‘Even one lakh songs are not enough for our Bhimrao…’

This month, PARI’s Grindmill Songs Project has featured couplets on Babasaheb Ambedkar and caste issues to mark Dr. Ambedkar’s birth anniversary on April 14. In the last of this batch, Radhabai Borhade of Savargaon sings 10 ovi on Phule, Buddha, education, unity, self-respect, and the message given by Bhimrao

Radhabai Borhade of  Savargaon in Beed district sang the first five grindmill songs that were featured on PARI on April 5, 2017. These were part of a series of ovi throughout this month dedicated to Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary on April 14.

Those five songs were dedicated to Buddha, Bhimrao, dhamma , sangha and Ramabai Ambedkar (Babasaheb’s first wife).

This last instalment of the series features 10 couplets by Radhabai in the lead with her strong voice, while others join in.

In the first ovi , Radhabai sings her sixth dedication to Jyotiba (Phule), social reformer, writer, thinker, whose critical work on many fronts included his opposition to the caste system.

In the second verse, she sings the seventh dedication to the Buddhist flag of five colours (that represents Buddhism throughout the world) – the flag speaks of Buddhism to seven crore people (This is a reference to the around 70 million Dalits in India at the time, to whom Babasaheb introduced Buddhism as a way to reject caste-based oppression).

In the third song, Radhabai ardently urges everyone to walk forward on the path of emancipation and to never give up education even when confronted with poverty. In the fourth couplet, the singer tells people to give up fighting and prevent the breaking up of their united group, and to remember the teachings of the Buddha. In the fifth verse, she reminds us that Babasaheb has brought Buddhism to the people and we must follow the principles of the faith.

The eighth song speaks of lighting the lamp of knowledge and following the principles of panchsheel ; the singer says that it is in our hands to make our lives better. In the ninth verse, she asks us to listen to Bhimrao’s message and follow the path of the Buddha dhamma .

In the tenth ovi , Radhabai sings the final dedication to Ambedkar: “I don’t know how many songs to dedicate to Bhimrao Ambedkar because even a hundred thousand couplets are not enough for our revered leader.”

I dedicate my sixth song and respectfully bow to Jyotiba
He always strived for the benefit of bahujan

My seventh song is dedicated to the flag of five colours
It talks about Buddha dhamma to seven crore people

Keep moving along the path of emancipation
In spite of poverty, do not give up education

Leave your factions! Let us get united!
Let us remember the dhamma of Buddha!

Baba departed giving us the Buddha dhamma
Let us truly follow the principles of the Buddha dhamma

Do not worship strange gods of stone
Give up old traditions, society has been ruined

Put an end to enslavement, keep your self-respect alive
Come together one by one, strengthen the collective

Light the lamp of knowledge, follow panchsheel
Our welfare is in our own hands

Listen! Listen to the message of Baba Bhimraya!
Thanks to Buddha dhamma , the liberation of the world

How many songs should I sing, my voice is weak [from singing]
One lakh songs are not enough for my Bhim