Songs of Majalgaon, memories of Mhow

In eight songs, three singers from Majalgaon in Beed district hail the birth of Bhimrao in Mhow, Madhya Pradesh. They express gratitude to him, and speak of the new identity that Buddhism has given them. To mark the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14, PARI’s Grindmill Songs Project features couplets on Dr. Ambedkar and caste issues throughout this month

Rangubai Potbhare, Walhabai Takankhar and Radhabai Borhade sing eight ovi in this edition of the Grindmill Songs. The singers are or were residents of Bhim Nagar, a Dalit hamlet in Majalgaon, a taluka village in Beed district.

The work of Babasaheb Ambedkar and his role as a beacon for Dalits and all other oppressed communities inspires the women to sing ovi in praise of their leader. For the Grindmill Songs Project, Majalgaon has been a wellspring of ovi about Dr. Ambedkar, the revered national leader and statesman, voice of the oppressed, and architect of India’s Constitution.

In the first of the eight ovi here, Rangubai sings about flurry and excitement in Mhow, a bustle about the birth of a baby. (Mhow is a cantonment town in Madhya Pradesh; since 2003 it is officially also called Dr. Ambedkar Nagar. Babasaheb was born here on April 14, 1891).  The ovi tells us that the news spreads in town that a son is born to Ramji (Ambedkar).

In Mhow village, what is this flurry? 
What is this bustle about? A son is born to Ramji

Come all you women neighbours, today is the naming ceremony 
Mirabai says, ‘Name him Bhimraj’

O woman, take Bhim’s name on waking in the morning 
Only then place your foot on mother earth

O woman, on waking up in the morning, I utter ‘Bhim, Bhim’ 
Bhim, Bhim I say, and only then I think of starting my work

O woman, I wake up in the morning, sprinkle the courtyard with milk 
I sprinkle with milk in this mansion of Gautam Buddha

O woman, I wake up in the morning, sprinkle the courtyard lightly 
I sprinkle (the courtyard) lightly, I am Gautam’s sister

O woman, I wake up in the morning, and see how I sprinkle 
How I sprinkle (the courtyard), I am Gautam’s niece

O woman, you say “Bhim! Bhim!” Bhim is his mother’s son 
Bhim is his mother’s son, life has been liberated

Performers/Singers : Rangu Potbhare, Walha Takankhar,  Radha Borhade