KENDERA- LOVED FOLK OF ODISHA



Heart got sulked with utter emotion, when i happened to see this first.

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One man of Indian complexion wearing a "dhoti", standing at the corner of the street in the morning, playing his instrument and singing in SAMBALPURI ACCENT OF ODIA, THAT,
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." MUI TA PRABHU JANAM DUKHI GUHAAR KARUCHHEN TOTE.......MAYA DUNIYA RE JANAM DEI PASERI DELUNI MOTE, TUI JADI DEBU THAKKI KAHAKE KARIMI SAATHI... .
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." LORD!  YOU'VE SENT ME TO THIS ILLUSIONARY WORLD... IF YOU'LL NOT STAND BY MY SIDE , WHO WILL... "

I WON'T SAY THAT I DON'T BELONG TO ODISHA,
BUT YES, UNKNOWN TO THIS RICH FOLK,  BFF DR. SAGARIKA MISHRA,tells that,

"Kendera", an instrument made of cucurbit tree stem played by JOGI-S (AN OLD ARTIST CLAN) OF ODISHA SINCE THE TIMES OF HER FATHER AND FOREFATHERS.
TO ENTERTAIN AND SING IN THE NAME OF JAGANNATH".
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.WATCHING HIM, SADLY
ONLY A FEW CARED TO WATCH, REST JUST TURNED THEIR BACKS TO HIM.
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. YES THE WORLD HAS TURNED ITSELF TO URBS AND WEST..

. AND SO IN TODAY'S WESTERINIZED INDIA,  ELITE IS WHO EITHER SINGS,  WEARS, WALKS, SPEAKS "WEST" OR A "NEO-INDIAN VERSION OF WEST" .

BUT HERE DEEP IN THE HEART OF ODISHA,
AND FOR A FEW "RURALITE- ODIAS AND DUGGARS" LIKE ME AND @dr_sagarika_mishra A PART STILL SUSTAINS WHERE,  KENDRA / FOLK SINGERS SING IN THE STREETS TO GET A FEW BUCKS OR GRAINS....
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.for,
"loka suniki tike poisa -chaola deiki jibe"
"Bas kuch log sun ke chaar chawal ke daane de deke jayenge"..
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The bhai-na sings and plays with all his heart.
May be he isn't well aware that  the world of Tv,  internet has surpassed the Devotion, love and intrest towards his art...
Children of today's Gen don't know that the true INDIAN-ISM IS SOMETHING BEYOND OF BADSHAHS OR TONY/NEHA KAKKARS OR RAFTAARS.... .
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AND TRUE INDIA IS SOMETHING BEYOND THE CITY LIVES OF ARTIFICIAL DISCS OR PUBS OR PROMS OR 3Ds or 7Ds.
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Children are taken to newer tourist places to explore but aren't made to know that somewhere their grand parents belonged to, had multiple emotions and beauty for oozing souls... .
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Unfortunate, that NONE CARES TO UPGRADE THE TRUE ESSENCE OF OWN BEFORE EXPLORING THE NEWER- TRENDING-WEST.
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THEY WANT TO VISIT THERE OR BROWSE OVER YOUTUBES BUT NONE WANTS TO BE A RURALITE- "AGAIN".
KENDERA- AND THE POOR BHAI-NA LEFT US TOUCHED., TO ME AND MY @dr_sagarika_mishra

K.L SAIGAL, AN ASSET FROM JAMMU.
(A TRIBUTE).
IN THE AGE OF RAP SONG BATTLES AND WESTERN MUSICAL DESIGNS I RECALL THE SUPERSTAR OF PRE INDEPENDENT INDIA AND AN ASSET IN INDIAN FILMS HISTORY FROM JAMMU.  NONE OTHER THAN K. L. SAIGAL.

