Kabir Lok… - Azim Premji Foundation

The Start of a Mystical Journey……
Kabir Lok… Sur Sangat
Dated -14th Feburary’2013
Kabir Lok…. Sur Sangat
A Mystical Evening at Kabir Lok…
On 14th of Feburary’2013, Azim Premji Foundation, Dehradun, organized a musical evening to rejuvenate
Kabirana thoughts (thoughts of Kabir,Raheem,Bulleh Shah, Ruskhan). The occasion was graced by the
presence of Mukhitiya Ali ji, a Sufi singer who filled the evening with songs and music to delight the
audiences. That event was a mystical experience which got imprinted in the being of people present.
Sur Sungat, evolved with the idea of identifying & engaging with people who are living their lives close to
our mission of creation of a “Just, Equitable, Humane & Sustainable Society”, as per the preamble of our
constitution. Music as the means of both communicating the thoughts as well as creating vibrancy with
kabir as the master of the idea, and Mukhtiyar Ali the singer.
His music created enormous energy and
vibrancy in the atmosphere, the magic of his
Sufi voice ignited the souls and the audience
was transformed into a different world. There
was joy on every face, and one could not help
closing their eyes and just enjoy.
Members not only from Uttarakhand but from
other State Institutes were present. It was a
diverse group, with children, teenagers,
middle-aged and senior citizens. Both the
CEOs of the foundation were also present to
be a part of this event.
Ru-Ba-Ru with Mukhitiyar Ali :
During Mukhitiyar Ali ji’s visit he shared his
background. He said that he belonged to the 26th
generation of Sufi singers from Mirasi community
where this tradition is one the verge of extinction.
His belief and constant efforts resulted in
successfully keeping alive the singing tradition of
Sufiana Qalam. Around in the year 1990, after
working as labourer and other similar professions in
pugal, Bikaner, he expressed his interest to his
father to help him learn sufiana Qalam. His father
resisted and shared his reluctance towards it as it
was not popular in the contemporary world.
Mukhtiyar Ali ji dedicated his first musical
number by paying his homage to the Almighty, “Hari Maula, Hari Om! This number reflected Equity..
He shared that whatever they would be singing would not be theirs but of saints “Meera Bai ,Kabir and
others“
Another musical number was on describing how kabir thought about his nation…. “Kehat Kabir Suno re
sadho… Pahunchela Guru ka pyaara… Ajee Santon aisa des hamara…”
Further, he dedicated a Sufi number especially for the young audience…, “Teri Deewanee, khwaja kei
mein deewanee.”
As the evening proceeded Mukhtiyar Ali ji sang yet another sufiana number... “Haur Ke Manga main
raab kolon, nit khair manga tere dum dee…” (Now there is nothing that I can ask for, you have blessed
me with this life)
Chaaptilak mo se chini to se naina mila ke…. “Ara aa peeya is nnainan main, aur palak dhaap tohe
loon ,na main dekhoon aur ko, aur na tohe deekhan main doon….”
He also shared same thoughts but differently articulated thoughts of Kabir and Bulleh Shah…
Flavor of Kabir : “Pothithi Padhi Padhi, Jagh muaa ,aur pandit bhaya na koi,dhayee aakhar prem ka
padhe so pandit hoye…”
Flavor of Bulleh Shah: “Padhi Padh aalam fazil banya, kadhi aapna aap noon padhiya hi nahin…”
Bulleh Shah belonged to a royal family (Syed Gharana). And he wanted to be close to God, his Guru told
him that by dancing & singing he can be close to God, hence, he started to sing and dance..“Agar raasta
dekhana wala nahi mila ga to pata nahi ke who rasta kaha ja raha hai, isliya raasta dekhanawala
zaroori hai…”
Finally, it was “Dama Dum Mast Kalandar…” listening to this audience could not resist coming on to the
floor to dance.
Ru-Ba-Ru with Mukhitiyar Ali ji:
Towards the end Anant ji thanked him by sharing
While discussing Mukhtiyar Ali ji he stated that he has not
these lines… “Staying so close to the mountains
and rivers we can’t imagine how life would be in received any formal education, but he has given his
the deep deserts of Rajasthan, but after listening performances amongst the most elite class, he shares that
to Mukhtiyar Ali ji, we experienced that river of this is all His (almighty) planning, he didn’t do anything, but
music flows amidst those deserts and that’s how acted as per the circumstances. There were moments when
life moves on in deserts too. Mukhitiyar ji came he couldn’t feed his family, therefore, he had no options but
here & brought with him Kabir, Bulleh Shah & to do whatever work came his way through a daily wage
basis. (Mazdoori)
many others.”
And Dileep ji concluded by sharing his feelings
“Yeah ek suroon aur geeton ki sham thee. Bol
aur sur is ka jo sangam tha who sab dil cheer ke
aandar chala gaya!...The things that we want to
say in education for years have been presented
in two minutes, in two lines, in one doha. We
heard, we learnt, and there were so many
musical raags this evening, therefore, we are
grateful to Mukhtiyar Ali ji for his imitable
performance.”
He constantly struggled and finally, in the year 2000 he
decided to dedicate himself to music. For two years he
practiced harmonium day and night with passion, at-last
his struggle ended, the almighty bestowed his blessings,
when he had a dialogue with Shabnam Virmani at the
inception of “Hadd Anhad “and there after it became a
long journey…. Mukhitiyar Ali got offers to sing in movies
but he resisted because he feels that if he experiments with
it, it would lose its grace and essence if it goes in others
hands. (The message that he wants to convey through this
people will take it in some other manner and sell it.)