He who knows in truth this glory and power of Mine engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt ~Bhagavad Gita 10.7
Devaki may have been Krishna’s birth mother but Yashoda was the nurturer. And in that very foster environment did Krishna become an expert in playing the flute, many were captivated by the sound vibration. His transcendental flute once placed on his lips emanated nectar, making the whole of Vrindavan go into raptures. Likewise, many Kashmiri Pandit youngsters were not born in Kashmir but feel a very deep connect with the place. They may have originated from Devaki’s womb but were placed in the lap of Yashoda where they learnt some important life lessons.
Rahul Wanchoo was born in Mishriwala camp and till middle childhood was raised in different migrant accommodations. Interestingly his father is related to Swami Sham Lal Jee Wanchoo (Hazeen Sahib) well known for his leelas, hymns and bhajans, a great Kashmiri saint and follower of Sanatan Dharma. Rahul probably did not realise till his teens that music would become his passion. Nobody else in the immediate family had shown any interest in this field.
“My father is from Kulgam and my mother is from Anantnag. I am the only child. Though I was born and brought up in Jammu, Kashmiri was introduced by my parents when I was a toddler, and I am comfortable with the language. I do always reach out to my parents for help with meanings of words and phrases especially in context of the Kashmiri songs I choose to sing.”
“In the beginning music was just a hobby, but as I continued singing ‘ek sakoon mila music ke us aura me reh kar’ (I felt at peace in presence of the aura of music). Then at age thirteen I started singing at school events. I randomly volunteered to sing- thus started the journey! Being the only child, I did enjoy undivided attention from my parents, I asked for a guitar and they willingly brought me one.” He adds by their yardstick he has been quite a rebel and his mother jokes he gets withdrawal symptoms without his guitar, just like people want their morning cup of tea he needs his guitar first thing!
Bhagavad-Gita says the elder members are responsible for purifying processes in the family, beginning from birth. This reflects in Arjuna’s deep affection for community and family members. He is therefore not prepared to fight and offers himself to the recognized spiritual guru — Krishna, as a disciple. Our children amidst their own battlefields and quandaries sat as disciples at feet of their elders, unraveling the perplexities of life! The exiled parents and grandparents became their guiding light, eyes and ears into the history of memories; knitting sagas adorned with sentiments and yearnings.
“I have constantly heard about Kashmir from my parents, ‘woh kehte rehte hain kashmir jaisi jagah kahin nahi milegi’ (they say there is no other place like Kashmir), they even claim people would seldom fall sick in Kashmir, the air was so pure! I visited Kashmir for the first time in 2016 and then again in 2019. Since then, I have been going frequently to shoot for my music projects. I found it to be very beautiful, it is an artist’s delight. I felt a kinship. Our house in Kulgam was burnt down long back so I never got to see it.”
“Kashmir can be very inspiring for a musician. I have tried to explore Kashmiri music and love the feelings poured into verses by lyricists such as Asad Mir, Tibet Baqal, Habba Khatoon. I love to listen to Vijay Mallaji and Rashid Hafiz Saab.”
Almost feels like Krishna has reunited with Devaki!
Rome was not built in a day - it can take a lifetime to master a craft, laying a brick on top of another, painstakingly, with perseverance. Starting small, making a walkway of the very stones that hurt your soles, willfully dodging the concrete routes, and trekking the winding pebble trail to one’s dreams. He may have been distracted by the summer heat while longing for the winter snow yet along the path he found a goal. Rahul Wanchoo knows his long-term aspiration and knows he will get there, the obstacles will not allow a defeat, ever. He can splash in the puddle or toss in a pebble, but that will not daunt him.
“I think I didn’t choose music; music chose me, and I am going with the flow, ‘zyada socho mat bas karte jao’ (don’t overthink just pursue it). Since my first performance, in 2012, I have not looked back.”
“On completion of bachelor’s degree in 2016, I started working with R. B. Motion Pictures for my YouTube Bollywood covers, directed by Ricky Bhat, and for that I was on a lookout for a studio in Jammu. Luckily, I got introduced to Sanjay Saini, owner of San J Recording Studio and we have been working together ever since. He is not a Kashmiri but understands what is needed and gives good advice.”
“In 2018, I got a chance to work on my first Kashmiri song called Aalav — The Calling, in collaboration with the production team of Gaash Films, directed by Naveen Pandita. This song was originally written by Late Shafi Shaida and sung by Waheed Jeelani post the migration of Kashmiri Pandits. It is a lament, ‘calling’ the exiled back home. I sought my mother’s help with meaning, feelings and ‘bhaav’. I wanted to understand the essence, feel it, experience it. A few scenes for this song were shot at Jagti Camp. Honestly, I was blessed since most of the Kashmiri families now know me because of that song. I subsequently decided to focus more on Kashmiri music for my community.”
“In mid 2018, I met Pankaj Handoo at a wedding party. I must admit he is multi-talented — a percussionist, a choreographer, graphics designer, an actor and now the Line Producer in my team. He was also cast together with me in Yeli Janaan Ralem video.”
