My Fellow BootanMandian – Ustad Puran Shahkoti

My Fellow BootanMandian – Ustad Puran Shahkoti

Ustad Puran Shah Koti, a legendry Sufi and Folk singer, composer and musician passed away on December 22 at the age of 72. I write this to pay my Naman and Tributes to the Ustad as my fellow BootanMandian. Many people may not know his association and living in the Shanties (Jhuggies) of Marasis (Mirs of the composite culture of Punjab) of Bootan Mandi in Jalandhar, my native place. I vividly recall his father Nanju Ram and Puran visiting houses in the neighbourhood singing folk and Sufi songs and regaling, by the art of Naklan (light hearted narration to make people laugh), the residents around on occasions of ceremony like marriages, birth and other such
celebrations. The then Seths of Bootan Mandi in 1960s would make them sit and enjoy their impromptu songs. Puran Shahkoti became Ustad of Song and Music from this humble origin. It should be a matter of pride not for us, the BootanMandians but also the entire community.  But I am sorry to say that the so called Seths of Bootan Mandi never recognized this ground reality and consciously or sub-consciously refused to own Ustad Puran Shahkoti and Bibi Nooran, yet another Ruby (Hira) of Sufi tradition who also belonged to my native place, Bootan Mandi. The reason is obvious; the graded social inequality against which we shout daily from the roof tops. We shall ponder upon this to set the matter in its right perspective. Before writing this tribute to Ustad Puran Shahkoti, with a view to be correct, I checked he facts from my brother, Paramjit Mahey as he has been involved in the socio-cultural life of Bootan Mandi closely. I wrote about Puran Shah Koti and Bibi Nooran in my blogs earlier too which mat accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2015/11/bootan-mandi-its-artistic-heritage.html

As regards the huge contribution of Ustad Puran Shahkoti to the rich legacy of song and music of Punjab and beyond, I don’t have much to write as I am no expert on the subject. Ustad called himself a ‘nomadic singer’. The renowned singers of Punjab like Hans Raj Hans, Jasbir Jassi and the scion of Puran Shahkoti’s family, Master Salim proudly say and own Puran Shahkoti as their Ustad and Guru and rightly so. It is a matter of satisfaction that the authorities of the time; including Giani Zail Singh among others duly recognized and honoured Ustad Puran Singh and provided them dignified living from the Shanties to Houses in the peripheral localities. Later Ustad Puran Shahkoti was conferred with Padam Shri, one of the highest civilian awards of India by the Mahamahim, President of India some years ago. I close this obituary blog with the Gurvani of Guru Ravidass – Nichon Unch Kare Mera Gobind; Kahu Te Na Dare.

Badi Muskil Se Hota Hai Chaman Mein Didawar Paida