Musical Fountain dedicated to Rafi Sahab
Dear Rafians / Rafi Lovers
Kolkata’s Municipal Corporation is dedicating a Garden with Musical Fountain dancing to the tunes of Rafi Saheb’s songs. The event is going to be held on 24th December at Kidderpore, Kolkata. Ruhi Khan President RLC has written to The Mayor in Council, appreciating the endeavour. A copy of the letter sent to him is attached for your perusal / necessary action.
Regards
Hashim Khan
Mr Faiyaz Ahmad Khan
Mayor-in Council
Parks & Squares
Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Kolkata.
13th December, 2007.
Dear Faiyaz Saheb,
Sub : Musical Fountain Dedicated to Md Rafi Saheb
24th December is a date revered by music lovers all over the world, as Rafi Saheb’s Birth Anniversary. On this special day, I understand that you are going to pay a unique tribute to the maestro, by unveiling a memorable gift for the Rafians of Kolkata – A Garden dedicated to Mohamed Rafi, at Kabitirtha Sarani, which will have a musical fountain ballet, dancing till time immemorial, to the exclusive tunes of top Rafi numbers.
By paying this ode to the legendary singer, who deserved a Bharat Ratna, you have warmed the hearts of millions of Rafi lovers, not only in Kolkata but across the world and earned for the entire team behind this noble venture, countless good wishes and blessings.
Please accept my personal congratulations and best wishes for this priceless venture. Being the head of Rafi Lovers Circle, which is more than 10 years in the promotion and revival of timeless melodies of Rafi Saheb, I wish to add value to this landmark occasion, so that when the event is inaugurated on 24th December, not only Kolkata, but the whole world will watch / read the media coverage and feel proud of the recognition and homage being paid.
One suggestion is to invite Mr Shahid Rafi, youngest son of the colossus, who is the Patron-in- Chief of our Circle. I shall await to hear from you in this connection.
Thanking you and with kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Ruhi Khan
98311 17866.
DEAR madam ruhi khan(mohd rafi’s niece)…..i am great fan of RAFISAAB since the age of 7, now i am 56 listening to his melodies he is GOD to me,his voice is soothing n acts like medicine to soul n mind….i came to know abt garden in his memory being developed near watgunge in calcutta….i am very happy n will be eager to c it…at least i can the presence of RAFISAAB… my god…there…kudos to ur dedicated efforts to keep memory alive for billions rafisaab fans all over globe…..we r with u….. JASBIR SINGH ZANDO
md rafi is the greatest singer of all times,no one cn reach his stature
The official website of kolkata municipal corporation is : http://www.kolkatamycity.com
asmurty2@rediffmail.com
I envy Mr. Shirish Kulkarni for his being able to attend the function at Kolkata on the 24th Dec – the 83rd birth anniversary of legend of legends rafi sahab. I wish i could have gone there too, but for my preouccupations. i learnt all about his trip and his experiences there from mr shirish kulkarni and i congratulate mr hashim khan, mrs ruhi khan, the rafi lovers circle-kolkata, the kolkata municipal corporation and indeed all the kolkattans for this unique and historic way of paying their tributes to rafi sahab. i hope other cities will follow suit. i tried to locate the park in question – kabitirtha sarani – on the official website of the kolkata municipal corporation at kolkatamycity.com but i did not find it. also there was no updation on the site to contain any mention of this grand event. if such a reporting is done in any newspaper or on any other website, please furnish details so that we can get to see them too, along with the photographs. i also request mr hashim khan and mrs ruhi khan and their team to provide us with the photographs of this historic and most rare event on this website so that all rafians will be able to relish the same. once again congratulations to all concerned and looking forward to the full report from mr shirish kulkarni on his trip to kolkata.
Dear All,
I have just returned from Kolkata after attending this historic occasion. I will submit a full report at the earliest.
But one thing i can is that i was the most fortunate person to attend this occasion. There is Rafi Sahab’s ‘DIWAANAGI” in Kolkata.
My humblest thanks for the hospitality shown my Hashim Sahab, Ruhi madam and Irshad bhai.
Shirish Kulkarni
HATS OFF TO ALL KOKATTANS MUSIC LOVERS AND ESPECIALLY RAFI SAHAB’S LOVERS CIRCLE SPEARHEADED BY RUHIJI N HASHIMJI ALONG WITH BACHAVATJI AND THEIR TEAM FOR ONE OF THE GREATEST INNOVATIVE TRIBUTE TO OUR BELOVED GURUJI RAFI SAHAB.
I ALSO WISH TO THANK THE HON.MAYOR AND ALL DIGINITARIES FOR MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.
