Idu Sharif: A forgotten legend of Dhadi singing

Ramesh K Dhiman

My tryst with this legendary performer on a laidback Sunday afternoon was a pilgrimage of a kind. As I drove off on my mobike through the blind alleys, with a cluster of houses lying cheek by jowl, my heart skipped a beat. My pow-wow with the proverbial ‘baba-borh’ of Dhadi folk singing, a typical Sufi genre, at his Mani Majra residence, was unforgettable indeed.

As I am ushered into his unkempt room of a 2-marla house, crammed with sundry household items, the singer in his late 80s, shot a serene smile as he beckoned me to be seated close by. His deep, tear-filled eyes spoke volumes of the trauma that he might have undergone during his long eventful journey, loaded with highs and lows.

The role played by this living legend in promoting and immortalising the Dhadi genre will remain a golden chapter in the pages of the history of this typical folk singing. He is none other than Idu Sharif, a recipient of the coveted Sangeet Natak Akademi and other awards. My lively two-hour interaction with this legend, fighting a formidable battle for survival in his sunset years, veered around the fast-dwindling tribe of Dhadi singers and his significant contribution to the promotion of this typical folk singing.

Idu, who hails from Laloda, a shining outpost in the princely state of Patiala, claims to be a descendant of the Bhai Mardana lineage of musicians. Coming from a family with no musical background, Idu started eking out a living by driving a horse cart at a very tender age, ferrying men and material even during the hostile weather conditions. His penchant for singing and ‘sarangi’ seems to have been born with him. Wedded to Dhadi singing, Idu would steal a little leisure time off his odd schedule and play the ‘sarangi’, creating haunting tunes, compelling the passersby to stop a while and savour the soul-stirring strains of the instrument.

Idu shifted base to Manimajra in Chandigarh after his marriage to Usha, weaving dreams of a rosy tomorrow. During his initial years of struggle in Chandigarh, his innate talent was first spotted by a North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC) official, Yashwinder Sharma ‘Jassi’, during one of his random roadside Sarangi-playing sessions. The official arranged for his solo concert at a musical soiree at Kalagram, which proved to be a boon in disguise for this passionate performer. His pulsating rendition received rave reviews, setting off a stage for his musical journey ahead.

Idu stole the limelight when he performed at ‘Apna Utsav’, a high-octave cultural extravaganza in New Delhi (1986) that earned him well-deserved recognition. And, then, there was no looking back for this struggling artiste, who emerged as the pole on the musical horizon among the struggling fraternity. This pushed him on to the world stage where he performed at star-studded cultural soirees and star shows. His passionate performances always left an indelible mark on the sensibilities of the audience.

“My journey from the childhood days of yore to attaining stardom in Dhadi singing brought a mixed bag of good and bad times for me. The career’s best phase appears to be between 1986 and 2005, when I made conscious forays into the field. I got an opportunity to perform to an appreciative audience on the foreign shores and win hearts. It was during this period of time when I lent my voice to a popular Punjabi film ‘Tera Mera Ki Rishta’. Later, producers and filmmakers approached me with exciting offers, but none came forth. This was perhaps because they wanted me to sing a song for free,” he rues in resignation.

His hard toil seems to have paid off well if awards and accolades that poured in, thick and fast, were an indication. Idu was awarded by former President APJ Abdul Kalam and the who’s who of polity, art and culture, including Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, Sukhbir Singh Badal and others. The then Governor of Punjab, Gen (retd), BKN Chhiber, had announced a monthly stipend of Rs 5,000, which, his wife claims, never reached them. “The dispensation played a cruel joke on an artiste of his stature,” she says.

This was not the end of misfortunes for Idu. A paralytic stroke he suffered in 2011 made things worse for the family of this ageing artiste.

This was followed by three more strokes in quick succession. The one he suffered in December last left him bed-ridden and without the power of speech. The prolonged treatment cost him all his savings pooled through various sources. “None of our three sons is able to support us as we are all jobless. My husband, the only breadwinner, has been bed-ridden for years now. Our only daughter has been extending a helping hand in meeting his medical expenses,” she continues. “How does it feel when an artiste of his (Idu) standing is ferried in a cycle-driven ‘rehri’ to board an auto or a cab when he is taken out for treatment? What are these laurels for when people like him are left to fend for themselves,” asks his wife as she tries to hold back her tears.

“Words fail to express gratitude to the government of Punjab for extending a helping hand to a family in deep financial straits. We were in for a pleasant surprise when Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, visited us to enquire about the well-being of the ailing maestro and gave Rs 2 lakh to meet the medical expenses. This was the biggest relief to the family by any government so far. “He had also promised to allot a house in Chandigarh,” she says with a ray of hope.

It is indeed a matter of concern that the star artistes of the country, who gave the best of their happening years to the preservation and promotion of various folk arts and culture of the country, are denied their legitimate right to live. The pathetic plight of this highly decorated Dhadi singer, who is now living in abject poverty and is unable to make ends meet and even bear his medical expenses, speak of the dispensation’s indifferent attitude. It is a disgrace that the ambassadors of our rich cultural heritage are left to suffer in stoic silence during the stressful summers of their lives!