Namita Waikar and PARI GSP Team

Author

Binaifer Bharucha

Photo Editor

Urja

Video Editor

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“I learned grinding and singing ovi from my mother while helping her at the stone mill every morning,” said Baban Dighe from Bhambarde village. The 55-year-old is the only male member among the all-women singers and performers recorded in the Grindmill Songs database.After his mother died, his father remarried and his stepmother neglected him, often not giving him food to eat. He had to fend for himself by doing odd jobs.Baban Dighe gave 19 songs to the collection of grindmill songs, 17 of which were audio recorded and are presented in the song clip. When we met him in December 2023, he sang four new songs, which we recorded on video. “My voice was always sweet and even more bareek [slender], when I was young,” said Baban.In the video, Baban sings about the rising sun, referring to it as God, and likens the sun rays to the brilliance of a brother’s youth. The name ‘Putala’ for the brother is used to indicate a young man with a powerful beauty. The singer urges the sun, the God to come soon and to reveal what the future holds.

The essence of the 17 songs in the audio clip is that practicing religious rituals are meaningless if there is no compassion or empathy for those who are poor and less fortunate. Ridiculing or humiliating a poor person for their condition is the worst kind of behaviour for a human being towards another. Anyone who helps those in need is doing godly work.“Be generous in your giving,” is what the singer tells us.When the brother is going through hard times and poverty, the sister says that things will get better, like when a cloud over the moon moves away and the moon shines again.

Early in the morning, who is this Gosavi* who has come to the door? What can I tell you, woman? Give him some alms in charity! Early in the morning, Saint Changuna gave charity Saint Changuna gave charity, she made God work The one who knows about the customs and traditions, she followed them Don’t say, I have spoilt them, God is the witnessGive food to the hungry, this is what the religion says Why do you say, it is spoilt, Pandurang enjoys these observances The one whose mother is religious, her daughter follows her Even if she goes to a forest [unknown place], God will come to her help The charity you do, gives you deliverance from life A slight breeze causes tender leaves to fly awayWhen you give charity, give it on a banana leaf [generously] In our life on earth, remember the hungryHe came to my door, I regularly give him water to drink Yama went back, recognising the need of the hungryI got what was in my fate I had gone to the temple, I understood the religious meaning I am poor, they humiliate me I fold my hands to God, only I know how difficult life is for me I am poor, I keep tying knots to my [torn] clothes Thus I protect my reputation, but people still talk about it in meetings I have managed to live in poverty, brother, you don’t be afraid The black spot on the moon will just go away one day Don’t lose courage because of poverty The black shadow on the moon will just go away one day How can you ridicule someone’s poverty The afternoon shadow keeps movingWho is making fun of my poverty At the time of death, He will tell everything You jeered at her poverty [you broke the good relations] The jasmine and Mogra buds fell on the ground with the wind What happened in the previous life is done and gone Don’t pamper me, I tell you *Gosavi A man who has renounced worldly business, pleasures, etc. He wears clothes of brick-dust colour. It is also the name of a caste that engages itself in religious activities.

The sun rises…

God [sun] has risen, I saw him rising My brother Putala, stood outsideGod [sun] has risen, I saw him rising My brother Putala, look at the scattered gulaalGod [sun] has risen, he came close to home My brother Putala, his brilliance of youth like the sun raysI go to see God, stand behind the temple With folded hands I say, “come soon, tell me your thoughts”

Performer/ Singer: Baban DigheVillage: Bhambarde Hamlet: Ganapatiwadi Taluka: Mulshi Valley: Mulshi District: Pune Gender: M Caste: Maratha Age: 55Date: These songs and some of the information were recorded on October 14, 1995. The photographs of the singer and the video recording were taken on December 3, 2023.

Jyoti

Poster: Urja<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://ruralindiaonline.org/en/articles/the-grindmill-songs-recording-a-national-treasure/">Read </a>about the original Grindmill Songs Project founded by Hema Rairkar and Guy Poitevin.

The sun rises, the moon shines

طلوع آفتاب، درخشاں ماہتاب

সুৰুয উঠে, চন্দ্ৰ চমকে 

উদিত সূর্য ওই, চাঁদের সোহাগ সই

સૂરજ ઊગે છે, ચાંદો ચમકે છે

सूरज उगे और चंदा चमके

ಸೂರ್ಯ ಉದಯಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ, ಚಂದ್ರ ಹೊಳೆಯುತ್ತಾನೆ

സൂര്യനുദിക്കുന്നു, ചന്ദ്രൻ തിളങ്ങുന്നു

उगवला भगवान, उगवताना मी देखिला

ਸੂਰਜ ਚੜ੍ਹਦਾ ਏ, ਚੰਨ ਚਮਕਦਾ ਏ

சூரியன் உதிக்கும், நிலவு ஜொலிக்கும்

ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟ ଉଏଁ, ଜହ୍ନ ଝଲସେ  

‘दया-ममता बिना जिनगी अकारथ बा’

ऊबत सुरुज, चमकत चंदा  

Bhambarde

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The sun rises, the moon shines

Baban Dighe of Mulshi in Maharashtra, sings about the importance of being generous, and of having empathy for the poor

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