By Rafat Nayeem Quadri, for TwoCircles.net,
Ahmedabad: The magic of her voice spread like a soothing spray for the mourners and sympathizers and all the visitors to Gulberg Society on the eve of 27th February who had assembled to commemorate the decade of resilience.
Shubha Mudgal, the flamboyant singer who sings with flair, gusto and feeling sitting atop a house of Gulberg Society sang in her special andaaz (style) the selected couplets and stanzas of Urdu and Hindi poetry of Gauhar Raza, activists Vinay & Charu the lyricists and singers and of others.
The beautifully created poetry and equally well sung by Mudgal left a long lasting and soothing effect on the survivors of Gujarat Genocide (2002) who remained present at this unusual and impressive gathering organized by Communalism Combat and Citizens for Justice and Peace in a collective action, with individuals and groups who also arranged a live relay of the Memorial by live Internet link.
Aneesh Pradhan, her husband and reputed Tabla artist and Sudhir Nayak with his skills on harmonium complimented the powerful voice of Shubha at a packed assembly at Gulberg Society.
Members of all leading NGOs who have been struggling hard to work for getting justice to the survivors of the gruesome tragedy of 2002, activists from across the globe, large number of media representatives, social workers of repute, bureaucrats who have been giving a tough fight to the State Government and the sympathizers of the survivors attended the function in large number at Gulberg Society.
Teesta Setalvad, the leading activist behind the Gulberg survivors’ struggle for justice showed Shubha Mudgal the Exhibition and took her around the Gulberg houses. They were accompanied by many survivors and activists. Late Ehsan Jafri’s family members including wife Zakia Jafri, son Tanvir Jafri and daughter Nishrin Jafri Hassan were also there since morning with a huge number of their relatives, friends and well wishers.
Lyrics of the songs sung on the evening:
Chale Chalo Dil me Ghav…
Chale chalo dilo me ghav leke bhi chale chalo,
Chalo lahuluhan pao leke bhi chale chalo,
Chalo ki aaj sath-sath chalne ki zarurate,
Chalo ki khatm ho na jaye jindagi ki hasrate.
Jameen, khawab, jindagi, yakeen, sab ko batkar,
Woh chahtehe bebasi me aadmi jhukaye sar,
Woh chahtehe jindagi ho roshni se bekhabar,
Woh ek-ek karke aab jala rahe hai har shahar,
Jale hue gharo ke khawab leke bhi chale chalo.
Woh chahtehe hai baatna yeh jindagi ke kafile,
Woh chahtehe baatna yeh jindagi ke walwale,
Woh chahtehe hai khatm ho ummid ke yeh silsile,
Woh chahtehe hai gir sake na loot ke yeh sab kile,
Sawal hi hai aab jawab leke bhi chale chalo.
Woh chahtehe hai jatiyon ki, boliyon ki phoot ho,
Woh chahtehe hai dharm ko tabahiyon ki choot ho,
Woh chahtehe hai jindagi me ho fareb, jhoot ho,
Woh chahtehe hai jis tarah bhi ho magar yeh loot ho,
Siro pe joh bachi hai chav leke bhi chale chalo.
Tu zinda hai…
Tu zinda hai to zindagi ki jeet mein yaqeen kar,
agar kahin hai swarg to utaar la zameen par, Tu zinda hai…
Ye gham ke aur chaar din, sitam ke aur chaar din,
ye din bhi jaayenge ghuzar, ghuzar gaye hazaar din.
kabhi to hogi is chaman pe bhi bahaar ki nazar,
agar kahin hai swarg to utaar la zameen par, Tu zinda hai…
Hamare caravan ko manzilon ka intezaar hai,
ye aandhiyon, ye bijaliyon ki peeth par sawar hai.
tu aa kadam mila ke chal, chalenge ek saath hum,
agar kahin hai swarg to utaar la zameen par, Tu zinda hai…
zameen ke pet mein pali agan, pale hain zalzale,
tike na tik sakenge bhookh rog ke swaraaj ye,
museebaton ke sar kuchal chalenge ek saath hum
agar kahin hai swarg to utaar la zameen par, Tu zinda hai…
Buri hai aag pet ki, bure hain dil ke daag ye,
na dab sakenge, ek din banenge inqlaab ye.
girenge zulm ke mahal, banenge fir naveen ghar,
agar kahin hai swarg to utaar la zameen par, Tu zinda hai…
(Rafat Nayeem Quadri is the Editor of BILKUL, Gujarat’s First English Fortnightly. She can be contacted at M: 90999 27424 and [email protected])