This year, two great personalities passed away in village Nillow—Numberdar Ab Rahaman Bhat and Zoona Begum, commonly called ‘Dayee’ in our village. Both played a significant role in making our village functional and peaceful.
Every individual in society occupies a status. Status is a position held by a person in society. When an individual acts according to the expectations of a status, it is known as a role. These two are supplementary to each other. When an individual occupies a status, he or she has to play a role in society. However, some statuses are functional prerequisites for society. They contribute more to society than other statuses.
A type of status still exists in the villages of Kashmir Valley that is central to promoting unity, collective consciousness, social solidarity, social order, and the maintenance of law. That is the status of Numberdar. When a status exists, role expectations arise automatically. However, the role attached to the Numberdar is not easy to fulfill in villages. Sometimes it relies on formal means of control (laws) and sometimes on informal means of control (customs, traditions, beliefs, norms, values, folkways, and mores). The Numberdar holds a status that remains central in terms of the role between the people and the administration.
The village of Nillow is just 7 km away from the main district of Kulgam, towards Shopian District. Nillow is central to many villages like Bugam, Arreh, Pariwan, Sehpora, Mohipora, and Odura. Most government and private services are available in this village, including a government hospital, J&K Bank, veterinary hospital, main market, and government and private high schools. The village is also well connected by roads and has important facilities like a cricket stadium and TSO office. Ensuring the proper functioning of these facilities is very important. While the government plays a major role in maintaining these services, at the village level, the Numberdar and senior citizens also play a crucial role.
This year, two great personalities passed away in village Nillow—Numberdar Ab Rahaman Bhat and Zoona Begum, commonly called “Dayee” in our village. Both played a significant role in making our village functional and peaceful.
These two personalities contributed immensely to our society. The Numberdar, as a cultural institution, has remained central in Kashmiri villages, particularly in decision-making and conflict resolution. In our village, Late Wali Mohd Bhat was also a key figure in maintaining social order and control. Even today, in many villages, collective decisions are taken under the guidance of the Numberdar before being referred to formal agencies like the police.
After Wali Mohd Bhat passed away on 23/02/1981, his son, Ab Rahaman Bhat, was elected as the next Numberdar. He was a respected personality who not only resolved conflicts in his own village but also in the neighbouring villages, maintaining social order. Ensuring social control and solidarity at the village level ultimately contributes to the state, nation, and humanity on a larger scale.
Exercising this type of traditional legal authority or holding the post of Numberdar is not an easy task in Kashmir Valley. It is not everyone’s cup of tea. This is especially true given the conflicts among different village organizations and the challenges before the abrogation of Article 370. People hold diverse opinions about this position. As a participant observer, I can say that this role is very difficult to perform, particularly in Kashmir. The Numberdar is in direct contact with formal agencies like the police, army, general public, and administration to maintain social order in the village. This status is central to law and order in villages and society at large. However, the role associated with this status was highly challenging, especially in Kashmiri villages.
Recently, the administration changed the status of Numberdar from ascribed to achieved status, providing some relief to those holding this position.
The Numberdar of village Nillow played a major role in resolving conflicts related to property, marriages, divorces, land disputes, road disputes, family disputes, and domestic violence. He helped protect many women from domestic violence and dowry threats.
All religious and social theorists of the world support the idea that “resolving conflicts among human beings and providing justice to the weak in society is the greatest service one can offer.” This work has also been praised by great scholars, reformers, Sufi saints, and religious leaders worldwide.
Beyond resolving social issues and maintaining social order, he played a major role in developmental projects, including:
– Construction of Jamia Masjid Naik Pora Nillow
– Reconstruction of the old graveyard
– Power receiving station in Nillow
– Shaikh-ul-Alam Masjid Herpora
For some of these projects, he even donated his own land. He also contributed to new road construction in the village. The Numberdar plays a crucial role in making a village functional.
He was brave in decision-making, always striving to protect the weak and the general public from oppression. His personality earned him great respect from both high- and low-profile members of the village.
He was born on 12/12/1950 into a traditional Numberdar family. Following the death of his father, Wali Mohd Bhat, he took on the role of Numberdar. On 02/09/2024, he passed away at District Hospital Kulgam. His death is a great loss—not only for his family but also for the community, village, state, and nation.
From a sociological perspective, creating such great personalities takes a very long time and requires proper socialization and environment. Unfortunately, such socialization is becoming rare in today’s society.
– As a family, his family lost the head of their household.
– As a village, the village lost a leader and guardian.
– As a state and nation, they lost a man who contributed immensely to social control, order, and equilibrium in society.
May Allah bless him with the highest place in Jannah.
The writer is a PhD scholar in Sociology at Vikrant University, Gwalior
Adil Hussain Bhat
ad********@***il.com