1 00:00:31,700 --> 00:00:35,500 Passion is in abundance in the world 2 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:39,900 Someone is passionate for truth or God 3 00:00:40,100 --> 00:00:42,000 Someone is passionate for devotion 4 00:00:42,100 --> 00:00:45,000 Someone for their bodies or their profession 5 00:00:45,100 --> 00:00:49,900 Its not of just one kind 6 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:54,500 First the it was God who felt the passion and love in abundance 7 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,400 Then with all that passion and love God created this world 8 00:00:57,500 --> 00:01:00,600 To spread his passion and love in this Universe 9 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:07,300 There is a village near Nabha, a city in Punjab 10 00:03:07,900 --> 00:03:11,200 That is where Hardayal Singh Thohi was born 11 00:03:11,300 --> 00:03:12,200 He is still there 12 00:03:12,300 --> 00:03:14,600 He loves all of us 'Dhadis' so much 13 00:03:14,700 --> 00:03:19,500 He has written for all the 'Dhadis' 14 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,100 So many souls have ascended and left 15 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,400 Seems like almost all of them have 16 00:03:34,300 --> 00:03:40,200 This is like my biography along with some photographs 17 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:48,900 Here's Desh Raj Lashkani, Sufi 'Dhadi' artist 18 00:03:49,300 --> 00:03:52,200 Whoever recites the holy name 19 00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:55,400 Whoever performs 'Kirtan' and sings about the divine 20 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:58,000 He is known as a 'Dhadi' 21 00:03:58,100 --> 00:04:00,300 There are 'Singh Dhadis' 22 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:03,600 Who sing poetic chants for the gurus, about their history 23 00:04:03,700 --> 00:04:04,400 Or even their attire 24 00:04:04,500 --> 00:04:07,300 But majorly about their history and life events 25 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,900 They will always be dressed in a traditional attire 26 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,000 They won't cut their hair or beards 27 00:04:15,100 --> 00:04:18,300 We are the kind of 'Dhadis' who aspire to live 28 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:20,500 With an open mind 29 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:24,900 We will chant the holy name, sing about their history 30 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,100 We will sing sufi poetry as well 31 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:33,900 So our community, which is open to all art forms was titles as the 'Sufi Dhadis' 32 00:04:38,000 --> 00:04:42,800 In 1947, when we took our independence from the British 33 00:04:42,900 --> 00:04:45,300 The whole population was scattering here and there 34 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,900 That's when I was born 35 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:53,800 So many of us were put into new situations 36 00:04:53,900 --> 00:04:57,100 Some moved to the west, some stayed. 37 00:04:57,200 --> 00:05:02,400 But to us the subedars and administrators of our village 38 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:07,900 Told us to live at our place fearlessly 39 00:05:08,000 --> 00:05:14,500 They also asked us to hang a wooden stick outside our place 40 00:05:14,600 --> 00:05:17,100 So that the visitors and traspassers know 41 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:20,800 That this house belongs to 'Meerzaadas' 42 00:05:20,900 --> 00:05:23,300 They must be treated with utmost respect 43 00:05:25,100 --> 00:05:31,100 Mardanas are also known as Merasis, meaning artists 44 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:36,500 That is the community we belong to 45 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:41,600 The prayer that Guru Nanak Dev Ji used to recite 46 00:05:41,700 --> 00:05:43,500 Originating from the 'Sach Khand' or the temple of truth 47 00:05:43,600 --> 00:05:47,900 Came to be known as the 'Alahi Bani' preached by our Gurus and elders 48 00:05:48,000 --> 00:05:51,400 The Gurus would also ask our community to play the Rabab 49 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,600 During the Alahi Bani 50 00:05:53,700 --> 00:06:01,200 The Mardanas would then play the tune on the Rabab 51 00:06:01,300 --> 00:06:05,500 All of Guru Granth Sahib is written according to the Ragas 52 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:10,600 Sometimes there's Raga Tillang, Soohi, Basant 53 00:06:10,700 --> 00:06:15,000 There are many Ragas and that is how the prayer is constructed 54 00:06:15,100 --> 00:06:16,700 The Ragas form divine energy 55 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,800 Our Raga is pretty straightforward, like an open gym 56 00:06:20,900 --> 00:06:25,000 We have a straightforward approach of singing 'Kalis' as well 57 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,200 It was at early stage that I started developing interest in Sarangi 58 00:07:40,100 --> 00:07:47,000 I learned it while listening to the