Kin of Kashmir’s ex-court poet hope to reclaim haveli

Jaisalmer: With the Centre revoking special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, the family of a court poet of Kashmir’s last king, Maharaja Hari Singh, is hopeful of getting back its haveli situated at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. The family members of the court poet, late Murardan Charan, now stay at Sojat in Pali district and at Balotara in Barmer district.The poet’s family hails from Aangdosh village in Pali district and has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah for the move.
Maharaja Hari Singh, impressed with the talent of Murardan Charan of Angdosh village in Pali district, conferred upon him the title of ‘Kaviraja of Kashmir’ and appointed him the court poet. There is a huge haveli of Kashmir Kaviraja Murardan at Lal Chowk in Srinagar, where he used to reside with his family. In 1982, Kaviraja Murardan’s eldest son advocate Mohan Singh shifted to Sojat in pali district, and younger son advocate Shatrupal Singh shifted to Balotara in Barmer district. Shatrupal’s younger son Mahipal Singh and his son advocate Karan Singh too have expressed happiness on the Centre’s move. The family now hopes to assert their claim over their ancestral property, which holds immense value for them as a memory.