Gaaon se chala door
Posted on: May 3, 2014
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Till the 1970s, people in India typically were far less cynical that what they are today. Youngsters typically got to read inspirational books, which meant reading the biographies of great men and also mythological tales viz “Ramayana”, “Mahabharat” etc. In typical Indian households, one could find framed photos/ calenders depicting Gods as well as Great people/ National leaders. I have seen pictures of Lord Ram/ Krishna/ Shiv as well as pictures of Mahatma Gandhi/ Jawaharlal Nehru/ Dr Rajendra Prasad/ Dr S Radhakrishnan/ Subhash Chandra Bose in almost all typical households.
Things changed from 1980s onwards. these are the days of posters/ centrespreads etc. Even bikes and cars are more preferred topics of these centrespreads that Gods and leaders as far as these posters/ cenrespreads are concerned.
In the olden days, one was supposed to draw inspiration from the inspirational books that one got to read. One did not always draw the correct inspiration though. For instance, many great Indians of those days grew up under tremendous hardship. They would often walk several kilometers daily to reach their their government schools to study and would study at home under streetlights/ lantern etc. Such examples would often give this (misplaced) idea to som parents (including mine) that one needed to face similar hardships to become great. 🙂 So they would sometimes contemplate putting us to similar hardships to make us greats. 🙂
And as far as learning from epics like Ramayana and Mahabharat are concerned, I now feel that most people were confused then and even now about what lessons to draw from such epics. Like what we do in Hindi movies, even in case of epics, we tend to root for the hero and rejoice in their wins. Now the heroes of these epics are supposed to be the incarnation of Lord Krishna himself (Lord Ram in case of Ramayana and Lord Krishna in case of Mahabharat). So how can one possible draw inspiration from them and be like them ? More practicable thing would be to learn and draw inspiration from the lesser and more human like characters of these epics.
What are the lesser characters mentioned in these epics ? Of hand I can think of Shabri and Shrawan Kumar in Ramayana and Sudama and Eklavya in Mahabharat. Like most people, I had not given much thoughts to these lesser characters. I was most interested in the fight scenes in both these epics that came at the end. 🙂
The movies that have been made on these epics have also concentrated on the episodes of interest to common public and that means depicting the activities of the main characters in these epics.
Lesser characters in these epics hardly get any mention.
I was pleasantly suprised to know that some Hindi movies have been made even on the lesser characters of these epics. For instance, I find that at least two movies have been made on the tale of Shrawan Kumar.
All I knew about the story of Shrawan Kumar was that he was an extremely devoted son to his aged parents. When his parents (who were unable to walk)wished to visit holy places of pilgrimage, Shrawan Kumar carried them on his shoulders on two baskets and took him to various places.
What happened next. Did he take them to all the forty places of pilgrimage ? I was not aware of the full story. when I checked up the story, I found that while he was once bringing water to his parents, he was accidently hit by an arrow of Dashrath, who mistook him for an animal. While Shrawan Kumar was dying, he told his tale to Dashrath, requesting him to take water to his aged parents to quench their thirst. Dashrath went to the parents and informed the of the tragedy that had befallen them. The aged parents cursed Dashrath that he too would suffer from the pains of separation from his offsprings.
I may have been aware of this end earlier but I had forgotten about it. Now that I think about it, I feel sorry for the common people of these epics who despite going about their lives with devotion often suffered at the hands of powerful people.
Likewise, I feel sorry for Eklavya of Mahabharat too.
I actually searched up on google to check if there are any days that are devoted to remember Shrawan Kumar. I could find none. He is just a footnote in Ramayana.
Here is a rare song from a rare movie called “Shrawan Kumar” (1946). This song, which tells the tale of Shrawan Kumar is sung by Manna Dey. Wali Sahab is the lyricist. Music is composed by Bulo C Rani.
Song-Gaaon se chala door (Shrawan Kumar)(1946) Singer-Manna Dey, Lyrics-Wali Sahab, MD-Bulo C Rani
Lyrics
gaaon se chala dooooooor
gaaon se chala door ye bhaarat ka saanwariya
gaaon se chala door ye bhaarat ka saanwariya
hai maat pita man mein to kaandhe pe kaanwariya
kaandhe pe kaanwariya
ho kaandhe pe kaanwariya
patni ka hriday dard se shrawan ko pukaare
patni ka hriday dard se shrawan ko pukaare
shrawan idhar aa pahuncha hai
brahnma ke duwaare
shrawan idhar aa pahuncha hai
brahnma ke duwaare
bhagwan ke darshan se ye bhar lega najariya
bhagwan ke darshan se ye bhar lega najariya
hai maat pita man mein to kaandhe pe kanwariya
kaandhe pe kanwariya
ho kaandhe pe kanwariya
hai kaanton bhari raah
paar himmat nahin haari
hai kaanton bhari raah
paar himmat nahin haari
godavari ja pahuncha
ye shraddha ka pujaari
godavari ja pahuncha
ye shraddha ka pujaari
jai jai shri avantika
dhanya dhanya ye nagariya
jai jai shri avantika
dhanya dhanya ye nagariya
hai maat pita man mein to kaandhe pe kaanwariya
kaandhe pe kaanwariya
ho kaandhe pe kaanwariya
?? aaj ko darshan ko aaya
triveni mein ab dekhne gangaji ki maaya
ab dekhne jaata hai ye kaashi ki atariya
hai maat pita man mein to kaandhe pe kaanwariya
kaandhe pe kaanwariya
ho kaandhe pe kaanwariya
kaashi se hari dwaar se pahuncha tapovan mein
kaashi se hari dwaar se pahuncha tapovan mein
aa pahuncha hai shrawan
shri Shankar ki sharan mein
aa pahuncha hai shrawan
shri Shankar ki sharan mein
nis din jahaan amrit ki barasti hai badariya
nis din jahaan amrit ki barasti hai badariya
hai maat pita man mein to kaandhe pe kanwariya
kaandhe pe kanwariya
ho kaandhe pe kanwariya
gaaon se chala dooooor
3 Responses to "Gaaon se chala door"
May 3, 2014 at 11:24 am
Atulji,
Approaching the 10000 mark you have played a copy book shot and scored a boundary. Nothing is lost even today is very much evident form the way you have presented the topic and the song with atmost concern. Even today we have in our house more than one copy ( languages and vesions) of both Ramayan and Mahabharat, not simply adorning the book shelf, but regularly referred to. One of my young friends (in his thirties) recently purchased the entire set (Amar Chitra Katha) of both the epics for his young daughter. He himself reads out the chapter everyday at bedtime.
Thank you for the post and the song.
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May 3, 2014 at 4:18 pm
There was another movies later Shrawan Kumar-1956 and Shabri in 1946.
There are many modern Shrawan Kumars who also take their parents for a ride of a different kind and modern Shabris in the form of 5 star hotels who offer you leftovers in the garb of decorated dishes. So we also have our own Shrawan Kumars and Shabri Kumaris.
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Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs 
May 3, 2014 at 9:22 am
Our Grand Parents and Parents used to tell us these stories when we were growing. It was very sad and painful whenever Shravan Kumars dies in the story. thanks for reminding and bringing back those memories specially when Summer Vacation has started (though it is not vacation for us now).
Very nice post Atul ji (as usual ) and great discovery of this song …
Thanks !
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