We are in the fifth week of a nationwide Lockdown in India to prevent the spread of deadly Corona Virus. The last few weeks have turned life upside down for most of us ( not just in India but across the world) . All economic activity has almost come to a standstill and in a developing country like ours, making ends meet is proving to be a challenge for vast majority of the population. The Sindhi migrant refugees are also finding it difficult to sustain themselves during these times when there are limited/no opportunities to earn a daily living. Most of these lower middle class families left Sindh to escape religious persecution. Recently, I was pleased to see a Sindhi Association in Delhi initiating a fund collection to supply food grains and daily essentials to around 40 such migrant families staying in Jahangirpuri in North East Delhi.These families need support and patronage from all of us to establish themselves here. As Daddy always says " Asaan hik be ji maddad n kanda seen te ker kando! ( If we ( Sindhis) don't help each other then who will). I am glad to note that over the past couple of years, there has been a perceptible positive change in the attitude of general public towards Pakistani refugees. If you come across a refugee family , please do extend your support to them during this hour of need.
This week also saw the unfortunate demise of Kum. Lajja Bhatia, a distinguished Sindhi singer who spent her lifetime serving the Sindhi community primarily in/around Delhi. For many decades, she was the resident singer at all events of Sindhu Samaj, Delhi diligently conducting the Aarti and singing Lal Saeen Palav each Friday and on important festive occasions. A committed student of legendary Motihar Brothers ( Dada Kan and Dewan), she often accompanied them on musical tours both in India as well as abroad. Dada Bhaneja fondly remembers that in most of Dada Dewan's duet songs, she was the lead female singer. She was also a part of the "trio" in the two USA/Canada musical tours that Motihar Brothers held. She passed away on 19th April,2020 due to an illness, few months short of her seventieth birthday.
Mummy was saddened to hear about Aunty Lajja's death. She remembered the first interaction with her which was in early 1990s when aunty had come to our home to enquire about the challenges involved with managing a Kidney failure patient on Dialysis. Upon hearing from a neighbor that my grandfather had undergone (prior to his demise) Dialysis for Kidney Failure at Batra Hospital , she decided to speak with daddy/mummy as her father had also been advised of the same. Dialysis in late 80s/early 90s in India was a difficult procedure due to lack of enabling healthcare infrastructure.
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| (Late) Kum. Lajja Bhatia |
I last saw aunty a year and a half ago when she spent some time chatting with mummy on a sunny winter afternoon at our home while visiting the Ahuja family who stay right opposite us.
Lajja aunty was a true karmayogi who dedicated her life to serve the community. In order to preserve our cultural heritage and roots, everyone needs to play their part and Lajja aunty played this role to perfection. We owe it to individuals like her in helping us connect with our heritage and for keeping Sindhi boli alive through music and literature. I pray to Lal Saeen to rest he soul in peace.
Lajja aunty was a true karmayogi who dedicated her life to serve the community. In order to preserve our cultural heritage and roots, everyone needs to play their part and Lajja aunty played this role to perfection. We owe it to individuals like her in helping us connect with our heritage and for keeping Sindhi boli alive through music and literature. I pray to Lal Saeen to rest he soul in peace.
I am sharing a couple of photographs from the Ottawa Tour in 1985. The musical evening was organised by Ottawa Sindhi Association and Dada Balwant Bhaneja has been kind enough (as always) to permit me to share these with all of us.
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| (L-R) Shyam Khubchandani*, Kan Motihar*, Lajja Bhatia*, Sugumal Bhaneja*, Dewan Motihar* |
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| (L-R) Hari Raheja, Kan Motihar*, Dewan Motihar* and Lajja Bhatia* |
This tribute will be incomplete without me sharing a link to Aunty Lajja's rendition of the classic " Dama Dam Mast Kalander" at Jhule Lal Chaliha Evening at Sindhu Samaj in 2016.
Jai Jhuelal
PS: Smt. Rita Tulsaney, has written a wonderful tribute for her beloved friend (Late) Lajja Bhatia on facebook. The interested reader may want to read the same as well. The link is as follows:-
* : Deceased
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