By Sanjeev Kumar Dixit

I think that I am a luckiest person on this earth because I got the fortunate to visit “KOTLA SULTAN SINGH, AMRITSAR”, the birth place of our beloved “Rafi Sahab”. My this visit became possible only because of the blessings of “RAFI SAHAB”.

In the morning of 15^th October I reached AMRITSAR from LUCKNOW by “Punjab mail(3005)”. From there I reached to MAJITHA TOWN Siavara (20 km from Amritsar) by a bus and from there I went to village “KOTLA SULTAN SINGH (5 KM from Majitha town) by same bus fortunately.

After reaching the village I met with GURBIR SAMRA ji and his family. House of Gurbir ji is at the same place where the house of RAFI SAHAB was.

After some time I met with the childhood friend of RAFI SAHAB, MR. KUNDAN SINGH JI. He is now 85 years old but his memory is so good and he remembered every moment he passed with RAFI SAHAB.

He told me when RAFI SAHAB left the village in 1937; Rafi Sahab marked his name on a tree with a knife for him.

He also told me that “ALI MOHD. SAHAB” the father of RAFI SAHAB, was able to prepare the RICE with 7 different colors in 7 layers in marriages.

He told that name of Father in law of RAFI SAHAB was “MR. DEEN MOHD. & mother in law as “MRS. NAWABO” and RAFI SAHAB married with “BASHEERA JI” in 1945.

According to KUNDAN SINGH ji, a saint was there in his village that generally visited his village and played “SARANGI”. The wonder is this that he called the person’s (Villager’s) name by his “SARANGI” and sang in very sweet voice. Rafi sahab liked his voice too much and followed him till very far from his house.

At the last of the meeting “KUNDAN SINGH JI” became sad and his eyes filled with tears by remembering his childhood friend “RAFI SAHAB” and he HUGGED me and said -“Please visit the village again, I am at the end of my life but after me don’t forget the village and be in touch with Gurbir & others.” When Kundan singh ji hugged me then I felt the presence of RAFI SAHAB in Kundan singh ji. I also felt that RAFI SAHAB is giving a lot of blessings to me through Kundan singh ji.

He said that before two years we arranged a program on RAFI SAHAB. Many celebrities like “DARA SINGH, NAVJOT SINGH SIDDHU ETC.” attended the program  and promised to give a donation to village for making a monument of RAFI SAHAB but they forgot the promise after the program. He kept the cutting of that news paper till now for proof & for reminding the promise to politicians.

I spoke with Mr. Gaurav ji, P.A. of MR. NAVJOT SINGH SIDDHU JI; He is also a fan of RAFI SAHAB & became very happy that I remind him the promise. He said he will do whatever possible for the village.

We also must try to contact “DARA SINGH JI”. If anyone got the contact of any one of these two please remind him, his promise.

Next day I visited the primary school of village “KOTLA SULTAN SINGH” where RAFI SAHAB studied till 4th STD.

A photo of RAFI SAHAB was there in the office of the head master and Mr. Jaspal singh ji worships daily to Rafi Sahab with putting a “AGARBATTI” in front of the photo. He introduced me to the children and children said -” JAI SRI MOHD. RAFI SAHAB”, followed to Mr. Jaspal singh ji. I advised him to put a picture of RAFI SAHAB in every class room & gave him few photos of RAFI SAHAB. I also advised him that during assembly they can use a Bhajan or patriotic song with daily prayer. He agreed with me and said he will try to do so in near future.

Every child of the school is familiar to RAFI SAHAB. A girl child sang the song “BABUL KI DUVAAYEN LETI JAA…” on my request. I also sang a song “HAM LAAYEN HAIN TOOFAN SE KASHTI NIKAL LE…” for the children on request of JASPAL JI.

I also saw the class room of RAFI SAHAB, Peepal tree under which RAFI SAHAB passed his time in recess and the hand pump which RAFI SAHAB used to drink water.

At the last I distributed some toffees to children and returned back.

My visit became possible only by the BLESSING OF RAFI SAHAB, great help of MR. GURBIR SAMRA JI AND HIS FAMILY. My visit was very successful and sacred like a “yatra of chardham or Haz”.

I want to say many thanks to GURBIR JI AND HIS FAMILY. I will always grateful to them.

“Long live Rafi Sahab”

This blog was published on Sunday, November 14th, 2010 at 12:58 pm and Last modified on Sunday, November 14th, 2010 at 1:01 pm and is filed under Meri Awaaz Suno. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.