LONG BEFORE IN  90s my family used to listen to vibhit bharati in the morns which often played "JAB DIL HI TOOT GYA TO JEE KE KYA KRENGE"

 very keen myself, when used to ask, was told abt ,  K. L. SAIGAL, AS THE FIRST SINGER/ACTOR FROM JAMMU IN INDIAN FILMS..
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CURIOSITY MADE TO KNOW HIM MORE AND WHAT I READ WAS,

 Raychand Boral in "Begum Akhtar the Undisputed Malika of Ghazals" said, . "Never before had I heard such melody from human throat. It was superhuman. Was he a Gandharva come to earth? No expression on his face. Not much movement of lips. Perfect control over breath. Perfect pauses. Clear pronunciation. I was spellbound." . This  Superhuman /Gandharva was,
THE FIRST SUPER STAR OF INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY(LATER KNOWN BOLLYWOOD) .
Fourth child of Tehsildar Amarchand Saigal (of Dogra Maharaja's court). .
Before he Started as an untrained singer in 1930s , he used to play sitar and sing bhajans in Ramlilas of Jammu later became a sensation in the industry which was then located in Kolkata. .
In a career of 15 years, irrespective of his Dogra ethnicity, he was the one who learnt Bengali and was allowed by Tagore himself to sing his poems. .

Acted in 36 feature films, rendered 185 songs which includes 142 film songs and 43 non-film songs. His musical renderings covered the creations of poets such as Ghalib, Zauq, and Seemab.

M.Sayed Alam wrote that, Saigal never liked his film songs, just his Ghalib compositions.

He sang in low octaves from the throat which became a fashion and model for many singers. The Hindi films from 1932 to 1946 had the melody of Saigal. As per, "The Literary Works of Ranganathan Magadi"

Jyoti Belliapa quotes that, As an actor, Saigal had a special feel for the scenes he portrayed. The mood especially got reflected in his songs: his Devdas is a case in point. "Dukh ke ab din beetet nahin... " brought out the deep tonal quality in his voice. His was not just a base, guttural voice but an emotionally-charged, husky nasal articulation, descending lower octave with rasping resonance and with an infinite variety of forms.

One's all-time favourite has been "Aye katibe taqdeer mujeh itna bata dei, kyon mujse qhafa hai kya mane kiya hai... ".
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People quote that "his voice was a mixture, higher than the voice of the bass and lower than the voice of the tenor". A unique singer and an incredible actor. . He sang in low octaves from the throat which became a fashion and model for many singers. The Hindi films from 1932 to 1946 had the melody of Saigal. .
And yes he was the man who made the 3rd feature film on DEVDAS in 1936 and led the Indians know abt it much before the well known Dilip Kumar's or SRK's for today's gen (a 1900's Bengali novel of Sarat Chandra Chattopadhya) . .  Inside the most epic and emotional "Anmol Ghadi," he acted and sang a duet with Noor Jahan, "Awaaz dei kahan hai.... Duniya meri jawaan hai".
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Adored are these trend setters remain inside the old gold times and lesser known to the times of today.
A tribute was given to him in the movie DELLY BELLY AS SAIGAL BLUES.

Portrayed by Raja Ravi Verma.
SHREE NAR-SINGH/ NAR-SIMHA ( Nar-human & Singh/Simha-Lion). As per Sanaatan,
The 4th incarnation of Shree Vishnu as per hymn 1.154 of Rigveda,  Vaikhanasas, Sri Vaishnavism, Madhwa Brahmins. .
The one who generates even from in-animate pillar, as a destroyer of evil/ enemy of compassion,  he opts the torso of a human with dreadful head and claws of a Lion to tear apart the demon Hiranyakashap.

.. (Endowed with his demonic powers, Hiranyakashap persecutes all who are theists in the name of Lord Vishnu including his own son Prahlad.
.  His powers by which he could not be killed during the day or night, under a roof or outside, by any weapon and by man or animal.


To which Lord comes up as Nar-Singh (neither man, nor animal), holds the demon on his lap at the entrance of the palace(neither in, nor out), while the sun sets(neither day nor night), with the claws(no weapons)). . . "One reason why Sanaatan believes to treasure and worship even the smallest in-animate and living creature in the universe, as each of it depicts the presence of Lord in itself".

.  The oldest known artwork depicting Shree NarSingh has been found at several sites across Uttar Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh, such as at the Mathura archaeological dated between 2nd and 4th-century CE.
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Shree NarSingh is also known to be, Agnilochan(अग्निलोचन) - the one who has fiery eyes, Bhairavadambar (भैरवडम्बर) - the one who causes terror by roaring, Karal (कराल) - the one who has a wide mouth and projecting teeth, Hiranyakashipudhwansa (हिरण्यकशिपुध्वंस) - the one who killed Hiranyakashap, Nakhastra (नखास्त्र) - the one for whom nails are his weapons, Sinhavadana(सिंहवदन) - the one whose face is of lion and Mrigendra(मृगेन्द्र) - king of animals or lion.
CARRIES - CHAKRA- SUDARSHAN,  MACE (GADA),  CLAWS.

110 years old voter of #Elections2019 from Sarni (Gurah Kalyal,  Billawar,  Kathua,  Jammu).

Middle most, Smt. मालन age 110 years (widow of Sh. फ़त्तू लोहार)  R/o Village Sarni(Gurah Kalyal ; #Billawar) #JAMMU remained the oldest citizen to vote in the #Elections2019.
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More of an inspiration for the young voters. When asked over phone, she replied that she was around 21 when she got married, voted for the 1st time in her  late 40s, unknown to the person or the party, she casted.
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During the first ever polls of Republic India, she said she was a temporary resident of Ramnagar (#udhampur) along with her late husband.  Nicknamed as पहाड़न back then, she still responds to the name. . . .
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Wears the TRADITIONAL DOGRA ATTIRE- SUTHHAN-KAMEEZ , the lady carries a white CHUNNI (BEING A WIDOW). SOURCE:  SH. SUDARSHAN KHAJURIA,  #RAMKOT. 

Baau ji's (grandfather's) entire life and business, Pita ji's childhood,  youth and my roots.

"मच्छेडी"  साड़ा पहाड़ ।   "Macchedi, our Village".  A small countryside of Billawar,  30kms at an elevation from the town and from the Holy Shrine of Sukrala Devi (Kathua),  crossing Bangla, situated at a height of 5000ft.
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I remember,  amongst the Dense forests of Cheed trees (Pines)  and Deodars, playing with the thick non-edible fruit of cheed and never wanting to go back home.
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I remember Baau ji's much loved employes,  chacha's patients and mom's students (all mainly Non-hindus),  no less than family members to us, coming from Macchedi to our home (at billawar),  bringing Makken da aata, chowl'en da aata (Maize and rice flour)  along with desi sabji and kalaadiyan (organic vegetables),  together dinning with us, cracking jokes. And the best part, their luv fr us, as kids.
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. My nostalgia remains at Pahari accent of Dogri(mother tongue) and folk music/dances,  "desi kukkad" (Desi chicken) and Succhi Roti (for non-muslims) at marriage parties there.

And stories where Pita ji and chacha tell about their struggle while crossing the snow with wounded and frost bitten toes for kilometers together, for there was less connectivity via roads back then.
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Amongst a much scenic-temperate-organically rich areas of Kathua (Jammu),Macchedi in Billawar is still much under-rated,  a lesser known to the folk around the state n nation.
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. These days is covered with snow where people celebrating  it with much ecstasy, where in the video together they sing folk as "DIL LUTT KE LAI GYE NI O KUDIYE NAIN TERE KAJRAAAARRREEE". ❤❤❤

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And we still call it with a heart full of love " MACCHEDI SAADA PAHAD". Sharing to which is a matter of immense joy to me.

FOR, ROOTS SURVIVE INSIDE THE BLOOD AND ARE THE SOURCE OF ADRENALINE,  NO MATTER WHAT.