IAM JEALOUS OF KOLKATTANS AS THEY CAN ENLIVE AND SWAY TO THE DANCING FOUNTAIN OF ONLY RAFI SAHAB’S SONGS
On seeing Ms Ruhi’s article I wish i was in kolkata today. Right from the age of 5-6 years I had been singing in school, mehfils, get-togethers of elder members of my family and freinds. I never sang like a child, as people say “wo abhi bachcha hai” has never happened to me as far as I remember. I sang songs of all great legends of yester years but as I started maturing I realised the greatest ever singer is Rafi Saheb. I would say while other greats were genius but they were singers, where as Rafi saheb’s voice has Saraswati (God) living in it. Out of my share love for him I have recorded over 800 songs of Rafi saheb, in my house itself wishing that people do not forget such a super human singer and his greatest golden voice.
Thanks to Ruhi ji and her article that excited me when I saw it. From mid night of 23rd / 24th I was remembering Rafi saheb and look what a great news about Rafi saheb being remembered in Kolkata.I am thrilled.
Best Regards
Ranjan Bhadury
ranjanbha_1234@rediffmail.com
RUHI MADAM
LOT OF THANKS FOR SHARING THE LOCATION OF GARDEN DEDICATED TO RAFI SAHEB. TODAY IS HIS 83RD BIRTHDAY. MY BEST WISHES TO YOU AND ALL FOR INAGURATION FUNCTION.
“BAR BAR YEH DIN AAYE BAR BAR YEH DIL GAYE”
BIMAN BARUAH, SIVASAGAR, ASSAM
Thanks to all my fellow Rafians for having beautiful things to say about “THE BEST SINGER EVER LIVED”. Please continue & teach your family about Rafi Sahab.. akhtar….
Mohd Rafi Garden inauguration on 24 Dec.
Ref Post No 21 ( Shirish Kulkarni ) and Post No 22 ( Mr Biman Barua ).
The address is as follows :
14, Kabitirtha Sarani,
Near Watgunge Police Station,
Kidderpore – Kolkata 700 023.
Mr Shirish pl contact Hashim Khan 98310 81230 on 23rd when you arrive at Kolkata. For the benefit of all those whose hearts will be with us on 24th December, I would like to reproduce below extracts from the invitation card :
Dard-e-Dil, Dard-e-Jigar,
Dil Mein Jagaya Aapne.
Whose voice could justify the above lines more than his ?
Who could fill our hearts with more pleasureable pain than him ?
Who can defeat the King of Soulful Songs – Mohammed Rafi – even 27 years after his departure from the mortal world.?
The singer with the velvet voice won the hearts of millions, lending his treasure to thousands of songs and making them immortal. Winner of National Awards and inumerable other awards, Rafi Sahab might have sung ” Aaj Purani Rahon Se…Koi Mujhe Awaaz Na De ” but it is he who calls us with his melliflous voice from the old roads to sip the drink of nostalgia.
With a view to pay our tribute to the master of melody, the legendary
playback singer Mohd Rafi, a small garden in his name ( With a sculpture of the Artist and A Musical Fountain ) has been set up at 14, Kabitirtha Sarani, Kolkata – 700 023 by the parks & Squares Dept Of Kolkata Municipal Corporation ( KMC ) The garden alongwith the fountain will be ceremonially inagurated on the 83rd Birthday of Mohd Rafi, at 4.00pm
ruhi madam
namaskar . my heartiest thanks and congratulation for your great efforts. i would like to personally visit the garden dedecated to great rafi saheb in my next visit to kolkata. can you let me know the exact location of the place.
very best regards
biman baruah, sivasagar, assam.
bimanbaruah@yahoo.co.in
Dear Mr. Hashim Khan,
Can you mail the full address of the venue of this great function on this site? I will also contact you, once i reach Kolkata on 23rd Dec.
Regards
Shirish Kulkarni
098204 52562
Great news! And congratulations to Ms. Ruhi Khan and rest of the rafi lovers circle. At this time of the year, I am usually in kolkata, but due to job constraints, won’t be able to attend the inauguration function with the rafi lovers of kolkata. May the fountain of rafiana spread joy and kindness across the millions of hearts in my city.
Fellow calcuttans, I want to share an episode with you. Sometime in the late 70s, Rafi saab had come to kolkata after returning from a world tour. Shahid Bijnori was compering the show; he said something that sent the crowd to raptures. He said that rafi saab was often asked in which city he liked to perform the most. The answer was calcutta. He had performed in so many venues in kolkata: eden gardens, lake stadium, khudiram stadium, kala mandir, netaji indoor stadium… He also used to perform in the mofussil towns of Bengal. A deputy commissioner of police told me that once, after singing at one such small town (probably in Midnapore), rafi saab had donated his entire earnings from the show to the people of that town, which was devastated by floods a few days earlier.
ms. Ruhi madam,
1.- Kolkata is number one in many aspects.This has proved once again.
2.-Congrats.for great efforts taken by RCL Kolkata.
3.-A unique gift.Just fit for RAFI Sahab whose nature was like FLOWERS.
To spread the fragrance..and nothing expected in return..What a wonderful idea of Kolkata people to dedicate the Musical Fountain.
Best Regards;
Shrirang Nawathe
dear Mr Gurumurty ji,
1.-The name of the film starred by SANJAY/PADMINI and released in 1969 is “‘MAADHAVI”‘.
