Listening To Mohammad Rafi on Old LP Records

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 29 July 2023 Poona has a sizable number of admirers of the great Mohammad Rafi whose death anniversary falls on July 31. There're many clubs of Rafi's countless fans. Here I know a few old army officers who're hardcore Rafi fans. Once in a month we meet at an officer's place and listen to Rafi's immortal numbers on old LP records. The feeling of listening to old songs on LP records is simply indescribable. July 31 is Rafi's 43 Death Anniversary. He shuffled off this mortal coil in 1980. ---- Retired Brigadier Pradeep Anand has a huge collection of Rafi's rare songs and very old LPs. The best part of this nostalgic musical experience is the anecdotes associated with the films, actors and of course Rafi. One more officer, Colonel Ranjeet Ray, who's in his 80s, twice met Rafi. One Colonel Rajbeer Singh has narrated the story ad nauseam how he bumped into Rafi in Jalandhar in 1969 and when he requested, Rafi smilingly sang, 'Ek Haseen Shaam Ko Dil Mera Kho Gaya ' from the movie Dulhan Ek Raat Ki. Rafi gave him his autograph and spoke to him in Theth Punjabi. Barring yours truly, all my much senior Army officer friends met Rafi on different occasions. An old Army officer would insist on playing Rafi's poignant number, Hai Duniya Usi Ki Zamana Usi Ka from 'Kashmir Ki Kali.' Like that Army officer in the song sequence, our old Army officer friend would cry copiously whenever he'd listen to this song. Since these records are very old, sound is often distorted. We've called an old gentleman from HMV, Calcutta, who repairs those very old LPs. A few days ago, we listened to one of Rafi's immortal ghazals, "Kitni Raahat Hai Dil Toot Jaane Ke Baad." Many officers in our group relate to this ghazal in an excessively sentimental manner and plunge into a bout of maudlin self-pity whenever they listen to it. They get transported to a nostalgic world of their own. One friend Brigadier Arif Ahmad from Rampur (UP) has Rafi's all ghazals written by Kunwar Mohinder Singh Bedi 'Sahar'. He plays them religiously on his old and rickety record player. Listening to these rare numbers and even rarer anecdotes related to the films and the great singer can make one feel very nostalgic and emotional. All these old-timers are effusive of Rafi as a great singer and an equally great human being. They remember how warmly he'd meet his fans and say, Sab Allah Ka Karam Hai. Such a nice and humble human! Rafi's seraphic smile and his helping nature will always be discussed by these officers who were fortunate enough to see the magnificent singer and a few of them even listened to him in person when he sang for them on request. The ever-humble singer never refused anyone and obliged whoever requested him to sing. We'll never have the likes of Mohammad Rafi. Let's remember him on his 43rd death anniversary. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://newageislam.com/islamic-personalities/rafi-lp-records/d/130324 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism