Ballad singer Yusuf with actor Sadia Siddiqui

Twenty-four-year-old Yusuf Khan, a Muslim Jogi from Alwar district, stays a few blocks away from the now-famous Pehlu Khan who was lynched for trading in cattle. In a way, Yusuf Khan, a ballad singer and his family is a testament of the age old Hindu-Muslim brotherhood that seems to now be eroding, thanks to the peddlers of hate.

The growing intolerance, however, has not been able to stop Khan and his family from singing in praise of Krishna, Pandava and Shiva. In fact, Khan, a civil engineer by education, chose being a bhapang player just to keep his family’s legacy alive.
“It was a difficult choice to make,” he says. “I am a qualified civil engineer; I had a bright future ahead. But then, with the sudden death of my grandfather, who was like my guru, I was forced to make a choice between pursuing a modern age career or preserving my legacy. I chose the latter, a decision that I don’t regret, despite the challenges that I have to face,” he adds.

Khan, and his ancestors, represents a particular sect of Muslims, who earn their living by praising Shiv, Krishna or the Pandavas. “I have been playing the bhapang (a musical instrument) since I was a kid. I grew up idolising my grandfather, Jahur Khan, a bhapang player of repute. Being jogis, we earlier used lived by seeking alms from other communities. However, with time, we also opened our doors to education, thereby, bringing down curtain to our age-old tradition of seeking alms for a living. But with that we also sensed, that we were moving away from our musical roots,” says Khan.

The Jogis of Rajasthan, who sing particularly for the Meo Muslims, who consider themselves as the descendents of Pandavas and Krishna, are the custodians of 40 lok kathas (folk lores), which are sung in praise of the Krishna, Pandavas and Shiva. These 40 lok kathas, which are like ballads, however, are not documented. It till date was being passed down generation after generation from the elders to the youths through rigorous trainings and performances. With many jogis wanting to improve their financial condition were seen opting for regular jobs, which in a way was denting the age-old tradition. “This was kind of a threat for our legacy. We were seeing youngster not interested in the lok kathas or bhapang. But still we were being called upon by Meo-Muslims for functions, and were even being paid money, without having to perform. However, I realised that if we don’t save our legacy, one day people would question our identity, as to why were we being called for weddings and being paid, who we are and what’s our importance,” he says.

That was what trigged Khan to take a stand and take on the daunting task of documenting these khatas manually first and then having them saved on computers. This was followed by organising a stage show where they performed a couple of these ballads to have them digitally saved. “I took this initiative of having these kathas digitised; as of now, only my uncle knows them all. My grandfather was earlier custodian of this heritage of ours. He is dead and if anything happens to my uncle, then we will not have much left with us. Every day, I sit for hours with my uncle to make a note of these ballads, for we just can’t take the risk of losing our identity.”

On being asked, how come a Muslim is jogi? “We hail from the dynasty of this Ismail Nath. We have a Bengal connect as Ismail Jogi, was a contemporary of Kamkhya. He was adept in black magic. We, till date do Shiv gaayan on Shivratri. And what about singing ballads that praise Hindu gods, he says, “Well, that is what our identity is. Till date we have made a living by singing them. I don’t see any harm in this. We all are children of one God. The present situation is a bit scary. I think people like us are very much needed for communal harmony.”

He then adds, “Interestingly, our audience too are Muslims. But yes, I must admit, our numbers are dwindling and our legacy is definitely at stake. Especially, with many now not willing to sing or hold performance.”

The Digital Empowerment Foundation, a Delhi-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) and Jahur Khan Mewati Bhapang Kala and Shiksha Samiti, is helping Khan to preserve his family’s legacy, albeit the digital way.

This article was first published on enewsroom.in
 

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Don’t ask me why, but when I saw the image of Dilip Saab receiving the Padma Vibhushan award at the hands of Rajnath Singh, union home minister, in the presence of his proud wife, Saira jee and a beaming Devendra Phadnavis (chief minister, Maharashtra), along with the Governor of Maharashtra, Vidya Sagar Rao, I was reminded of what the thespian had said to me after I had conducted a memorable interview with the legend in Bradford, way back in 2004, during the famous Bite The Mango Film Festival.

Dilip Saab had decided to ignore the Shiv Sena’s diktat, and keep the Nishaan-E-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award bestowed upon him by Islamabad, for his contribution to a deeper Indo Pak understanding.

He was able to brave the opposition at home, and take all those people who were questioning his allegiance to this country head on, because of the support of the then Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Vajpayee, had declared without mincing words, that there was no doubt about Dilip Kumar’s patriotism and commitment to the nation.  Dilip Saab had categorically mentioned in his letter to the Prime Minister that he was ready to return this prestigious award if Vajpayee felt that doing so would serve the national interest.

Dilip Saab had decided to ignore the Shiv Sena’s diktat, and keep the Nishaan-E-Imtiaz, Pakistan’s highest civilian award bestowed upon him by Islamabad, for his contribution to a deeper Indo Pak understanding

It is Atal Bihari Vajpayee who needs to be thanked for firmly standing behind this King of Kings and making a historic trip possible.

‘We stars are used to being revered by all kinds of people, but what happened in Pakistan when I went to receive the award is something that you have to hear Mahesh,’  Dilip Saab had said to me in 2004.

Dilip Saab was scheduled to meet Nawaz Sharif, who was also the Prime Minister of Pakistan at that time.  As is customary, he had contacted the office of the prime minister to assess the time of his appointment to enable a smooth passage through the tight security that surrounds the PM

‘What I was then told humbled me,’ said Dilip Saab.  ‘Imagine my surprise when I was informed by his office that it was not me who was to come to the PM’s office, but that the prime minister was coming to meet me!’

Navaz Sharif then arrived to meet Dilip Kumar with his entourage, and sat down for over an hour, with the humility and childlike eagerness of a true fan of the thespian.  This self-effacing attribute of PM, Navaz Sharif left me awestruck.

It dawned on me that simple human gestures of leaders of state resonate far beyond the work that they may do in their official capacity.  By honoring this great actor who has been the reference point for the Hindi film industry for the last sixty years, Navaz Sharif had come closer to those millions of people who have cried, laughed and applauded this great actor in the darkness of auditoriums all over the world.

‘Sir, I love you for loving my hero,’ I said to Navaz Sharif when I had gone to meet him in his palatial house on the outskirts of Lahore, as part of a peace delegation a few years ago.

With a warm smile he said to me ‘Why don’t you bring Dilip Saab here and you too join us and spend at least a month with us and enjoy our hospitality’, he offered graciously.  He was not in power then.

It is his love for his icon that made Navaz Sharif declare Dilip Saab’s house in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar, where he was born, a national heritage property.

This was indeed the highest tribute that any actor could have received from the head of state of a country that is so much a part of our shared heritage and yet looked upon with animosity by those who propagate the politics of hate.

I recall that on that historic occasion, Saira jee with tears of joy in her eyes, had said, ‘It would be wonderful if our Government too would acknowledge his contribution.’

The thirsty know that real thirst draws out water from a parched and empty sky.  The prayer which had emanated from Saira Jee’s heart has found its answer today.

PM Narendra Modi has warmed the hearts of millions of Indians all over the world by sending his emissaries to Dilip Saab’s abode, to give him his much-deserved award.

Too little too late?  No way.  Better late than never!   Thank you Mr. Modi for loving our hero.

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