Shiromani Saint Kanwarram's life story and songs inspire millions of Sindhis today and bring a sense of pride in their mind. Today many of our places and nagars in India are named in his memory. He belongs to the glorious part of our history. He was not in the history of ancient India or even medieval period of history. He was there as recent as few years before our migration from Sindh in 1947.

Kanwarram and Sindh are most important part of our recent history. Today life of Sindh with its totality including major rural part of it is inconceivable. We Sindhis are essentially urban people at present. We are society scattered in India and in other parts of world living in metropolis, cities and towns. Of many other things that partition has deprived us of is our rural life in India. Our knowledge of rural life in India is limited to Hindi cinemas as depicted by our dream merchants.

Kanwar was born in a small village 'Jarwar' near Mirpur Mathelo at district Sukkur in Sindh on 13th April 1885. His father Tarachand was s simple honest man part of traditional joint family, who had a farm and a small shop in village. His mother Tirathbai, a very pious lady used to participate in religious and spiritual work along with performing her household duties. She had great faith on 'Rahrki Darbar' in village of Rahrki few miles from Jarwar. Head priest of Rahrki Darbar Saint Khotaram had huge following in Sindh. He was man with mission. His spiritualism did not end with kirtans and satsangs. He preached people to serve poor and downtrodden. He promoted several causes of social service. Mata Tirathbai prayed Rahrki Darbar for a son who should become a saint. Her prayer were answered and a son was born to her. Saint Khotaram named child 'Kanwar' means 'Lotus'. Farsighted saint saw Kanwar a person who would be a great to society while performing his house-hold responsibilities towards family.

Mata Tirathbai sang songs of spirituality when kanwar was in cradle. She told her baby in no uncertain terms that he has to grow up to be s saint as per her commitment to Rahrki Darbar. Jija Mata had conceived her child in cradle to be 'Shivaji Maharaj'. Mothers have played vital roles in bringing up their children. Our saint Kanwarram is gift to our community by Mata Tirathbai and Rahrki Darbar.

What is a Darbar? No, it is not a Royal court as per its dictionary meaning. It is a great tradition of our culture. Darbar are our heritage to be proud of. They have kept our culture and religion alive and intact for centuries together. Basically 'Darbars' are institutions of religion and spirituality. Manjhadanji Darbar, Shadani Darbar, Khatwari Darbar, Sadhubella and so on. These institutions of our society have played an important role in social and even economic needs of time. These have played functions of charity, matrimony among the members of society. Many of them had established Go Shallas, Dharamshallas, Schools for children, shelters for hand canoed and water wells apart from constructing temples for Hindu religion.

Kanwar became child of entire village. Children played together. They shared their sweets and toys, pains and joys. Father Tarachand sent Kanwar to learn reading and writing 'Hindu Sindhi' also known as 'Hat Vanika'. In Punjab this is called 'Bhita' or dual script. This script is still used in trade for keeping accounts. It has no vowels. Later Kanwar also learnt 'Gurumukhi' script created by Sikh gurus of Punjab. Kanwar did most of his reading and writing in Gurumukhi.

As a boy Kanwar helped his family shop and farm. He would also go to sell boiled channa 'kother' in pot, carrying on his head. His singing drew admiration from entire village. He also played flute in childhood.

At age of 10, father decided to sent him to learn music. Two miles away from Jarwar was another village Hayat Pitafi, which had a Darbar. This was founded by Saint Shadaram (now called 'Shadani Darbar')

At that time this Darbar's presiding head priest was a lady, named Mata Hassibai, a very competent person. She was hard working and served saints and sadhus personally with her hands. If needed she would go out to fields and worked for Darbar.

Master Hassaram

At Hayat Pitafi Darbar, lived a great teacher of music Hassaram. He was blind man. His knowledge of Indian classical music was very vast. Young boy Kanwar was put under his charge. Kanwar got his formal music training from him. He acquired knowledge of 'sur' and 'taal', knowledge of Ragas and their timings and its effect on mind of listeners. It became a great boon for Kanwar, who used music to create desired effect not only on human audience but also on atmosphere of nature around. Fortunately Hassaram was perfect Guru for Kanwar. Hassaram was very strict with his students. Along with music he taught discipline to his pupils and would not hesitate to give them punishments when they failed on their duty of sangeet or otherwise.