Radhika Sharma

Beyond the notions of trending 'IDEOLOGIES'.
The Real Bharat (India) says, . .Om Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah
Sarve Santu Nir-Aamayaah |
Sarve Bhadraanni Pashyantu
Maa Kashcid-Duhkha-Bhaag-Bhavet | ||
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Which Means :
1: Om, May All become Happy,
2: May All be Free from Illness.
3: May All See what is Auspicious,
4: May no one Suffer.

Beyond the subjects of classifying the Patriotism in daily Debates.
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BEYOND DIS-RESPECTING THE OTHER AND GLORIFYING SELF IN THE CAMPAIGNS.
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BEYOND THE ILL-PHILOSOPHIES OF REMAINING SEATED IN THE  CINEMA HALLS ON THE PIOUS TUNE OF "JANA GANA MANA" AND TERMING IT TO BE "FORCED PATRIOTISM" WHILE DECLINING YOUR MORAL VALUES.
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Beyond the philosophies of  modern-liberalism, multiple  Faiths and the games of victimisation to be favoured.
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A BHARAT-IYA (INDIAN) SAYS, .
DHARAM KI JAY HO, A-DHARAM KA VINASH HO, PRANIYO MEIN SAD-BHAVNA HO, VISHVA KA KALYAN HO.
WHICH MEANS , MAY THE  FAITH (WHICH TEACHES THE PHILOSOPHY OF GOODNESS OF LIFE ) WINS, MAY THE EVIL DIE, MAY THE LIVING BEINGS BE IN HARMONY, MAY THE WORLD EXCEL.

THERE IS ONE IDENTITY DEFINING YOUR AGE OLD CIVILIZATION OF INTELLIGENCE, LITERATURE , SCIENCE, ECONOMY , SPIRITUALISM , HUMANITY , TRUTH AND TOLERANCE.

"ZAFARNAAMAH - THE LETTER OF VICTORY TO AURANGZEB - GURU GOBIND SINGH".


"Each time when our children celebrated the illusionary super heroes, our History might have mourned, for, neither they are known to our REAl SUPER HEROES nor they are taught of them in the books or academia.
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Our Super heroes who didnt wore ironed outfits but carried the iron inside their hearts and blood ".

Those, who held the swords strong, fought and dreaded the evil, for our own rights against the in-human plunderers ,in real. . .. . .

I Write up a story of this milestone of Indian History who was a warrior,  a learned human, an expert of all Indian languages and intellect of huge literature of centuries in India.

Back in 1600s,
A Poet-warrior after a massive victory in spiritual war at "Chamkaur"  defeating 'the Aurangzeb' and his army, while protecting 'our right-ful traditions of culture-faith-religion-resources-freedom of life"  against his brutality, where there were forced conversions,  plundering of the temples and paath-shalas, loot, forced marriages and mass murders of poor and literates.

 when wrote a victory letter "Zafarnama"  in  'Persian' to Aurangzeb,
  He told him that: . . .


 "Chun kar az hameh heelate dar guzasht,
Halal ast burdan bi-shamsher dast. . .
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Which meant, .. . .

When all has been tried, yet
Justice is not in sight,
It is then the right to pick up the sword,
It is then right to fight"

Voluntarily-valoursly refused to leave his own faith and writes,

"Ma-ra itibaar e bar een qasam nest,
Ki eizad gawah ast yazdan yakest"

Meant,  "I have no faith at all  in the oath,
You swear on that God, who is one, your witness does bear... "

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Who could deny to bow to this iron-heart,who not only protected our INDIAN-ISM as a warrior , but remained the "Guru" and taught our people to take up the sword and fight for their own rights,
hence found the KHALSA, (khaalis-pure) (who remained  role in protecting the folk long after his demise, including the nine invasions and battles led by Ahmad Shah Abdali from Afghanistan in late 1700s).

He, despite of all, was a Father, a son, who lost his own father at a tender age, and his young Sons  for his people and their moral rights of faith and religion against these brutal foreigners was none but GURU GOBIND SINGH JI.

Bows, Respect and Thanks giving to Guru Gobind Singh ji on his 352nd birth anniversary.