GREAT PERSONALITY AND GREAT RESPECT

GREAT PERSONALITY AND GREAT RESPECT

A great man is one who has a great following. Several names of great human beings come up in our mind and the sheer following that they command is a true testimony to their greatness.
Hindi film world and music has produced hundreds of such great men and women, who have been or are still household names and the country is proud of them all. And one such tall and towering personality is known by the name MOHAMMED RAFI SAHAB. Such is the aura attached to this great name that his name will rank first and foremost as long as music is discussed by all lovers of Hindi film music.
However, all ‘great’ people depart earlier than expected and Rafi Sahab suddenly bid adieu to the shock of millions of grief stricken and shell-shocked followers throughout the world. 31st July 1980. A black day indeed. It was on this day that we lost a great legend and a great playback singer Mohd Rafi Sahab.
However, we as a civilized society also continue to shower our respects to all our noble and great personalities by celebrating their birth anniversaries and mourn their death anniversaries. Although 27 years have elapsed since Rafi Sahab’s departure, fans throughout the length and breadth of the country as also overseas celebrate his birth anniversary and death anniversary paying floral tributes. At many centres, programmes are held in auditoriums by various groups remembering the beauty of Rafi Sahab’s songs. If at a centre the ‘evening’ is titled as “RAFI KI YADEIN”, it is aptly called “EK SHAM RAFI KE NAAM”.
I came across this wonderful news item that was published in the “Rajasthan Patrika” reporting news of the birthday celebration of Rafi Sahab at the Patliputra International Trade Fair organized by a school “The Miller”. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Look for yourself at the photograph below -

In one of the school named “The Miller” one trade fair was organized in this school maiden called Patliputra International Trade Fair, they organized Mohdrafi’s anniversary. The school children and the teachers along with the authorities were seen feeding cake to the late singer mohdrafi’s photo and it was greatness to this legends respect from the school children.
Just by a fleeting glance at the picture I had a feeling that we should report such activities on the website for the benefit of all Rafians. And we should do similar activities in other cities too. I have earlier informed A S Murtyji and Shirish Kulkarniji about a procession in my native place – Dharwad - every year on the birth and death anniversary of Rafi Sahab with his photo sprinkled with flowers. What a great respect from the people of Dharwad. I wanted to express this with great respect that Mohd. Rafi Sahab is there with us and will be there forever till this world ends.
I request all the Rafians to report similar activities from their towns or cities so that we are benefitted with this kind of information and the Rafi Foundation should chronicle them for the forthcoming issues of their magazine.
Article by: Shashank B Chickermane