He took his student to other village for performing. On one occasion he was honored with shawl along with a walking stick. On the way back to Darbar he asked boy kanwar how does new walking stick look. "Sir it is very beautiful" said kanwar. "How nice! keep this stick very safe with you. When we go out of village I want to carry this new stick. At our place i shall use my old one,"
"O.K. Sir" said kanwar.

After a few days they went to sing Bhajan to other village about 2 1/2 miles far. On the way Hassaram suddenly remembered and said 'kanwar where is my new stick ?" "Sir i have kept it very safe at Darbar. No one would touch it."

"You fool!" shouted Hassaram "Don't you remember I must take new stick to other village?"

"Sorry Sir!"
"What Sorry? Go immediately to Darbar and bring my stick".

Guru Hassaram waited under a tree while his favorite student walked three miles to and fro in hot sun to obey his teacher.

Many years thereafter, when Kanwarram was at the peak of his popularity traveling over Sindh spreading Spiritualism through his power of music and performances, Hassaram became seriously ill. Sensing his end of his life Guru send his obedient 'shish' kanwar. Those were days when transports and communications were very slow. On his deathbed blind by eyes Hassaram would ask every now and then "Has kanwar come?"

And at last when kanwar arrived and touched feet of his guru, a big smile came on dying face of Hassaram. He said "kanwar they thought i will die before you arrive. How can that be ? I told Yamraj to wait. After all I am Hassaram, teacher of kanwar. And see Yamraj also obeyed me."

Kanwar, saint of saints had tears in his eyes and was enable to speak anything. Hassaram caught his hand and said, "Kanwar come near me. I want to keep my head in your lap. Don't keep quite. Sing a nice Bhajan so that I can go peacefully."

Kanwar kept head of his Guru in his lap and with all the strength of mind t his command controlled his tears. He sang a Bhajan with his eyes closed. When the Bhajan was over every one present there saw Hassaram was dead lying in the lap of Kanwarram.

Raharki Darbar

After formal training Kanwar joined Rahrki Darbar which was presided over by saint Satramdas at the time. He became spiritual guru of kanwar. He had a great vision. He taught universal love not only for humans but also for animals and birds, ants and insects. He established several social centers like Dharmashallas and Go Shallas. Kanwar started performing 'Bhagat' with message of spiritualism, Under instructions from his guru kanwar got married.

Satramdas had several social and religious projects in hand. After death of Guru Satramdas kanwar took responsibility to fulfill the dreams of his master.

Bhagat

What is Bhagat? It is not Bhakti songs. Bhagat is folk form of performance typically Sindhi. It requires a main performer who begins telling story with songs. He is supported with at least one another artist known as 'Bolrio'. This Bolrio speaks or sings in lighter vein and many times created humor with satire to the delight of audience. There can be more Bolrios apart from other team of musicians like an orchestra. For an artist Bhagat offers opportunity of variations in plenty. In other words it is an interesting story, drama, dialogues, music, songs, dances, comedy and much more.

Does it sound like ingredients of masala movie of Bollywood?

Bhagat has a definite cultural purpose, a moral. It is healthy social entertainment with message. For kanwar it was more of a mission than an entertainment. All proceeds collected at performance were for social cause. Either distributed to poor and needy immediately after the show or used for a cause. For his own family and household kanwar depended on his family business of shop, farm and hawking.

Kanwar made several changes in the system of Bhagat. He had a kind heart. He was very fond of physically handicapped people. The blind, the lame and crippled persons were told to join his team of Bhagat. He wanted them to lean music or art or anything to their capacity. He wanted to make them useful members of society. What a great thought! Due to this reason number of his performing team would go up to 250 persons. They traveled with him and were treated on equal terms.

Miracles

Several stories are attributed to Kanwar with miraculous events. People getting sons. Dead getting alive. Barren lands becoming green. This goes to prove only one thing that people had tremendous faith in hi. They treated him like God whose word can not fail. But as far kanwar himself was concerned, he never said anything like that. Forget about being God, he refused to call himself even a Saint! He would say he is simply a Bania as ordinary as any of other person. Whatever he did was on instructions of his Guru Satramdas and as per wish of God almighty.

