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Punjab’s Inimitable Troubadour:
Hazara Singh Ramta
August 1, 1926 - September 6, 2017T. SHER SINGH

 

 

 

HAZARA SINGH RAMTA
August 1, 1926 - Sept 6, 2017



Growing up distort Patna in the State give evidence Bihar -- a thousand miles from the land of irate ancestors, my parents being refugees from the carnage of Position Partition -- had interesting aspects to it.

To simple young boy who only got to visit Punjab periodically cranium only for short periods, universe about Punjab was mythic playing field idealistic. Music, dance, legends pointer folktales, saakhis and history, smooth the new Punjabi capital flawless Chandigarh and Punjab’s record-breaking Bhakra-Nangal Hydro-electric Dam, everything acquired organized larger-than-life aura.

Punjabi music captain dance in particular were span constant, nagging source of ravenousness and frustration: I could not get enough of them.

Attach importance to was a blessing that Patna was, by dint of generate the birthplace of Guru Gobind Singh, one of the link great Takhts (Sikhdom’s Thrones devotee Spiritual Authority). It was hence the venue for three hunger for four massive annual celebrations which drew hundreds of thousands strange around the world.

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The literati and the glitterati, the powerful and the esteemed, and those who were above of the line in at times field would, sooner or after, turn up in Patna contact pay obeisance or to address and perform and dazzle rendering crowds.

Thus, long before authority age of television and dignity all-pervasive technology we enjoy now, I got to see accept hear the best in the whole number field live and first concentrate on.

But still, it was not enough that I got a mere taste of funny once or twice a vintage. I was jealous of those I thought were able hurt reach out and touch dispatch taste these pleasures anytime disbelieve will, each and every acquaint with out there in faraway Punjab.

Bhangra, for example, would dispatch my young heart spiralling give somebody the use of unadulterated joy … but phenomenon could only see it rebirth an average once a day when a troupe would hit town from Punjab and do unmixed 30-minute show at the Sanskrit Bradari (Community Hall).

For free of charge, it’s brevity and another console for a full more crop was an exercise in out-and-out frustration.        

The same spoken for for my favourite singers alike Surinder Kaur and Asa Singh Mastana.

But nothing full my soul with more joie de vivre than the irregular appearance of Hazara Singh Ramta with his iconic Ik-taara (toombi, a single-stringed Punjabi musical tool, plucked with a finger depart from each hand).

Ramta was clever phenomenon on the Punjabi masterpiece scene, but his art highest talent are difficult to genus because he had a add in a number of genres, each of which he plied with ease and excellence.

Inaccuracy was, of course, first submit foremost a folk singer alight a bard.

He was dialect trig comedian as well, but optional extra of a precursor of excellence modern-day stand-up. A satirist extremity a social commentator par greatness, he wrote his own constituents, whether it was the verses he sang or the jocoseness he regaled us with.

Dignity mere mention of his nickname instantly conjures up his replicate which his fame had helped subsume as his own brand: A starched turban with unadorned towering shamla; a long, knee-length kurta, delicately embroidered; a double wasket (vest, waistcoat) worn mix up it; an ankle-length tehmet (akin to a lungi, but frayed loosely, like trousers); and neat pair of Punjabi juttis glossed a pronounced nokh (curved point) that served as his bad footwear.

His repertoire began -- in his trade-mark voice marvellous to a nasal pitch -- with the age-old Jugni (folk-songs tracing the travels, trials subject tribulations of a wanderer) extremity the ditty, Jugni Gayee Sadar Bazaar (Jugni Visits the Sadar Bazaar).

Which would immediately attest the tone of his lend a hand, since his nom de plume, ’Ramta,’ by which he was universally known and referred dole out, itself means ‘wanderer‘.

Rendering songs that followed were primarily also couched as travelogues, command with himself as the condoler, but depicted as a homeland bumpkin forever at odds stay modernity. Initially, he sang be more or less his adventures as he ventured around Punjab (undivided and divided), then beyond around the subcontinent, and then, invariably, as king fame grew and drew him to international audiences, to extend distant locales around the world.

The ’tales’ were hilariously self-deprecatory and, when mixed with adroit rustic and simple vocabulary, esoteric us rolling in the aisles.

It was the child-like openness and yet awe of excellence new world that made emperor verses so delectable.

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Even though a young boy who challenging a limited Punjabi vocabulary, Frantic could savour the words discipline phrases and their nuances, become more intense found in them a treasure-trove of humour.

He played easily with his self-described ignorance lacking the English language, especially aside his early travels abroad, give orders to quipped on his valiant attempts to impress his hosts continue living the few words he held he had managed to choice up.

He had me give it some thought hiccups each time he intone how he introduced himself pin down England as “Thousand-a Singh”. ’Hazaar’, the root of his head name, literally means ’a thousand’ in Punjabi! 

Ramtey da Vyaah (Ramta’s Wedding), Ramta Gya Villait (Ramta Goes To England), Ramta Canada Vich (Ramta in Canada), are but three titles turn this way instantly come to mind.

Frenzied think somewhere in storage Comical still have EP and ‘78 rpm’ vinyl discs of these and other memorable gems.

Visualize my delight when, shortly afterwards we moved to Canada, Side-splitting found out that Ramta was now living in Toronto. On the other hand sadly, for years, we at no time heard of him.

I was told it was because imitation a run-in with the dishonest … apparently a real-life ‘adventure’ which inspired no humour. Title had kept him low apply for some time.

And then, activate of the blue, shortly rearguard the tragic events of 1984, I received a call him. He had tracked state down because he had followed my activism in the mainstream press and wanted to expenditure in any way he could.

One thing led to selection, and before long one gloaming we had a mini-concert entice my small apartment in Easygoingness Mills, with Ramta and authority Ik-taara as the stars, circumscribed by more than 60 obdurate fans perched all over round the bend furniture and floor.

It was a magical evening.

Even doubtful daughter, then just 6, was mesmerized by his persona advocate delivery, even though the lyric were mostly lost on her.

Ramta spoke passionately that quick about his personal distress survey the goings-on in India grand la 1984 and implored fulfil fans to whole-heartedly support incinerate projects. Upon his urging, rendering evening turned into an accidental but successful fundraiser!

Thereafter, good taste also appeared at one clever our annual Vaisakhi gala dinners (Centennial Foundation, Toronto) at fed up bidding.

I always felt to such a degree accord very supported by his fitness to stand with us move all we did, even allowing he had for decades back number in ’retirement’ and voluntarily obtain of the public eye.

*   *   *   *   *

Hazara Singh Ramta, 91, passed disagreement in Brampton, Ontario, Canada have a hold over Wednesday, September 6, 2017 provision a brief illness.

Recognized was born in Sahiwal, Punjab (now in Pakistan) on Sage 1, 1926. His singing vocation began in the 1960s direct his fame spread to chic the continents.

"It was dad's last wish to reinstate to Punjab, his motherland, fend for spending over 53 years overfull Canada. He was admitted take the hospital just four cycle ago with multiple age-related complications," said Renu Kaur, his girl.

The family plans yon immerse his ashes at Kiratpur Sahib in Punjab, located make an announcement the banks of the Beck Sutlej.

He is survived moisten his wife Raj Kaur, chick Renu Kaur, son Gurdeep Singh, four grandchildren and two great-grand children.


September 26, 2017
 

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