Bhim Geet
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Bhim Geet
(Bhim Geete, in Marathi)
The song he died for / Mithila Phadke, The Times of India, May 24 2015
Bhim geet, which praise Ambedkar's movement, are songs of self-respect for many Dalits
`Kara kitihi halla, majboot Bhimacha killa.' (Attack all you want, Bhim's fortress is strong) The song, praising Dr B R Ambedkar, is many SC youths’ mobile ringtone
Songs like `kara kitihi halla' are called Bhim Geet -songs espousing Ambedkar's social and political philosophy . A pre-Independence musical form that grew around Dalit activism, Bhim Geet continue to draw followers across ages.Long before writers like Baburao Bagul and Namdeo Dhasal and organizations like Dalit Panther made their mark, Bhim Geet were the community's voice.
“When Babasaheb Ambedkar began his activism in the 1920s, Bhim Geet singers played a vital role in spreading his philosophy,“ says Ganesh Chandanshive, professor at Mumbai University and a folk performer himself. He recalls Keruba Ghegde, Bhau Phakkad and Hariharrao Sonule as some of the earliest singers of the genre.
“There used to be a saying, `Bamna ghari lihina, kunbya ghari daana, mahara ghari gaana (there is scholarship in a Brahmin's home, grains at a Kunbi's, and music in a Dalit's),“ says professor Prakash Khandge, head of Mumbai University's Lok Kala Acad emy . The folk songs and ballads spoke of equality and fraternity to the then largely illiterate community .
“Like the protest songs of the Civil Rights movement in the US, Dalit activists used Bhim Geet to challenge the system,“ says poet Vaibhav Chhaya. In the 1940s and early 1950s, the songs of men like Wamandada Kardak captivated audiences, soon followed by Shravan Yeshwante, Prahlad Shinde, Pirajirao Sarnaik and Annabhau Sathe. “Ganatich majhi gulaamaat hoti, zindagich majhi salaamaat hoti...Todlis majhi gulaamachi bedi (I used to be counted as a slave, I spent my life bowing before others...You were the one who broke my chains),“ sings Shinde.
The Bhim Geet movement, says Khandge, slowed down with the start of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement in the mid-1950s.“Ambedkar, too, was part of the movement.The primary concern then was the creation of a separate state,“ explains Khandge. The Bhim Geet movement fell further behind in the 60s with the Shiv Sena raising the decibel on the Marathi manoos issue. “Slowly , all those who were singing Bhim Geet began to explore broader social themes. Some moved to folk theatre,“ Khandge says. It was around the same time that Dalit activ ism found new voices in writers like Bagul and Dhasal. “Golpitha by Dhasal and Baluta by Daya Pawar were written. The `little magazine' movement that began then produced several writers and poets,“ Khandge says. “The work that used to be done by the Bhim Geet singers was then taken on by the new wave of activists.“
Though largely replaced by literature, the Bhim Geet movement refused to disappear. The songs continued to thrive in pockets of Mumbai and outside, through qawwali events. “The Dalit community lived in areas that also had a large Muslim population,“ says Chhaya. Bhim Geet qawwalis flourished in Mumbai neigh bourhoods like Bhendi Bazaar, Mazgaon, Naigaon, and also inside Worli's BDD chawls.
“Both were minority communities,“ Khandge says. “That created a bond and they learnt from each other.“ Repartee and animated ditties flew back and forth, and Bhim Geet qawwali events ensured that the tradition adapted to the changing times. In fact, in time, these performances began featuring film-inspired romantic themes.
But through shahirs like Sambhaji Bhagat, the ballads began exploring themes like globali zation and feminism. “My performances have female sutradhaars,“ says Bhagat, who has just returned from a rousing event in a slum settle ment at Pune's Mangalvar Peth. “There are many young performers on the scene today . And it's the younger generation that makes up most of the audience at these events.“
Those like Kabeer Shakya and his band Dhamma Wings have even adapted songs writ ten by veterans for newer audiences. Shakya's repertoire includes a popular, guitar-accompa nied version of Wamandada Kardak's `Chaan danyachi Chhaya'. “These songs had played a huge role in changing society during their time,“ says Shakya. “We want to do whatever it takes to bring them, and the path-breaking ideas they talk about, to today's generation.“
Popular Bheem Geete on YouTube
Indpaedia searched YouTube for the most popular Bheem Geete. It would, of course, be unfair to compare the number of times a song posted six years was viewed with one posted only a month or two before this chart was prepared. However, for whatever it is worth, the cumulative popularity (as at the end of May 2015) of the 24 most popular Bheem Geete that have been listed as Bheem Geet/ Geete on YouTube is as below.
