A N D A Z - E - R A F I

RAFI FOUNDATION
Hyderabad Chapter

जाते हो खुदा हाफिज़ मगर हाँ, बस इतनी सी गुजारिश है

जब कभी हम याद आयें मिलने की दुआ करना
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ADIEU to the Subramanyams…….

(penned by A S Murty)

It was that Sunday evening when most of us are in front of the TV engrossed in watching the next episode of our favourite “Serial” or those who abhor them, are just keen watching the same news in different channels and surfing the over 80 channels that have made such a big dent in our lives that we are simply unable to devote any time to any constructive activity. Well I am talking of “most of us” and some of us could be exceptions to this malady. I was however at my computer, indulging in another fantasy of surfing the websites (most popular for me being the site devoted to Mohd Rafi Sahab). The telephone rings and when I pick it up, I find the pleasant voice of Subramanyam. The niceties exchanged, I got the shock of my life when for the first time I learnt that this elderly and so affable couple have decided to leave Hyderabad to settle down in Chennai. Even before I could butt in enquiring why this sudden decision I was given the answers to all the questions that I would have raised in any case. Listening to these explanations, all of them loaded with well thought out and in depth analysis of almost any angle, I just could do little more than to nod my head. I understood then that a lot of thinking had been done before the Subramanyams took this decision and the best thing was that they were very convinced that this was indeed the right decision. That day, I learnt a lot on how to evaluate so many aspects and I found myself that the Subramanyams have indeed chosen the best possible option available to them. The sadness remained with me, but I had to concede that the logic put forth by Subramanyam left me with no choice but to applaud them. The talk continued for some more time on when they were likely to leave, their present apartment, their several articles that they had wanted to dispose off, etc. etc. I went to fetch for Vijaya (in front of the TV watchng her prime time serial) and informed her of what all transpired in the previous 15 to 20 minutes and she too was dumbfounded. I sat thinking whether to inform all our members right away or to wait for a few more days. But that moment was to come from Subramanyam himself who informed all our members in the very next musical Session about their decision to settle down in Chennai.
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Most of us are familiar with what a term PDC would stand for. Most of us really surmise it to be ‘post dated cheque’. Well that is indeed true. But there is more to these three letters than just that and I will come back to them a little while from now.

7th June 2009 will be written in musical notes in the history of Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter. All of us were eagerly waiting for this day and had planned to spend the day together in a unique style. This was an occasion for an impending separation of two of our beloved members and the gloom had to be converted to a day of rejoice. A day to be remembered by each one of us for a long time to come. A day which would remain etched in our memories and the future would rekindle this one day as one which we had all cherished and which spread ‘oneness’ and ‘brotherhood’ among all of us. Yes the thought of the Subramanyams leaving our company for good is certain to dampen our spirits. But we had braved ourselves in making this one last meeting with them a unique musical gift for each one of us. I had invited a few of our friends from outside Hyderabad and Manish could make it to be with us for the entire day. He took leave of his office, spent considerable amount for travel and must have also spent a fortune for the sound system (we did not have to pay for it at all ) and this one gesture on his part was so very well appreciated by our members. He brought along the MAGIC SING KARAOKE with built in tunes of several hundered songs from films in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Punjabi, English etc etc and charmed us with his excellent singing style. What best then could have been a start to this great day other than Manish himself opening up the musical extravaganza ?

