Afghans governed Kashmir from 1757 to 1819, a 62-year period marked by chaos and strife. This era is considered one of the darkest in Kashmir’s history. However, the Afghans did not seize the region on their own; they were invited by Kashmiri nobles who sought to end the Mughal rule. The Durranis took control of Kashmir in 1757. However, the Kashmiris, who had hoped for better governance, were soon disillusioned. Abdullah Khan, the governor, unleashed a reign of terror, subjecting the people to brutal atrocities, including tying people and throwing them into lakes for amusement.
It’s said that in desperation, some Kashmiri nobles sent a delegation to Kabul to plead for a new governor, hoping for a more just ruler. The Afghan king allowed them to choose, and they selected a man who appeared well-dressed and distinguished. The nobles carried him back to Kashmir, but during the journey to the capital, a funeral procession caught the new governor’s attention. He stopped the procession, approached the deceased, removed the shroud, and cut off the corpse’s ears. When questioned, he declared,
“Not only the living but also the dead should know that Chirag Byegh is coming to Kashmir.”This act symbolized the harshness of Beigh’s rule, despite the nobles’ hopes. The phrase Wothya Chirag Beigh is now used humorously to for mistakes. For instance, if someone spills milk, they might be told, Wothya Chirag Byegh, meaning, “May Chirag Byegh step down.”
It’s pertinent to mention that this is an anecdote and can be historically inaccurate. It appears that the name Chirag Byegh could be a less-known official or just a figment of imagination to narrate the horrors of the Durrani empire. However, Chirag Byegh has various background stories.
Having heard this a number of times without knowing the background gave a sense of displeasure. All that I knew about the phrase was a perception that chirag beigh was probably a devil who took children.