4. Insane Person: Kashmiri Proverbs
Mott : مۆت :
The word "Mott", in its most straightforward sense, denotes an individual of unsound mind. Traditionally, it carries two connotations: one, referring to a person afflicted with congenital mental infirmity; and the other, to a soul who, in the fervent pursuit of the divine, appears to have strayed from the bounds of reason—a figure at once mad and mystic.
Yet in compound form, "Mott" transcends its clinical origins to inhabit a realm of poetic suggestion. It comes to signify one who is so passionately devoted to a particular thing that the intensity of their attachment borders on the ecstatic. In this sense, "Mott" evokes not derangement, but rapture—an all-consuming fondness that defines the individual’s very being. The object of this devotion may vary, but the ardor remains constant.
Examples abound in the lyrical register of Kashmiri expression:
Poshe-mott: پوشہٕ مۆت :— one who is enraptured by flowers (flower-fancier)
پوشہِ مئتی دِلبر میے تراوِتھ کوۆت گژھکھ
یتھ دلس ارمان تھاوِتھ کوۆت گژھکھ
(علی محمد شہباز)
Poshe matti dilbar mey traevith kott gachhakh,
Yath dilas armaan thaaevith kott gachhakh.
O my flower-fancier beloved, leaving me behind where are you going?
Giving rise to desires in my heart, where are you going?
Aaeshe-mott: ٲشہٕ مۆت :— a lover of ease and leisure (leisure-fancier)
Yawan-mott: یاون مۆت :— one bewitched by the fleeting beauty of youth (youth-fancier)
Nindri-mott: نِندرٕ مۆت :— a devotee of sleep’s sweet oblivion (sleep-fancier)
Kolai-mott: کۄلۓ مۆت :— one utterly devoted to his wife (wife-fancier; uxorious). Feminine: Raaen maechh (Husband-fancier)
Mara-mott: مارٕ مۆت :— one enthralled by the force of love itself (love-fancier). Probably from Amaar, which means Love in Kashmiri language.
یارہ چَھمنا نِیندر یِوان، یارہ از ولو سون یے
آرہٕ کٕژ کٔرتھس، میہ چٗھ مارمۆت چون یے
(سۄچھ کرال)
Yaareh chhamna nindir yiwaan, yaareh az walo soanye,
Aareh keech kerthas, mey chhu maarmott choanye.
O beloved, my sleep has fled — come, grace our home today.
You’ve made me a tale of pity, yet I fancy your love only.
Khinni-mott: کِھنہ مۆت :— a tender term for children, whose nose is always running (snot-fancier).
Nange-mott: ننگہٕ مۆت :— a playful endearment for little ones with a fondness for being unclothed (naked-fancier)
In all its forms, "mott" reflects a soul bound not by reason, but by affection—an emblem of the human heart’s strange and beautiful obsessions.
Some proverbs and sayings about the word "Mott":
1. Mott laegith saal batte khyon: مۆت لٲگِٕتھ سال بتہ کھؠون : To partake feast by pretending to be insane. It means to attain one's object by pretending to be simpleton.
2. Mattyev anaay nosh, soti aaes machhie: متؠو انے نۆش، سۄتہ ٲس مژٕی : The insane one's brought the daughter in law, she also turned out to be insane. It means birds of the same feather flock together.
3. Matti sund dopp chhi balayan thopp: مٔتی سُند دۆپ چِھہ بلاین تھۆپ : The counsel of Divinely insane is protection from the calamities. Divinely insane persons are held in high regard in Kashmir.
4. Maett-aab: مٔتی آب : Water that drives mad one who drinks it. Metaphorically, a condition of anarchy or tyranny and wickedness in which the King/Government officials and the inhabitants of a country all act like madmen.
5. Mattis cheh batini veer: مٔتس چھ بتٕنی ویٖر : The mad man has love of food only.
6. A contemporary saying goes like this: Greeisti sund gov pagal, peerih sund gov mott: گریٖستہِ سُند گۄ پاگل، پیرٕ سُند گۄ موٚت : The mad son of farmer is simply mad while as mad son of priest is divinely mad. Connotes the class difference and the deference.
More detailed article about insane or lunatic persons:
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