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| Karamati. Photos by Sumaer Siri (c) |
I would like to throw
some light on the background of the lineage of the Great Karamati. First, as
you know, Punjab, my home State, was a battleground for centuries. You talk
about Tribal Armies of Northwest, Afghans, Mongols, Mughals, Persians, and
Alexander; everyone has fought fierce battles in Punjab. They all came on
horses, yes different kinds, and breeds of horses. Many horses stayed back,
intercrossing for centuries with the local breed, have made our present day
horses as one of the best and unique war horse. Punjabi breed of horses are
bigger in size and strength then their peer in other parts of the Indian
subcontinent.
Nihangs (a sect of Sikh warriors who travel on
horses in a group of hundreds) are known for their valor and love for horses
all over India. As they are scattered all over Punjab and other parts of India,
their headquarters is in the Malwa Belt of Punjab. I was appointed as a
Professor at the same place where the headquarters of Nihang is the place that is
basically a small town called Talwandi Sabo. It was there where I saw Karamati
for the first time. I still remember that it was dusk. Karamati was tied to a
big Bayanan tree and his head held high. His mane falling on his forehead, he
was looking at me as if he was trying to recognize me, know me, and was calling
me.
Yes, he fascinated me, the biggest horse of the
Dal (Nihang group). I asked the guy accompanying me, who was a Nihang himself,
“Who is that horse?” And over a big bowl of tea (Tidd Fookni, Belly Burning… that’s
what they call it) he told me the story of Karamati.
Karamati was the son of Neela Farangi (Blue
British). That Neela Farangi, Karamati’s sire, was (Gaddi Wala Ghora) the one
on whose back the Guru used to ride while the Nihangs used to celebrate their
festivals. The stallion Neela Farangi lead the procession of thousands of
Nihangs on horseback. In actuality nobody used to ride the Neela Farangi as it
is thought that Guru Ji (Lord) is riding the horse. So Neela Farangi was a
sacred horse of Nihang Dal. And after him now his son, Karamati, received the
crown to be called Gaddi wla Ghora (One which leads the procession). Yes, he
deserved this position. He walked like that; looked like that.
Few years passed by when the head of the Nihang
Dal, Baba Santa Singh, died and left behind him the battle, the bloodshed, the
bloody war of succession. Few got bullets, she the one surviving, whose four
close relatives died in the gun battle, succeeded the post of Head Nihang Dal.
This bloody feud had its impact on horses and thousands of other Nihangs. Many
got uprooted. Hundreds went absconding, many behind bars…! Horses were the
first to get affected. And this was the time I saw Karamati the second time.
Tears in his eyes, limping from his front leg, structure of barebones; may his
soul rest in peace.
I went to meet the Dal head at some function at
Anandpur in Punjab. Amid high security, he met me after a day long wait in 42°
C hot weather, and not even a drop to drink. I offered him money, he accepted.
Looking at me he uttered, “What you want?" His jaws dropped when I asked
for a horse, as he never expected money for a horse. Horses were headache for
him. He promised me that I would get Karamati when Dal traces him and finds
where Karamati is, in which part of India. Here it is pertinent to say that Nihangs
travel all across India on horseback.
Finally I got Karamati after two months of my
meeting with Nihang Head. He was in bad shape. I still have that picture of him
I clicked when he reached my farm in bad state. Now was the time to
nourish him, feed him, treat him. Karamati was home finally, but my happiness
was short lived when I got a call from Nihangs that they require Karamati at
some religious procession at Talwandi Sabo. I was comfortable with his going
there as he belonged to the Guru (Lord). I arranged everything from medicine to
fodder and transportation to send him there on the promise that he will be back
with me in one week’s time.
It was April when I sent him, and it was
November when I was still waiting for his return as the Nihangs wanted more money.
I paid three more times to again transport him back to my farm in November, but
this was not the Karamati I got. It was a skeleton. He was dying of wounds on
his back and fore left leg.
Yes we cried. I felt his pain. After six months
I sent him to Gujarat State for his treatment in the best Veterinarian Hospital
of India, but his condition worsened when he came back from there after few months.
I was at Toronto, Canada, when I got the call that he had fallen and not eating
anything. I knew that he was dying. I tried to save him, adore him, but failed.
Just like a helpless father, I waited for the bad news and it came two days later.
We had religious ceremonies at my farm later in
November 2012 for the wellness of his soul. This is a materialistic world,
everything changes. Now people don't have time for their companion of ages.
They hold us on their back, and we could not pay back what they deserved. Long
Live Karamati.
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| Karamati. Photo by Manu Sharma (c) |
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| Karamati. Original Art by Zorka Veličković (c) |
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| Karamati. Original Art by Zorka Veličković (c) |
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| Karamati. Photo by Manu Sharma (c) |
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| Karamati. Photo by Manu Sharma (c) |
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