Mystic minstrels

Puran Chand went on to learn classical music from Pandit Durga Dass and later, Ustad Ashiq Khan and Macchan Khan, of the celebrated Patiala gharana. He then initiated his younger brother, Pyare Chand, to Sufi singing. The brothers prefer the medium of light classical music because it enables them to retain the interest of the audience even when they are preaching the Sufi notions of love and universal brotherhood.

Recounting incidents from the lives of fakirs through songs penned by Sufi saints, the Wadalis effortlessly conjure up a world of blissful love. Rendering the qalaams of Sufi saints like Bulleh Shah, Khwaja Ghulam Farid, Baba Shah Hussain and Baba Farid, the Wadalis have ensured that this vibrant tradition isn8217;t relegated to a footnote in history texts. And their efforts haven8217;t gone unrewarded 8212; the Sangeet Natak Academy Award is just one of the many honours that have come their way.

In Delhi recently to participate in Spic-Macay8217;s Virasat music series, they wowed audiences at a concert at New Era Public School in Mayapuri with Bulleh Shah8217;s Ghunghat chuko sajnaa8217; and the all-time favourite Dama dam mast qalandar8217; The story behind the second song is interesting.

Hazrat Ali Qalandar was reading the namaaz under a tree when some children came along and started stoning the fruit-laden tree in the hope of getting some fruit. They were successful in their first two attempts, but the third stone hit Qalandar. The saint lost his cool, but his angry threats were received with mild surprise by the children, one of whom asked: 8220;When we hit the tree, it gave us fruit to eat. Now that we8217;ve hit you, what will you give us?8221; The saint, thus humbled, promised to grant the child three wishes and each time the child asked for his forgiveness. The moral: There8217;s no gift greater than forgiveness.

Other songs that celebrate the purity of the soul are woven round the romance of Laila-Majnu. One is about Majnu8217;s friends jeering at him about his passion for the dark-complexioned Laila. Replied Majnu: 8220;She may be dark, but her heart is pure. The pages of Quran Sharief are white, but the words on it are black.8221; The Wadalis have even read Sufi teachings in some of the folk songs of Punjab. Sauda ek huja is a case in point. Quoting Kabir, the Bhakti cult8217;s leading light, they say: 8220;The metal paras can turn iron into gold, but it doesn8217;t change itself. In the company of a saint, similarly, one acquires saintliness.8221;

But one wonders whether their music has many takers in this decade of Macarena8217; and Na na na na na re8217;. Says Puran Chand: 8220;There was a time when not many people liked to listen to our songs, but things are improving now. Daler Mehndi8217;s kind of music may be popular, but it is like fireworks that are extinguished almost as soon as they burst into a flame. Our music is like an incense stick which burns slowly and let off a perfume.8221;

Though both Puran Chand and Pyare Lal are unlettered, their knowledge of the Sufi teachings is inexhaustible. 8220;Education is important, but it is more important to know the true meaning of love,8221; says Puran Chand, as he quotes Kabir to buttress his point: 8220;Dhai akshar prem ka padhe to pandit hoye Learning from the book of love is what makes you wise.8221;

The Wadalis sing in the tradition of Waris Shah8217;s Heer without any instruments. They also sing the jugnis, which are actually praises of Allah. Recalls Pyare Lal: 8220;When we were children, everybody would gather under a tree at dusk and then somebody would start singing a Heer. These music sessions would go deep into the night. We8217;ve grown up with this kind of music, so it comes to us naturally.8221;

There aren8217;t many Sufi singers left for the Wadlais to emulate or idolise. Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan had been one of them until he decided to go the Afreen afreen way. 8220;He has spoilt the rang of his music,8221; laments Puran Chand. Ironically, though, there are critics who fear the Wadalis may follow suit.

Whether they do or not remains to be seen. But till they decide to swim with the tide, their full-throated songs will keep alive the music of the mystics.