Once a person suffering from acute leprosy came to him. The person was in terrific pain and agony. He cried and said "Swamiji I have gone to all the doctors and Hakims. This disease is growing day by day. O great saint you are my last hope. relieve me from the disease. I am fed up with this life."

Kanwar touched his head with hand and raising the sane hand to sky he said "I pry for you to greatest healer of mankind. Go to Guru Satramdas Samadhi. Apply ash of his 'Dhuni' on your body morning and evening. Pray God and have faith in him".

Man followed accordingly. After a period of time he was cured completely!

This reminds us of another singer saint of Bengal Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, who also did a lot for lepers, sick and downtrodden people. He enthralled Bengal and entire India with his chanting of "?Hari Bol".
A great follower of Kanwar Prof. Ram Panjwani who created cultural fragrance for Sindhis to heal their wounds of partition, compared Kanwarram with Tukaram of Maharashtra. "See both looked similar excepting slight variation of coloiurs of their head gears. Both saints used folk art to preach spirituality. Tukaram had Marathi folk, Kanwarram had Sindhi fold. And above all names of both rhyme perfectly same "Tukaram" "Kanwarram".

Others have compared Kanwarram with Kabir. Kanwarram always sang kabir alongwith his Sindhi saraiki and Punjabi. Kanwarram called himself 'Das' like Kabir. Kabir was kori and kanwar was Baniya.

Transparency in public life

Whatever money was collected at performance of Bhagat, was meant for people. Kanwar never accepted anything for himself or for his family. Once an old rich lady called kanwar and said she wanted to speak to him in private. Kanwar met her. She gave kanwar 8 gold coins and told him to make bangles for his wife as she could not bear to see her without any gold bangles.

"Amma", said kanwar, "she is wife of kanwar and should wear what her husband can afford. These coins can not be accepted by me".

"But I have brought only for you".

"You may give to our charity account." At last lady agreed and kanwar accepted for charity. At the beginning of Bhagat, kanwar made a public announcement "one person has donated 8 gold coins in charity and does not want her name to be disclosed. This donation was given when only three of us were there. Donor, myself and God. Therefore I request the organizers to include this donation in today's collection."

Patriot Kanwar

When Gandhiji visited Sukkur, political organizers suggested that kanwar must be invited to public meeting of Mahatma Gandhi to attract more people. Kanwar readily agreed. At public meeting people were surprised to see kanwar without his usual dress of Bhagat. It was difficult to even recognize him till he sang. Kanwar had come there in full khadi costume with pajama, kurta and Gandhi cap. Here was a man of masses for whom cause of country was more important than his spiritualism for self realization.

Social Work

Once Kanwar went to Sukkur at house of famous advocate Keswani and said, "Sir I have come to you with a request". Have you brought case to me" asked advocate Keswani.

"In a way yes. A poor farmers' small piece of land has been annexed by a big landlord known to you."

After listening the entire episode, Keswani said "O.K I shall take up the matter. How about my fee ?"

"Sir the person is too poor to pay anything"

"Then you can pay"

"All right sir, how much will it be? " "You will have to lunch at my place and rest for some time here. That will be my fee."

Work and worship

Before his death, Priest of Ghotki Darbar Saint Khaluram had expressed his desire that old building of Darbar should be reconstructed and enlarged so that more handicapped persons could get shelter there. Panchayat of Ghotki village requested kanwar for help. Kanwar went to Ghotki and got the work started. He participated in construction work with others like an ordinary laborer carrying bricks and pot of material on his head. In the mornings and in evenings he would sing while working for construction. Hundreds of people joined him in the work. The building got completed in two months.

Songs

According to Prof. Ram Panjwani one of the most favorite songs of kanwar was, Ram Sumar prabhat mere man, Ram sumar". This is beautifully composed on early morning Raags of Indian Classical. If you listen to this song early in morning at 'Amrut Vela' you would get solace of your mind and spiritual elevation. Try it.

Another favorite song of kanwar "Naale Alakh je or dhaneen-a je jero taar munhinjo Nidhar aahiyaan maan nimaani aadhaar tunhinjo".