“In 2019, I collaborated with AVD films, run by three young boys from Jagti, for Bel Tai Madal an ethnic Kashmiri hymn glorifying Lord Shiva, written by Krishan Joo Razdan and originally sung by Tibet Baqaal.”
I ask him how he ended up choosing Yeli Janana Ralem, he shares he got on the internet and searched for long till he found this one and it clicked. Yeli Janaan Ralem was written by Asad Mir in mystical verses.
“In mid 2019, SearchKashmir produced Yeli Janana Ralem and we had over 1 Million views followed by Gardish : Home Journey with over 3 lac views and we continued creating more music together.”
Quoting SearchKashmir “Rahul Wanchoo brings alive an old forgotten work of Abdul Ahad Azad (1903–1948). Azad’s work titled ‘Shikwa-e-Kashmir’ had imagined Kashmir as a figure narrating its own tumultuous history, all that it witnessed in all the centuries, concluding that world is always in constant motion, always has been, always will be, sometimes for good, sometimes for bad, that man has to learn from history, from mistakes and hope for a better future. The video puts the poem in context of present history of Kashmir and violent events of 1990 that led to Kashmiri Pandit exodus. The singer, a Kashmiri Pandit born in exile visits his real ancestral place in a Kashmiri village and sings Azad’s ‘Gardish’. In the end, optimism of Azad (of 1940s) is contrasted by pessimism that surrounds us in present times.”
In September 2020 SearchKashmir released a song by Rahul Wanchoo and Hempreet Kour bringing in a single mix, two popular folk songs that captured the beauty of the two languages. The Dogri song Pal pal bai jana was made famous by Tahira Syed and her mother Malika Pukhraj, whose origins are in Jammu and the Kashmiri one Vesiye Yaaras Van by Sufi poet Wahab Khar (19th century) originally sung by Rashid Hafiz.
SearchKashmir produced a popular Kashmiri Bhajan in November 2020. Halmav Halmav Gulaab used to play in most KP homes on cassettes post 90's.
Be Aaro Teer Mo Laay the classic by Vijay Malla written and composed originally by Rajesh Khar was released at the end of 2020. It has crossed 40 thousand views.
“In 2021 we plan to work on some more projects to bring out more Kashmiri songs so we can preserve our culture and language, so we don’t forget our mother tongue. My sincere advice to budding Kashmiri singers is to promote Kashmiri language more than any other language and be proud of it.”
Duryodhana may have been bent upon demanding an unwanted war but as a pure devotee of the Lord, Arjuna had no desire to fight with his cousins and brothers. The obstinacy of Duryodhana, who was never agreeable to any peaceful negotiation led Arjun to the battlefield. There was no question of a peacemaking endeavor and our whole community tried to thrive in exile, eliminating obstacles slowly and steadily.
As is common with most in our society Rahul had to deal with the stereotyping and apprehensions. Surely music could not have been envisaged as a preferred or only career choice. Convincing had to begin at home first with little or no encouragement, however once the audiences accepted him and applauded his efforts, the homecoming was inevitable. He admitted he was heartened to notice, of late Kashmiri Pandit parents becoming more open to teaching music to their kids and also viewing it as a career option, not just a hobby. His dream is to keep singing Kashmiri songs and that Bollywood comes to Kashmiris and not the other way round.
Rahul is self-taught with no formal training; he can play the guitar and harmonium though by self-admission the learning curve was longer in absence of a teacher. It took him 3 years to master the guitar with help of YouTube and he would be seen practicing for hours, into the night, till 3 am. Baby steps turned into big leaps, starting with small performances in Jammu, singing at private events, giving guitar lessons for extra pocket money, finding a guru for a year to get his finger on the pulse of classical music, getting invited to Hyderabad to perform and other small feats.
The commitment was unwavering, the passion indestructible!
Rahul is not a linear thinker, there are multiple starting points for him, he cannot be constrictive. His creative side needs wings, allowing him unimpeded flow to produce something special as a result. He is not scared to falter and has taken many a risk to follow his true passion. With my prodding and pressing he shared he has had his fair share of disappointments and setbacks (the unexpected delay in releasing a song due to the Pulwama attack, the lack of onsite events due to the pandemic, to name a few) but he has kept his self-respect intact and optimism too.
Yet in this body there is another, a transcendental enjoyer who is the Lord, the supreme proprietor, who exists as the overseer and permitter, and who is known as the Supersoul~ Bhagavad Gita 13.23
Ancestors of Allama Iqbal came from Kulgam, also Syed Simnani who renamed it ‘Kulgam’ and has a ziyarat (shrine) there in is name is said to have invited Hazrat Amir Kabir Mir Hamdani to Kashmir along with poets Sheikh Noor-ud-din Noorani and Lal Ded. Rahul may not have lived in his original hometown but mysticism flows through his veins as well, he will certainly scale new heights under the wings of a leading light.
~References:
*Bhagavad-Gītā As It Is — A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1986). Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
* Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead — A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Bhaktivedanta Book Trust
* SearchKashmir https://www.youtube.com/c/SearchKashmirChannel
~ Pictures Credit: Rahul Wanchoo
© Jheelaf Parimu