Regards;
SHRIRANG NAWATHE
REF POST NO. 13
DEAR MR. H.V. GURU MURTHY
THE NAME OF THE FILM IS ” MADHVI ”
REGARDS/ A.T.M. SALIM.
BRAVO WELL DONE RUHI SAHIBA AND HASHIM SAHEB… AND RAFI SAHEB’S LOVERS CIRLCE KOLKATA.
JAI LEGEND OF THE LEGENDS THE ONLY ONE AND ONLY RAFI SAHEB…
NARAYAN
Sorry for the typo error.! It is Ruhi madam & not Juhi. My apologies
Ms. Ruhi madam,
I am not coming there on behalf of Rafi foundation to take any personal cognisance of this wonderful occasion. I have no authority to do that. I happen to be there on a personal visit. It is my good fortune that this function is being held around the same period. I feel privileged that i have this chance. Hope to see you soon there on thois landmark occasion.
regards
Shirish Kulkarni
Ref: Post 11
Ms. Juhi madam,
I am not coming there on behalf of Rafi foundation to take any personal cognisance of this wonderful occasion. I have no authority to do that. I happen to be there on a personal visit. It is my good fortune that this function is being held around the same period. I feel privileged that i have this chance. Hope to see you soon there on thois landmark occasion.
regards
Shirish Kulkarni
DEAR SHRI. BALUSHI,
“PARDA HATADE MUKHDA DIKHADE” WAS A DUET SUNG BY RAFI AND ASHA AND PICTURISED ON MEHAMOOD FOR SANJAY – PADMINI STARRER, THE NAME OF WHICH I AM NOT ABLE TO RECOLLECT. INCIDENTALLY THIS MOVIE HAD ANOTHER WONDERFUL DUET BY MANNADEY AND LATA – “SHAM DHALE JAMUNA KINARE”. THIS FILM WAS RELEASED SOMEWHERE AROUND 1969. CAN ANYBODY RECOLLECT THE NAME OF THIS MOVIE?
jai ho rafisaab……
We have just received a call from Mr Shirish Kulkarni, member of The Rafi Foundation Mumbai, and understand that he is visiting Kolkata on 24th December to personally take cognisance of this historic and landmark venture / occasion. If Birmingham ( UK ) can be proud of a Shrine dedicated to Rafi Saheb, Kolkatans have set the pace for Indians by gifting the Musical Fountain. I would request all Rafians / Rafi lovers to please try and visit Kolkata specially on 24th Dec to witness the spectacle…The Cityof Joy now has another feather in its cap.
Well done ruhi ji… and your team of dedicated rafi lovers
in culturally centred calcutta.
Its the right step in forming a public opinion and recalling
the great singers contribution.
The new delhi press conference is also taking place which
will appeal to the government to honour melodious rafi saab
with the ‘bharat ratna’.
keep it up mam……
binu nair ///the rafi foundation/// mumbai..
Its a great news!!! Someday I hope to visit Kolkata, though I am now in the USA.
ruhiji,
congrats madam. its a marvellous work for our legend cum saint.
i am trying to visit kolkata on this beautiful date 24th dec. on this day of 1924 a ‘ farishta’ came to this world.
Great news! I congratulate to all who have organise the show. Bad luck for me I can’t visit the said garden on Rafi Saheb’s name as I live in Africa. My best wishes to one and all.
DEar Mrs.Ruhi Khan,
Very happy to hear this news.Atlast some recoginition is being given to the legend our rafi saab.
DEAR MR. HASHIM KHAN
THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL PIECE OF INFORMATION !
AT THE SAME TIME, I AM ALSO THANKING IN ANTICIPATION -THE KOLKATA
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION FOR THEIR LOVELY PROJECT WITH REGARD TO OUR BELOVED RAFI SAHAB .
I AM WISHING THEM ALL THE BEST .
LET THE FOUNTAIN OF EVERLASTING MUSIC OF RAFI SAHAB KEEPS
ON FLOWING AND FLOWING !!!
BEST REGARDS/ A.T.M. SALIM.
Hello Ruhi Ji,
Thanks for this great initiative taken from your side. Thanks also for bring great news to us. Certainly Rafi Saab will one fine day get the Bharat Ratna, if not today but certainly tommorrow.
Regards,
Anmol Singh,
Mumbai.
its great news i would like to visit this garden i believe its first of this kind of garden dedicating musical fountain dancing to rafisaabs tunes thanks kolkata s muncipal corporation respected mayor
What a wonderful news Mrs. Ruhi Khan Ji. I must congratulate all the Kolkattans for this unique way of honouring legendary persona that rafi sahab is. i would love now to visit kolkata as soon as possible, not just to be with the rafi lovers’ circle but also to spend a lot of time in the musical fountain. what an experience it would be for those to assemble there on the 24th december 2007.
Fantastic news, and nice way to approached by you Ms. Ruhi