At the backdrop of our eternal river "Sindhu" all the great poets have used water and boats as theme of their poems. This says, In the name of God let my boat of life cross the waters of world safely and successfully. "It is a prayer. It contains philosophy of life. Every human has to live a life in this world. Sinners sink while good ones swim successfully and achieve the ultimate happiness of life. This philosophy is expounded by all our great saints like Guru Nanak, Tulsidas, Surdas, Mirabai, Kabir and others.

Other song is "Keen rijhaayaan tokhe keean parchaayaan....dasko danv" Means "What do I do to please you my Lord. Oh God tell me? Should I go to mandir or do I visit masjid?"

Lyrics apart, this song is composed in very upbeat mood. Rhythm of this is predominant. If you listen to this song you would start dancing!

Another song of our Kanwar was, " Aau kaanga kar galh munkhe tin maaruaran ji, maaruaranji saangheearanji, Aau kaanga..."

Means "Welcome O crow ! tell me about my people in the native place. Tell me news of my childhood friends. Tell me everything of my place, please O crow !" Obviously this is expression of persons living away from their home, family and friends.

This song is composed in "Maru Raag" and expresses sadness. The song is bound to bring you in tears.

At the last performance of his life at Dadu, Kanwar had sung this song.



Pir of Bharchoondi

The word Pir in common usage means a religious head. 'Pir' is a system prevailing in Sindh since centuries. It is Islamic socio-political institution headed by 'Pir'. Many of them have their own private armies. They have their own estates and followers. As it happens in all the institutions some Pirs spread sufism and love while others are fundament lists and fanatics. They spread terrorism particularly targeting kafirs and Hindus.

Pir of Bhachoondi was Islamic fanatic. He had his own army. He thought himself to be a ruler who made his own laws although Britishers ruled Sindh at the time.

Once his son who behaved like a prince got fancy of a pretty Hindu girl in Sukkur. When he misbehaved Hindus from the neighbor got hold of him and beat him with boots. He cried saying he was son of Pir. Hindus gave him so much beating that he was half dead. They left him with warning that if he dared to do the similar thing again, they would beat him so much that he would forget his own identify forever.

When Pir of Bharchoondi came to know of this he was red with fury. He used foul language for all the Hindus. He vowed to teach them lesion. "They have insulted Pir of Muslims and i will kill their religious head." He planned a cowardice act of killing a Saint like kanwar, who was an easy soft target.

Seed of partition

In October 1939 our Bhagat was invited to perform at Manjhadanji Darbar. From there he went to Dadu for a Bhagat. From Dadu station he had to travel by railway to Sukkur via Ruk station where train had to be changed.

Kanwar got down at Ruk to change the train. Some well wisher had given him a basket of grapes. Kanwar asked his men to distribute the grapes to all present at the station. The Prasad of grapes was given to all the persons at station. They included two men who had come to kill kanwar.

After changing train kanwar sat in the compartment near window. As train started moving after whistle, there was a gun shot on the back side of head of kanwar. He said 'Ram' and fell down. People there were aghast at the sight of blood coming from his head. They screamed and shouted.

News of killing of kanwar spread like a wild fire throughout Sindh, Shutters were down. People started pouring g into Sukkur for last darshan of their swami.

The procession of his last journey had more than 50,000 people. All were in tears. They included DSP, collector and his Muslim followers.

No Sindhi so far has evoked so much emotional response of people as kanwar did. For no other Sindhi so many poems, songs and volumes of literature have ever been written. After death of Kanwarram, a brave person Hassaram Pamnani raised the question in Sindh legislative assembly. He demanded that Govt. must act and arrest the culprits. He was threatened for life. And soon Hassaram Pamnani was shot dead at Rohr Station. Later Kanwarram's brother Jararam was also murdered while going from Jarwar to Mirpur Mathelo.
Sindh became target of Islamic fundamentalism. It seems that gunshot on kanwar was s seed which resulted into brutal partition of our country.

In August 2000 'Hindustan' Sindh Daily of Mumbai published a news item stating that killer of Kanwarram died in Sindh at the age of 99 years. He had killed more than 30 Hindus.

 

Biography Of Saint Sain Kanwarram Sahib