The Top 24
|
Name of song/ video |
Details of songs/ album |
Artiste(s) |
Length of song(s) |
YouTube popularity |
1. |
Non-stop Bhim geete - part 01 |
Songs played in this video include Jivala Jivacha Daan |
Pralhad Shinde |
8:58 |
276,641 |
2. |
Bhimrao Kadadla |
|
|
4:54 |
276,583 |
3. |
Jivala Jivach Daan |
Chhati thoku hey sangu; Bhimai yaad tujhi; Bheemrayane Balita; He paani aanile mi etc. |
Best Of Sonu Nigam |
44:17 |
178,024 |
4. |
Non-stop Bhim geete - part 02 |
Songs include: 1. Bhimraya tujhi sath hoti; 2. Man maza gelya ananduna; 3. Nav gajtaye ya jag bhara; 4. Asa pudhari hoil ka? |
|
8.50 |
78,042 |
5. |
Buddha-Bhim Geete |
|
Ft Adarsh Shinde |
43:05 |
74,431 |
6. |
Non-stop Bhim geete - part 03 |
Songs include: 1. Majhya Jaticha jaticha 2. Bhimgiri la petvile |
|
8:38 |
70,853 |
7. |
Jaybhim Walyachi Shan |
|
Singer- Rahul Bhosale, Swapnaja Engole |
4:51 |
53,751 |
8. |
Bhimraya tuzi sath hoti (1981) |
|
Pralhad Shinde |
3:12 |
46,507 |
9. |
Non-stop Bhim geete - part 06 |
Songs include: 1. Andherya vastita Bhimane lavlaye Diva |
|
5:16 |
30,397 |
10. |
Kayada Bhimacha Marathi Bheemgeete |
|
Anand Shinde, Milind Shinde |
56:34 |
20,222 |
11. |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Jayanti Special |
Songs included are: 1. Baba Nantar Wali Naahi; 2. Saha December Dusht Kalane Herali;3. Pani Pelai Waghavani, 4. Bhimacha Beta, 5. Bhimrayavani Puthari Hoyeel ka ?, 6. Nagpurchya Diksha Bhumiwar, 7. Nilya Nishana Khali, 8. Arey Sagara, 9. Chandanachi Hi Chita, 1 .Song : Sutbutat Bhimrao Majha. |
|
1:01:59 |
15,299 |
12. |
Tula Bhimana banavala wagh |
Album: I Laal Divyachya Gadila |
Singer: Anand Shinde; Composer: Harshad Shinde; Lyrics: Sunil Khare |
6.40 |
8,384 |
13. |
Saheb kela tula Bhimane |
|
Singer- Gatum Avhad; lyrics - Gatum Avhad |
5:14 |
6,404 |
14. |
Bana Swabhimani Marathi Bheembuddh Geete |
Bana Swabhimani; Kalya Ramacha Darwaja; Bamnachya Angamadhi; Tula etc |
Anand Shinde, Adarsh Shinde, Samarthak Shinde |
1:07:19 |
6,054 |
15. |
Bhim Maja Nasta Tar |
|
Singer- Ashok Nhikalje |
9:29 |
5,135 |
16. |
Jeevala Jeevach Daan |
|
Sonu Nigam |
56:48 |
4,080 |
17. |
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar: Jayanti Special |
|
|
1:08:33 |
3,074 |
18. |
Bhim Geete Marathi |
|
|
50:06 |
2,356 |
19. |
Ba Bhima Ba Rama |
|
Singer- Gungun Runyavale; lyrics: Ramesh Runyavale |
5:18 |
2,334 |
20. |
Sonyacha dagina |
|
Singer- Shankuntala Jadhav; Lyrics: Dinanath Kamble |
5:19 |
2,299 |
21. |
Bhim Geet-Swabhi Mani Bana Aan Jay Bhim Mhana |
|
|
5:34 |
1,767 |
22. |
Mrutyu Yawa Tithe |
Album Uddharak |
Chandrakant Yadav; Music : Jagdish Mohite |
8:58 |
1,098 |
23. |
Buddham Sharanam Gacchami |
|
|
0:24 |
498 |
24. |
Bhim geet Kotale Walavi Aali |
|
Pravin Pagare |
8:55 |
436 |