We were all to assemble at 11.00 a.m. on 7th June 2009 and some of us had decided to arrive a bit earlier to make preliminary arrangements. By the time I and Vijaya reached the venue, we found Manish too was just entering the SMR Empire Complex. Together when we went upstairs, N R Padmanabhan, Mrs Swarnalata Padmanabhan, Subramanyam, Satyendra and Elias were already in. We all then started putting the chairs in orders, and tying up the banner, etc. TV was brought in from Subramanyam’s house by Satyendra and Elias. Soon the Sound System too arrived and it took another ten minutes for this to be put in place too. Our members started strolling in and we were about 25 members in no time at all. Entire list of members and the full list of songs is given elsewhere in this write-up. A total of 37 members had in fact turned up on this great day and only two members – Santosh Kumar and Mrs Nirmala Dhepe could not attend. Santosh had informed earlier of his likely absence and Mrs Nirmala Dhepe was tied up with her sister and family who had just then arrived from abroad. Manish sang three beautiful songs with his Magic Sing Karaoke and invited our members to try it themselves. R Padmanabhan immediately took a liking to this new avatar of singing and rendered a song. Before we could continue with the other songs, we had an important task to perform. The send-off to the Subramanyams was then arranged. I spoke briefly about our acquaintance with this genial and elderly couple and how over the last one and a half years they had been a source of inspiration and strength to all of us. I was singularly blessed with their voice of wisdom on several occasions and been a beneficiary of their total love and encouragement in times of both high and low. N R Padmanabhan too spoke on the various virtues that are the hallmark of the Subramanyams. Chandar then spoke in the other attributes that the Subramanyams have aplenty. Mrs Meenakshi then spoke of her association with them and it was the R Padmanabhans who had introduced the Subramanyams to our group. We then requested Subramanyam to speak on this occasion. We could see that Subramanyam was very emotional when he rose to speak and speak did he in his usual manner. He has always spoken with kindness, overflowing as he is ever with the best of guidance and advice so that our group reaches newer heights. It was during this talk that we were reminded once again with the same virtues that the Subramanyams had always themselves practiced – Punctuality, Discipline and Concern. We all knew of these always ourselves, but possibly we had not practiced them in such regularity that the Subramanyams had done in their entire life and this was reason enough for these three words embedding in my mind ever since. So much so, I had put them in the mast-head (see top) of Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter, where it will stand adorned for ever. In short, these three words form the PDC and we would be giving the best ever gift to the Subramanyams just by practicing these very simple and yet thought provoking attributes. Mrs Sethu Subramanyam then addressed all of us in a short but well crafted speech. Her body language said more than what she may have actually spoken, but she was a model of modesty and humility in sharing her thoughts with us. We then requested the Subramanyams to exchange flower garlands so that the sight of this eternal bond between the two remains fresh in our mind for eternity. Small gifts in the forms of Musical CDs and a poem written and neatly laminated were presented on behalf of all the members of Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter. Mrs Shubada had done a very crafty sketch/painting job of flowers and this was presented to the Subramanyams by Sanjay Deshpande and Sachin Deshpande.

The time was just ripe for us to have a quick lunch and we dispersed from the musical arena for just half an hour. When we reassembled, the Antakshri was due. However as Rangarajan had to leave early, we listened to two of his songs first. Antakshri was between the two teams of D Subramanyam (named as the Sangeet Team) and Mrs Sethu Subramanyam (this was called the Swar Team) and had six members in each of the teams. Sachin helped in marking the scores. The first round was fairly easy for all and the teams performed equally well. The second round saw some fumbling with the Sangeet team, thus giving the edge to the Swar Team. There was enough scope for the former to make up in the last round of Mukhada-Antara but then the gap only widened thus leaving the victorious Swar Team beaming to collect their prized CD (laboriously prepared by Sachin Deshpande). It was fun as long as it lasted, but then we had to move on to our main interest. Now turn by turn, each of rendered choicest of songs and when all had had a chance in the first round, the Subramanyams took us on a winding but very melodious journey by rendering some of the sweetest of duets. Subramanyam sang a couple of solo songs too and they were applauded by all the members in unison. Finally it was Manish who had to do the honours of rounding up the singing session by rendering three more melodies (he in fact gave a short speech too before his three songs) and was lustily cheered by our members. Since he had to take the next train to Bangalore, we had to bid him goodbye at this stage. The next two items were in the form of Quiz. R Padmanabhan came up with a very interesting but quite a difficult sort of Quiz and only a handful of us could match his mix of posers. Chandar too conducted his own set of questions on Rafi Sahab and Satyendra matched question for question with his instant answers. The rains had set in by then and it was also getting a little too late in the day and we decided to bring the curtains down on an otherwise very enchanting and lively day.