records of Amar Singh Shonki 59 00:07:47,100 --> 00:07:51,400 The instrument took a special place in my heart 60 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:58,400 When I began to sing, I would do that along with the Sarangi 61 00:07:58,500 --> 00:08:03,700 For four years I stayed at my Uncle's and Aunt's place 62 00:08:04,200 --> 00:08:09,900 My mother had passed away in 1953 63 00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:14,800 And I went to live with them in 1958 64 00:08:20,500 --> 00:08:23,700 When I used to stay with them 65 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:28,200 I used to handle the household chores 66 00:08:28,300 --> 00:08:33,100 Like farming, looking after the domesticated animals 67 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:38,000 Making manure for the farm and other things that go with it 68 00:08:38,100 --> 00:08:42,900 I would come to the river bank and sing loudly with my arms out wide 69 00:09:10,300 --> 00:09:14,400 The people in the audience would tell me 70 00:09:14,500 --> 00:09:18,400 that my voice is not upto the mark 71 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:27,300 And some of my cousins would also be there in the group 72 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,700 My uncle would ask us all to sing 73 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:36,800 My cousins would mock me and say that I sang badly and it embarassed them 74 00:09:36,900 --> 00:09:40,600 And that I should not sing with them 75 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:46,600 I felt really heartbroken and hurt 76 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:58,100 I felt that it was really unfair 77 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:01,000 I thought it would be better to go back to my home 78 00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:03,300 My father was still there 79 00:10:03,500 --> 00:10:07,000 He used to play the 'dholki' and was really into the art form 80 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:11,800 He used to have this aspiration 81 00:10:11,900 --> 00:10:14,200 to watch me play music and sing 82 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:34,500 I would go to the well, stick out my neck and sing loudly 83 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:38,800 As loudly as I could so that I could hear myself through the echoes 84 00:10:38,900 --> 00:10:44,300 This was something that our elders and gurus had taught us 85 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:03,000 My father passed away in 1968 86 00:11:03,100 --> 00:11:07,700 I was only 21 at the time 87 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:12,700 All the responsibilities at my home fell on my shoulders 88 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,500 I had to take care of children while earning a living 89 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:18,100 It was a very tough time 90 00:11:18,200 --> 00:11:20,600 Then came along Sant Babaji 91 00:11:20,700 --> 00:11:24,600 And made my life very easy by helping me focus 92 00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:54,000 All the farmland owners in the village spoke very highly of Babaji 93 00:11:54,100 --> 00:11:58,900 They said he is of a pure and sacrificial nature 94 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:00,800 He won't let anything happen to you 95 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:13,600 On the fourth day on my residence at a farm 96 00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:18,500 Sardar Bachan Singh came to me and told Babaji had summoned me 97 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:20,500 He also asked me to bring along my Sarangi 98 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,400 I was ecstatic 99 00:12:23,500 --> 00:12:28,100 I hung the Sarangi on my shoulder and left 100 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:30,600 went and respectfully bowed to him 101 00:12:30,700 --> 00:12:34,100 His Holiness was present right in front of me and I greeted him from a distance 102 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:38,100 "Welcome." He said 103 00:12:38,200 --> 00:12:43,000 "What's your name?" He asked. 'Desh Raj' I said 104 00:12:43,100 --> 00:12:47,100 "Are you a meer?" he said. I said "Yes, I am." 105 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:47,900 "Can you sing?" he asked. I said "Only a bit." 106 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,800 He said "I would like to listen." 107 00:12:52,900 --> 00:12:57,700 108 00:13:05,300 --> 00:13:08,600 I used to feel that my voice is really not up to the mark 109 00:13:13,400 --> 00:13:15,000 He completely changed my perception when he said 110 00:13:15,100 --> 00:13:17,300 "You have a wonderful voice!" 