Srinagar: As Kashmir’s traditional folk theatre fades, one man s legacy finds new life through his grandson’s lens
Nestled along the banks of the Jhelum lies a quiet kashmiri village where an old man Rahman Bhand wakes before dawn each day. On the wooden veranda of his crumbling home he gently polishes his old dhol the same drum that once echoed across the valley The paint on his colourful masks has long faded, and the costumes that once dazzled crowds now hang like forgotten ghosts in a dark corner
Decades ago. Rahman was the beating heart of Bhand Pather, Kashmir’s folk theatre tradition celebrated for its laughter satire, and wisdom. Through playful dance mimicry and sharp humour Rahman and his troupe spoke truth to power and brought joy to ordinary people. Their open-air-performances drew villagers from miles away, children laughed elders nodded, and even the silent mountains seemed to listen But those days have slipped away.
The young now scroll through glowing screens instead of gathering under the old chinar tree. Government promises of cultural revival have faded like morning mist. Rahman’s troupe members and his lifelong friends are gone, some to the grave others to distant cities in search of work. One day, Rahman’s grandson Aamir, a college student studying media returns home. He finds his grandfather rehearsing alone playing every role, speaking to invisible actors. Amused at first. Aamir soon recognises the passion and pain behind the performance
“Dada he whispers, let me record this
For weeks. Aamir films his grandfather’s final acts the songs, the satire the humour that once stirred the valley. When he uploads the videos online, something remarkable happens. People across Kashmir begin watching. Some are filled with nostalgia, others witness Bhand Pather for the first time
Soon, a local school invites Rahman to perform. Though frail, he agrees. The children giggle, the elders smile, and once again, under the evening sky, the old masks gleam in the fading light
That night. Rahman passed away peacefully, dhol was resting quietly beside him Today. Aamir carries his grandfather’s legacy. He teaches Bhand Pather to children blending tradition with modern storytelling. The art form may have dimmed, but through those who remember it breathes again
