- The newspaper “Riyasat” was a renowned Urdu newspaper of its times. Anything that appeared in it was considered of high standard. Krishen Chandar, who was fed up with his teacher, wrote an article and dispatched it to “Riyasat”. It was not only published but the editor encouraged Krishen Chandar to continue writing for the paper.
- Krishen Chandar had an ephemeral liking for hockey, football, music, cavalry and painting. He had developed interest in painting when he was a student in his seventh and eighth standard. He made ten to fifteen paintings, but due to lack appreciation he gave up painting. He developed his interest in drama when he was in 10th standard. Once he had performed the role of Udshter in Mahabaharat.
- His younger played the role of Aryan which was appreciated by all. Krishen Chander writes about this drama: “Theater had assumed importance in the cultural life of Poonch. We would play drama every year in which people belonging to different faith or religions would take part. Ali Mohammad Jalla would perform the role of Hunuman. Imam-ud-din would play the role of Aryan.”
- Krishen Chandar had great love for Poonch as he has spent his boyhood and teenage years there with his parents. He spent seven years in Mendhar. It was in Mendhar that he read Arabian Nights. He also studied Munshi Prem Chand. It is said that Poonch was the first love of Krishen Chandar. He wrote the first four poems, ” Puray safer ki adhi kahani,” “Agini,” “Musafir Ki Muhabat” and “Yarqan” were penned in this town. The background of his first novel is set in Mendhar.
- when Krishen Chandar came to Poonch for the last time in connection with his documentary the writers and poets of Poonch organized an extraordinary function in his honour which was presided over by the renowned writer Dina Nath Rafeeq. A function was also organized at Geeta Bhawan Poonch in his honour which was presided over by Journalist Dina Nath Kapoor on his last visit to Poonch. Krishan Chandar spent his last days in Poonch Mahal.
- His another memorable novel is “Gaddar”, which is about the partition of India and Pakistan in 1947. In this novel, he brilliantly picturised the sufferings of the people during that time through a selfish young man’s feelings, who himself was a gaddar (betrayer). His short stories are the stories of Kashmiri villages, as well as those of displaced expatriates and rootless urban man. He used Pahari (dialect of people living in Poonch) words while writing in Urdu.
Krishen Chandar maintained his relationship and love for the land of Poonch. Today Krishen Chanda Park enjoy the beauty of Tulips which have added to the beauty of the Park.