Good Bye Chabbra Uncle

                                                 

A statue of Hanuman, the monkey God, in Patel Nagar, 

New Delhi (very close to Rajendar Nagar) 

Ravana, the Demon King, who though an intellectual, was a slave to his ego, 

and therefore not humble.  A perfect example of ignorance. Ramlila, September, 2009

Lord Ram, by the side of his father, King Dussarath (Played by Dhan Uncle's son-Vikas), 2009

Ram Uncle (on the right) as Khewat, with New Ramji. Rajendar Nagar ramlila was our personal bollywood. Every year our house became a huge studio with actors running in and out of house.  We kids called them all by their stage names.  Till this day, we call them by their stage names, even though they do not play those roles anymore.  Ram Uncle sang his own songs, which were recorded and played back during several scenes. Lord Ram is the 'lead' in Ramayana-which means the Story of Ram.  Khewat, is a small but poignant role.  Khewat, meaning the ferry-man, is a metaphor for someone who takes you across the river (of life).  In Ramayana, Khewat takes Lord Ram across a river, when in fact it Lord Ram who is 'delivering' Khewat, who belongs to an aboriginal tribe. It was one of the earliest examples of 'demonstrating equality, and recognizing divinity in all.'  September, 2009

When I called home yesterday I got to know that Chabbra Uncle had said his final good bye.

He was tall and slender, with a commanding personality.

The last time I saw him was last year when I was in India, after several years.  I had forgotten what he looked like.  We were driving to the stores when my sister said, 'Wait, let me pull over, I see Chabbra Uncle crossing the street.'

He must be over ninety.  He still looked good, but the body was not as agile. Although I am told he went for his walks everyday. I am not sure if he recognized us, but he was sure happy that we stopped to say hello.

He was charming and gave a joyous sound.  When I told my sister he looked happy to see us, she said, half sadly, 'These are the old people didi (an endearment for older sister), no one comes to say hello to them. Its the joy of being recognized, or being acknowledged.'

I knew what she was talking about. I am not that age, and yet i have gone through that already.  What with continent hopping and realizing that people get too busy to connect with you on their own.

I was not close to Chabbra Uncle, except that he was one of those 'fixtures' of the neighborhood.  He had always been around.  

But there is something else, only recently I looked up a book on amazon.com that mentions him.

King of Bollywood: Shah Rukh Khan and the Seductive World of Indian Cinema, by Anupama Chopra.  

The book also mentions 'Rajender Nagar', the locality I grew up in.  Although I was upset that the author calls it a 'dowdy locality', may be from her 'filmy' background Rajender Nagar was not as fancy, but in a time it was considered a decent upscale locality for upwardly mobile middle-class Indians.  

Shah Rukh Khan, the king of Bollywood, spent some of his childhood years in that locality.

Chabbra Uncle is mentioned in the book because he ran a RamLila, (A ten day enactment of Indian Epic, The Ramayana, on an open-make-shift stage, every year.  A tradition that is now over 400 years old.  Nearly 800 such RamLila's run in Delhi every year, in October. The final act, every year, is a result of months of rehearsals.) or at least many thought so.  Chabbra Uncle was the stage face and voice of Ramlila, although over 50 dedicated people made it possible. Almost all of the actors and workers in the Ramlila had day jobs.  Ramlila was truly a labor of love.

In the 80s at some point Chabbra Uncle split from the committee.  There were differences. Dad had stepped away from it all because Chabbra Uncle had said, in the heat of the moment, some unpleasant words again Dad's best friend.  There were no fights, no big arguments, just a change of position.  If there was to be some communication for the neighborhood, it still happened with poise and dignity.  No bad words were exchanged, just a difference of opinion expressed, often in silence. These were people from a different generation, they conducted themselves with grace.  Today, we have no disputes, because there is no interaction.  

New people took over Chabbra Uncle's position, but since I left home so young, my memories of Chabbra Uncle are more of his commanding voice on a microphone, speaking to hundreds of people, 'Shri Raamleela Aapka Swagat Karti Hai' (Shree Ramlila Committee welcomes you.).

I remember, when in tenth grade, I produced my second production of Krishna play, he had commended me by calling me, 'Mera hindustan', my India.  That year was my last but the most memorable year on Rajendar Nagar Ramlila stage, as the 80 year old Shabbri who feeds red berries to Lord Ram.  Even today people remember me by that role.  Dad and Yash Uncle had coached me.  After the act was over, Chabbra Uncle had come over and said it all in two words, 'Bhai Wah!"  'Oh, wow!!'

I am so glad I got to see him for a few seconds last year. I don't think he recognized me, but he is etched in my memory for all the times we noticed his towering frame walk past our house going for his walk, but more importantly the image of his eyes squinting at the flood lights pointing at him, when he tried to say, 'Bhaiyo or Behno' 'Brothers and Sisters'

Reading his name mentioned in a book about ShahRukh Khan made me feel that he got his due for the years he dedicated to the Rajendar Nagar Arts Club.

Often a successful person is touched by many angels on his way to success.  Having given the King of Bollywood, one of his first stage role as a member of vanar sena (the monkey army) Chabbra Uncle was one such angel!!

Good Bye Chabbra Uncle, may you get your own stage, where ever you go next!!