Inking the truth | Shivang Satya Gupta | Editor-in-Chief
While India is debating intolerance on TV Channels and newspapers here in Jammu we had a man who faced the real life intolerance and fought against it five hundred years ago sacrificing his life for the poor peasants. The story of revered Bawa Jitto in whose memory the ongoing Jhiri Mela is being organized annually since then can put to shame any of the so called debaters on intolerance who fight it out only on TV channels for TRPs and image building least caring for the real intolerance that is faced by the poor people day in and day out. The story of Bawa Jitto goes back to five hundred years when a common man sacrificed his life for the rights and justice of poor farmers making him a great Dogra legend who still rules the hearts of lakhs of people who throng every year at his Samadhi in Jhiri area of Shama Chak to observe weeklong festival to pay obeisance as repentance to this great farmer for fighting against feudalism and oppression of the landlords. The Samadhi of Baba Jit Mal, popularly known as Baba Jitto is located at Shama Chak Jhiri, about 20 km from Jammu. He had laid down his life after he was cheated by the Kardar of the area. The fair also pays tribute to father (Baba Jitto) and his seven year old daughter Bua Kaudi who set herself ablaze on the pyre of her father Baba Jitto. A temple was built at the site of martyrdom of father and the daughter and after that a fair is held in their memory. The villagers and their descendants have been attending the annual fair to repent for partaking the blood strained grains and for not coming forward to support Baba Jitto. Legend has it that the zamindar demanded a major share of the wheat crop from Jit Mal a poor farmer. Since the peasant had toiled hard to cultivate the crop he did not want to yield to this unjust demand. Rather than parting with his crop, Jit Mal preferred to take the extreme step of ending his life over the heap of wheat. He has ever since been venerated as Baba Jittoo and is revered for standing up against the injustice and unfair treatment meted out to the peasantry during the feudal times. The festivities during the mela last for a week with the main day of the fair being held on Karthik Purnima. People pay obeisance at the Baba Jittoo temple and seek his blessings and the blessings of his daughter Bua Kouri, who as per the legend also took her life by jumping on her father’s funeral pyre. People also take a customary dip in the Baba-daTalab (Pond), a natural pond four kms from the temple which is believed to have curative powers. A huge market comes up at the site of the mela and shops and stalls selling food items and all sorts of wares are set up. Entertainment and rural sports like dangal (wrestling) also form an important feature of the fair. At a distance 5 km from Jhiri are located ancient temples of Sui & Burj known for their exquisite and elaborate wall paintings and metal idols of Shri Ram & Sita. Populace from all parts of India visit the Jhiri fair in order to give respect to the holy soul. Jhiri Mela is generally organized during October or November. The fair persists for many days at a stretch and proffers enjoyment to both young and old alike. This Jhiri Mela is also called as the Farmer’s fair as it is celebrated to worship the holy soul of the farmer Baba Jitu.
