Raj Kumar Santosho ji,

What a superb write-up! Simply great. I request the moderator of this site to remove this post from here and convert the write-up into a regular article for this sacred site at current location. Or please reproduce the post as regular article without removing from here. The post deserves to be read by all Rafi fans and at its present location will definitely be missed by many.

-J.K. Bhagchandani

How does one describe Rafi Sahab and his virtuosity? Divine, Inspiring or Heart captivating? Words fail to encapsulate his persona within the confines of a few pages or the oratorical lexicon of an orator.

His was an aura that encompassed the world with his passionate singing power. Add to that his divine and endearing smile. A complete man indeed!

Born on the 24th of the December, 1924 in the village called Kotla Sultan Singh, Rafi Sahab’s childhood was in no way different from other children from the village. A life without care, most of which was spent in playing with his friends in the green fields around his village. Life was really good.

Then his father decided to relocate to Lahore. Here, RafiSahab was greatly attracted by a fakir who would pass his house singing. Rafi Sahab would follow him and listen to him intently. The fakir would then sit under a tree with hisektara and sing merrily. It was here, that Rafi Sahab’s interest in music was kindled. He started imitating the fakir’s song and soon became quite adept at it. Very soon he became well known in his friends circle as a melodious singer. Here, he had a short stint of training under Waheed Ali Khan Sahab. He further honed his skills under Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan Sahab. Rafi Sahab was also attending & singing at mehfils and got fame as a melodious and soulful singer.

Around the same period, music director Sham Sundar heard Rafi Sahab singing at a function. He offered him a chance to sing a duet in a Punjabi film “Gul Baloch” in the year 1942. In 1943, Sham Sundar again gave a chance to Rafi Sahab to sing a chorus backed song in “Gaon ki Gori” with G.M. Durrani. The lines went something like, “Aji dil ho qabu main to dildar ki aisi taise”. This became his first Hindi song in films.

It was in the year 1945; Rafi Sahab took the momentous decision to move to Bombay. Bombay, the ultimate city of dreams, where millions throng every day, with a dream in their eyes and a desire to net the proverbial pot of gold.Accompanied by his elder brother Hameed bhai, Rafi Sahab embarked on a journey beset with uncertainty and apprehension of the unknown.

Once in Bombay, they took up residence in a small room at Bhendi Bazar. Hameed Bhai, who played a major role inpromoting Rafi Sahab’s initial career, had procured a recommendation letter from Naushad sahab’s father. The composer heard him and immediately offered him three songs. Of course, none of them was a solo. Undeterred, Rafi Sahab struggled on and waited for that much wanted breakthrough.

He got his first break in 1946 under the baton of Feroze Nizami. The song was a duet “Yahan badla wafa ka bewafaee ke siva kya hai” with Noorjehan. The song was a great hit and it opened the gates for Rafi Sahab. In Safar, Rafi Sahab sang a beauty under C. Ramchandra “Kehke bhi na aaye tum”. This was Rafi Sahab’s first solo hit. Then he had another hit in Anmol Ghadi “Tera khilona toota” under Naushad.

In the interim period before stardom struck two songs stood out. Both of them were composed by the gifted composer duo of Husanlal Bhagatram. The first one was that stunner of a song “Is dil ke tukde hazaar hue” from Pyar ki jeet.. The song was a super hit. The second song came under tragic circumstances. In 1948, the country had to endure the trauma off Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination. The entire nation plunged in a pall of gloom. Tears just wound not stop streaming down the cheeks of a weeping nation. Husanlal Bhagatram gave vent to their feelings with “Suno suno aye duniyo walo bapu ki amar kahani”. Rafi Sahab’s expressive voice depicted the anguish and despair of the distraught people. An entire nation sang in sync with this all time classic. Then Ghulam Haider crafted “watan ki raah main watan ke naujawan shaheed ho”. It embodied the patriotic fervor that had gripped the country at that time. This Rafi hit became a national rage and is till today the most revered as the mother of all patriotic songs.

Once he achieved the initial breakthrough, Rafi Sahab knew he was within striking distance. But he never lost his focus. He relentlessly pursued his riyaaz with great passion and dedication. These twin qualities stood him in good stead throughout his career and established him as a complete singer. A singer for any season! His discipline and hard work impressed one and all. Add to that, his humble and pious nature! We had a winner at hand!