By Imran Inamdar, TwoCircles.net
Kakhet lekru, Hatat jhadan, Doi war Shenachi Paati, Maye Bhima na sonya ne bharli woti”
(Child in arms, broom in the hand and pot of garbage on the head, my Bhim has filled my sack with gold)
These are the lines of a Marathi song highlighting the great contribution of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar towards the Dalits of India. Over the past few weeks, it has gone viral on social media thanks to Kadubai Karat, an Aurangabad-based Bhimgeet singer. The video in which she is seen singing in the streets has gained thousands of views on Facebook and other social media platforms.
After losing her husband ten years ago, Kadubai started singing Bhimgeet, which is a term used to refer to songs and music about Babasaheb, to earn an income for her family. Accompanied by her ektara, a single-string instrument and a soulful voice, she has since continued spreading the life and works of Babasaheb. Although she never attended school, she is well informed about Babasaheb’s social movements, personality and struggle against atrocities.
While her video may have gained thousands of views and earned her praise, until now Kadubai has barely been able to make ends meet. She lives on the outskirts of Aurangabad city with her three children (two sons and a daughter) in a hut without electricity, water and other basic amenities. In fact, even being able to speak with Kadubai proved challenging for this correspondent as she owns no phone. It was thanks to Sapkal Kaka, her neighbour, that we were able to speak with her.
Speaking with TwoCircles.net, Kaka said, “Everybody is calling me to get her details. She couldn’t continue her son’s education due to poverty….Besides praise and love, she needs economic support as well to spread Babasaheb’s contribution through her magical voice in a much better way.”
In a conversation with Twocircles.net through Kaka’s phone, Kadubai said she has been a Bhimgeet singer since her childhood but it was only after losing her husband that she resorted to singing for income. “I had no other way of feeding my kids…singing Babasaheb’s songs gives me great pleasure and happiness in life and helps sustain my family,” she said.
The recent response from people has left her overwhelmed, Kadubai said. “People appreciating my Bhimgeet is no less than getting blessings from Babasaheb…I am really very happy. Nearly one thousand activists from all over India have called…after knowing my domestic conditions, one person from Delhi has also offered financial help,” she added.