"Dama Dam Mast Qalandar"- Runa Laila

Going ahead with the distinctly different and lesser known voices( I know it is relative, what I mean is other than Lata-Asha-Rafi-Kishore), I will trace some songs of Runa Laila. Born in Bangladesh, she sang very few songs for Hindi movies though she has been a star of the entire sub-continent. This is one of her non-film songs but more popular and timeless than any film song could ever become.

While the focus shifts to Modi and other issues, let’s not lose sight of our aim to get justice for the 23 year old physiotherapy student battling for life in Delhi. Our prayers are with her and therefore I pick this prayer which cuts across religious and cultural barriers. I am sure there is no Indian who fails to get moved by this gutsy, spunky prayer. People from all faiths and walks of life are behind this brave girl who comes from an ordinary, middle class family, who was realizing her parents’ hopes and wishes. Apparently her father sold off his land to be able to pay for her physiotherapy education so that she could make something of her life.

The women of this subcontinent share a common history of subjugation, atrocities and injustice. On one hand we are flanked by increasingly unbelievable and mythic symbols of Nari Shakti or woman power- Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati in our heritage. On the other hand we have not left any stone unturned to make women feel powerless, voiceless and oppressed. But enough is enough. Let the din not die down this time. There are many more like her who have still not got justice. Women who are used, abused, harassed, tortured, killed, maimed and thrown away like yesterday’s news. Many names come to mind-Ruchika Girotra, Fiza Khan, Shehla Masood, Geetika Sharma and hundreds of other women and young girls we hear of every day, who deserve a totally safe India (and world)worth living in. Just for your knowledge, Jhulay Lal referred to in this song was a Sindhi Hindu saint and Shahbaz Qalandhar was a Sufi saint. Both are revered in the sub-continent across religious lines for their humanity and compassion. Ali the son-in-law of the prophet is widely revered. At the end of the day humanity is the greatest religion and if most of us could follow it on a daily basis, we would not need any other prayer....