Babu Rajab Ali
Babu Rajab Ali ਬਾਬੂ ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ بابو رجب علی | |
|---|---|
 Babu Rajab Ali | |
| Born | Rajab Ali Khan ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ ਖ਼ਾਨ رجب علی خان 10 August 1894 |
| Died | 6 June 1979(aged 84) |
| Other names | Babu Ji, Babu Rajab Ali, Malwe di rooh ਮਾਲਵੇ ਦੀ ਰੂਹ |
| Occupation(s) | Singer,Kavishar |
Babu Rajab Ali(Punjabi:ਬਾਬੂ ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ(Gurmukhi);بابو رجب على(Shahmukhi);also known asBabu Ji) was a notedKavisharofPunjab,known as the King ofKavishari.[1][2]
Kavishar and kavishari
[edit]Kavishari,or Kavishri, (Punjabi:ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ) was originated in theMalwa regionofPunjab.In the region a "Chhand-Baddh" kavita (poetry) is sung faster in a loud yet stretched voice without any musical instruments known askavishari.[3][4]
The people who write and sing kavishari are known askavishars(Punjabi:ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰ). Kavishari is usually sung during melas,weddings,diwaans(religious concerts), mehfils and other celebrations.
Early life and career
[edit]Babu Rajab Ali was born asRajab Ali Khanon 10 August 1894 in aMuslim Rajputfamily to fatherMian Dhamaali Khanand motherJiooniin the village of Sahoke ofFirozpur district(nowMoga district) inPunjab Province (British India).[1][5]He had four sisters and one younger brother. His uncle Haji Ratan was a talentedKavisharas well.[2]
He had his primary schooling from a neighbouring village of Banbiha, then high schooling inMogaand passed matriculation in 1912 from Barjindra High School,Faridkot.[2][5]He was a goodathleteandfootballplayer. He was the captain of thecricketteam of his school. Later on he graduated with diploma in civil engineering, commonly known as Overseeri inPunjabthose days, from an engineering school inGujrat district.He worked as an overseer inIrrigationdepartment.[1][5]His first appointment as an Overseer was in Peshawar Tehsil (Pakistan).He also worked as an Overseer in village Akhara, Tehsil Jagraon (Ludhiana) at Canal Rest House Akhara (ref: an article by Labh Singh Sandhu in the leading newspaper "Punjabi Tribune" on 10 August 2012).[citation needed]
He was married to Bhago Begum, Rehmat Bibi, Fatima and Daulat Bibi and had – four sons Akaal Khan, Shamsher Khan, Adaalat Khan & Ali Sardar and two daughters Shamshad Begum & Gulzar Begum.[2][5]
Babu Ji entered the world ofKavishariwith his first poemHeer Babu Rajab Ali.[citation needed]
He could not compromise with his love for singing and left his job in 1940.[citation needed]
Life in Pakistan
[edit]In 1947, after theindependence,he had to leave his beloved village ofSahoke,his admirers, his students and his family history of hundred years and migrated toPakistan.[5] His family got some land allotted in Chak no. 32/2Okara districtofWest Punjaband settled there, but his soul always wandered inMalwa.[2]He was madly in love with Malwa and his belovedPunjabi languageand wrote hundreds of poems on his separation from his beloved people and village.
He visited theEast Punjabin the March 1965.[1][2]Thousands of people including Kavishars, admirers and his students came to see their beloved Babu Ji.
Babu Ji died on 6 June 1979, singing songs and longing to see his beloved people and village again.[1][2][5]
Poems and literary work
[edit]Although, he was fluent in Punjabi andUrduand knew some ofPersian,Arabic and English, his poetry only inPunjabiexpressing his love forPunjaband Punjabi.[2][5]His love for Punjab and Punjabi was unconditional and was not bound by walls of religion or nationality.[citation needed]
He wrote about one dozenQissas[6]and poems[7]about theHindumythology likeRamayana,Puran BhagatandKaulan,Muslimheroes and historic figures likeMuhammad,Hassan,HussainandDahood Badshah,andSikhhistory[8]and heroes likeBhagat Singh,Shaheedi Guru Arjun Dev Ji,Saka Sirhind,[1]Saka ChamkaurandBidhi Chand.
He wrote an episode or long poem about every knowPunjabi folklorelikeHeer Ranjha,Mirza Sahiban,Dulla BhattiandSohni Mahiwal.[2][5]He had many students who learnt from him and still sings his poetry including hundreds of otherKavisharsinPunjab.
He gave some newChhandslikeBahattar Kala Chhandto Punjabi literature.[1][9]2000 poems on Sikhism
Books of Babu Ji
[edit]Kavishar Sukhwinder Singh (Pakka Kalan) has published many books on Babu Ji through Sangam Publication,Samana.[10]Some of them are:-
- Albela Rajab Ali
- Anmol Rajab Ali
- Ankhila Rajab Ali
- Anokha Rajab Ali[11]
- Babu Rajab Ali De Kisse[6]
- Dasmesh Mahima
- Rangila Rajab Ali
Other kavishars of Punjab
[edit]Bapu Bali Singh is considered to be the father of thekavishariofMajha.Joga Singh Jogi is one of the most famous kavishars of Majha.[3] Bhai Maghi Singh Gill is another kavishar from Gill khurd village districtBathindawho worked very closely with Babu Rajab Ali Khan.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^abcdefg"ਮਰਹੂਮ ਬਾਬੂ ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ – ਬੈਂਤ".An article on Babu Rajab Ali in Punjabi language.punjabiaarsi.blogspot.com. Archived fromthe originalon 13 June 2012.Retrieved25 February2012.
- ^abcdefghi"Babu Rajab Ali's Punjabi Poetry in Roman Script".Life & Poetry of Babu Rajab Ali.apnaorg.com.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^ab"ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ 'ਸ਼ਬਦ' 'ਤੇ 'ਸੁਰ' ਦੀ ਖੇਡ ਹੈ".dhadikavishr.com. Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2012.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^"Babu Rajab Ali's Kavishari – Online".Retrieved31 December2011– via YouTube.
- ^abcdefghKaur, Maninder Jeet (2009).Babu Rajab Ali: Rachna Sansar.Lahore Book Shop. pp. 1–144.ISBN978-81-7647-242-5.
- ^abSuttantar, Sukhwinder Singh.Babu Rajab Ali De Kisse.p. 232.
- ^Sahoke, Jagjit Singh.Babu Rajab Ali Ji Dian Chonvian Kavitavan.p. 216.
- ^Khan, Babu Rajab Ali.Sikhi Kav.p. 336.
- ^Singh, Jasvir.Babu Rajab Ali Jeevan Ate Chhand Vidhan.Unistar Books Pvt. Ltd.ISBN978-81-7142-936-3.
- ^ਗੁਰਭਜਨ ਸਿੰਘ ਗਿੱਲ (14 July 2010)."ਸੱਤਰੰਗੀ ਪੀਂਘ ਵਰਗੀ ਹੈ ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ ਦੀ ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ".In Punjabi.punjabstar.ca. Archived fromthe originalon 26 April 2012.Retrieved31 December2011.
- ^Rajab Ali (Babu) (1995).Anokha Rajab Ali.Babu Rajab Sahit Sadhan.