111 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:19,900 His words were really pure and they came true 112 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,800 He began to recite the poetry and I followed with the lyrics 113 00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:30,300 It was a divine experience for me 114 00:13:42,300 --> 00:13:46,700 Sometimes what would happen was 115 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:55,100 Everyone would leave and 116 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:01,200 It would be just the two of us left 117 00:14:01,500 --> 00:14:06,300 We would continue singing 'Kalis' and feeling elated together 118 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:11,200 He would feel absolutely ecstatic at the end of it 119 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:40,600 Greetings! Please have a seat. 120 00:14:40,700 --> 00:14:45,500 Thank you for having me here. Greetings to all! 121 00:14:48,300 --> 00:14:50,400 May god bless you all 122 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:04,500 He has become a master at playing the Sarangi 123 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:05,800 At our 'Khulla Akhada' 124 00:15:05,900 --> 00:15:07,400 We are known as 'Khulla Akhada' 125 00:15:07,900 --> 00:15:13,900 He is my grandson and holds a Masters degree in Music 126 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:17,800 By God's grace. God has blessed us with this musical talent. 127 00:15:17,900 --> 00:15:21,800 You did a Master's degree in Music 128 00:15:22,300 --> 00:15:26,100 Do you see an overlap in folk music which has been running in your blood 129 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:29,600 And the music that you learned during your degree 130 00:15:29,700 --> 00:15:32,000 Or maybe small differences 131 00:15:32,100 --> 00:15:34,500 I'm glad you asked and I would love to talk about this 132 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:40,000 As we kept studying music, we understood the notations 133 00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:44,600 We are playing the same things in folk music like 134 00:15:50,700 --> 00:15:52,400 But what we would sing was 135 00:15:58,400 --> 00:15:59,300 Amazing! 136 00:15:59,700 --> 00:16:04,500 Wow! Its such an interesting thing to know! 137 00:16:05,300 --> 00:16:09,900 The challenge is to put a deep thought into simple words 138 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,800 So that the coming generations can fathom thoughts 139 00:16:13,900 --> 00:16:18,600 that help them rise above the flashy and materialistic things 140 00:16:18,700 --> 00:16:21,400 That is the biggest challenge for us 141 00:16:21,500 --> 00:16:25,400 Because we love folk music as well as the music of the new era 142 00:16:25,500 --> 00:16:30,000 It would be interesting to find a way to make it work together 143 00:16:30,100 --> 00:16:36,500 Such that we take a new step forward while preserving the sanctity of the art 144 00:16:40,100 --> 00:16:43,600 I think this is a good time to call it a day 145 00:16:43,700 --> 00:16:46,200 Let us end today's counsel 146 00:16:48,300 --> 00:16:52,000 We had a great first day 147 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:32,600 We have all gathered here in the court of Heer Maayi Miyaan Ranjha 148 00:17:33,100 --> 00:17:37,000 Just as we can construct a temple of Shiva anywhere his memory resides 149 00:17:37,100 --> 00:17:41,900 Or even Gorakhnath's temple 150 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:46,800 Similarly we have made a temple in his name over here 151 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:51,700 Salaam Aalaikum 152 00:17:52,700 --> 00:17:56,600 Saint Waaris Shah who was a wise sage 153 00:17:56,700 --> 00:18:01,500 Said Heer is the soul and 154 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:06,400 Ranjha is the sage 155 00:18:06,500 --> 00:18:11,300 Heer is the soul, Ranjha is the sage 156 00:18:15,400 --> 00:18:17,900 Heer 157 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:26,000 Our soul is what we call Heer 158 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:31,500 The body is what we call Ranjha 159 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:35,800 That's it 160 00:18:35,900 --> 00:18:41,200 "Heer and Ranjha are immortal!" is what they say 161 00:18:42,000 --> 00:18:47,800 Whosoever will remember them, they will be blessed with their presence 162 00:18:48,700 --> 00:18:51,100 Today we enjoy our lives to the fullest 163 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:55,500 I'm not a highly famous artist, not one of the famous singers 164 00:18:55,600 --> 00:18:59,800 I don't remember the names of many Ragas 165 00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:05,200 My voice is his blessing and so is my body. 166 00:19:32,900 --> 00:19:36,100 Ranjha grazed cattle for 12 years of his life 167 00:19:36,200 --> 00:19:38,800 It the heart that has felt it 168 00:19:38,900 --> 00:19:40,000 that knows what it actually means 169 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:42,800 Love is the culprit as it can create as well as destroy 170 00:19:42,900 --> 00:19:46,300 It has brought the mighty down to their knees 171 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,300 First dive into the world of love my friend 172 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:52,100 Then you may decide whether to become a lover or a writer 173 00:19:52,200 --> 00:19:55,500 Brilliant! Very well written.