Defying the disco di leher

Manika Ahuja

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Indian Diaspora writers put the pen’s mighty power to test, urging fellow countrymen to be one with their homeland again. But there is one thing that surpasses all attempts in the direction, that too, without relying on lofty words, heavily-laden verses or even decorated language, for that matter. Music!

Well, that is what passionate Punjabi lyricist-cum-author Shamsher Singh Sandhu, who penned the famous song Tere ‘ch Tera Yaar Bolda among others, vouches for. “Books, literature and poetry, undoubtedly have the power to impact the masses, but somewhere or the other they succumb to the barriers of language. Music, however, transcends everything. A foreign national might not comprehend what is being sung, but nobody can remain unaffected by the power of music, it moves one from the core of one’s being,” observes Sandhu.

Back to the roots

With over 80 well-known singers such as “Gurdas Mann, Hans Raj Hans and Surjit Bindrakhia lending their voices” to lyrics penned by Sandhu, the predominant aim that prods him to put pen to paper is the intention of making the native head back to his roots. How important a role has music got to play in all of that, though, one wonders, and Sandhu explains, “A very important, indeed. Music, especially our folk songs, are testimonies of Punjab’s rich tradition and culture. For youngsters to take greater pride in their roots, it is rather essential to acquaint them with our priceless folk music and other chronicles, first and foremost.”

Old is gold

The proud writer of Ik Pash Eh Vi, a tribute to renowned Punjabi poet- Pash (Avtar Singh Sandhu), believes in adapting with the ever-changing music trends. But the one thing he cannot bring himself to commend is, “the disco and DJ wave that has taken Punjab’s music in its grip today.” He voices his dejection by quoting the fragment of a line from one of his compositions, “Chali disco di leher..tumba saada taro taar ho gaya..”

Snapping out of his melancholy state, Sandhu avers that music, in its essence, is a way to soothe the soul. “What is the essence of music, you’d ask. Well, in my view, Jo rooh ko shaanti de..that is the true definition of music. The lyricist must have something pertinent to say to his listeners. That makes a melody evergreen,” notes Sandhu. The creative soul, who fervently addresses social issues in his writings, signs off by uttering a line from his composition dealing with Punjab’s battle with drug-addiction— Gumm Gaye Punjab De Jawaan Te Jawaaniya...