We had the privilege of Nalin Rajan joining us for the first time and he took very active part in all the events. Some of our members brought in their families who too all liked the atmosphere. The Bhoomakars brought in their daughter Neha who rendered two lively songs. Mohan Rao came with his wife and so did also Rangarajan. Dayanand too joined us and this time with his wife. All other members came as expected and only two could not join us.
The list of our members who attended is as follows :
• A S MURTY & A Vijayalakshmi
• D SUBRAMANYAM & Mrs Sethu Subramanyam
• K SIVARAM & Mrs Sivaram
• MOHD SALEEM
• Mrs ANITA AGARWAL (briefly joined also by her son Pavan)
• Mr. Nitin Dhepe
• MRS. PREMA PANNICKER and Mr Pannicker
• N R PADMANABHAN & Mrs Swarnalata Padmanabhan
• R PADMANABHAN & Mrs Meenakshi Padmanabhan
• RANGARAJAN & Mrs Rangarajan
• S CHANDAR & Mrs Radha Chandar
• S RAGHAVENDRA RAO
• SANJAY DESHPANDE , Mrs Shubada Deshpande and Sachin
• SATYENDRA
• SK ELIAS
• VBG KRISHNA MURTHY
• VINAYAK BHUMKAR , Mrs Nabha Bhumkar and Ms Neha
• Y MOHAN RAO & Mrs Y Vijayalakshmi
• MANISH JAGIRDAR (B'lore)
• Nalin Rajan
• Dayanand and Mrs Dayanand

The list of 52 songs friends is really too long and I seek your pardon for not including it in this otherwise very lengthy essay.


On April 15, 2009 (almost two months back), I wrote a lengthy mail to all our members (unmarking Subramanyam’s email id momentarily) and advising that we will hold a grand Musical Farewell to our senior most members and that we had to begin preparations in right earnest. What all can we do to make the event a very memorable for all of us for the rest of our lives, was the moot question. Each passing day brought in newer ideas and I kept writing to all our members. Some of our members did respond positively. However a vast majority of members were silent and not one word by anyone in response to so many of my extensive mails dampened me totally. I confided this to some of our good friends and also in person to a few of our members. This had dampened me and I was worried how things will work out on 7th June 2009. Permit me to be honest friends. I was sweetly greeted with all round enthusiasm and complete cooperation in all matters by each one of our members. If Satyendra and Elias helped us in the morning then other members did not lag behind in other activities during the day. Lunch time saw members freely lending a helping hand in distribution and the Antakshri saw the fullest and keen participation by all. Gone was my sulking and the day brought in a cheerful mood to me.
Friends, the Rafi Foundation, Hyderabad Chapter is much bigger than the Musical Sessions and let us go a few steps beyond this. I had at the beginning of the year remarked that the year 2009 should be different and to this end, if we first follow the PDC we would have already made that difference. Secondly, we should plan to hold another bigger musical event in the coming months. I have something in my mind and will explain the same in due course. The void that is created with the absence of the Subramanyams will never get filled, but we must continue to be together, continue to be active and continue to be inter-active too. This is one group which has less of unwarranted and wasteful exercises that most groups in our society usually are burdened with. Let us keep it that way.

The Subramanyams will have left the shores of Hyderabad in a couple of weeks, but they will remain in our hearts for ever. Long after they have settled down at Chennai, I am sure most of us will be compelled to think of them as this lovely Urdu Couplet describes :

तुझको क्या बताएं गुज़री किस तरह फुरकत की रात ,
कह फिरे इक इक सितारे से तेरा अफसाना हम !

“Furkat” as you can all guess is “Judaai”.

Wishing you all tons and tons of Musical Months ahead.

A S MURTY
SECRETARY
RAFI FOUNDATION,
HYDERABAD CHAPTER