LEGENDARY:MUKESH CHAND MATHUR
Those Who Live In The Hearts Of Men Never Die
By
Vijay Kumar Dubey
I remember Mukesh in a High School in Delhi were both of us were studying. I remember him leaving for Bombay in 1940 and remember many boys from our school going to see his first film " NIRDOSH " in which he started opposite Nalini Jaywant.
I remember meeting him Bombay in 1942 where I had come to live. We become inseparables. I remember Mukesh's painful process of growth and self-discovery, the call of music, the visit to various studios to meet music directors, hours of waiting, being rejected as a '' bad singers " or " no singer " , year after year I remember seeing no bitterness in him.
When a sudden family tragedy left me, a young boy, homeless and penniless in Bombay, I remember Mukesh taking me to his one room flat at Walkeshwar and saying - " From now on this is your home and all in it is yours.
I remember a night at Chowpatty when we sat hungry, with pockets empty, and nowhere to go. The rent was not paid and the landlord would not let us enter the flat.
I remember us sharing a few rupees we would earn and remember him showing me a letter from Mazhar Art Productions offering him 250/- per song to sing for " Pehli Nazar ".
I remember Kardar studios, the musicians poised to start, maestro Anil Biswas getting ready to give the signal and sound recordist P.N. Arora starting the recording machine " Dil Jalta Hai " was recorded. A hush pervaded.
Mukesh skyrocketed to fame. I remember the arduous climb, even then, step by painful step.
I remember seeing a golden haired, blue-eyed irrepressible young man named Raj Kapoor entering the film industry, dazzling all with his brilliance and setting the industry on fire with his "Aag" I remember him meeting Mukesh.
I remember attending his 30th wedding anniversary on July 22nd,1976 and I remember being with him in a taxi to whisk away his bribe-to-be for the wedding where Motilal, Tara Harish, R.D.Mathur and so many who loved him, waited.
I remember Mukesh recording " Tulsi Ramayan " for H.M.V. and seeing him spend hours every day perfecting his pronunciations of Avadhi. I remember his heart attack in Calcutta and seeing a copy of the Ramayan under his pillow in the hospital.
I remember promising to take him to Badrinath Temple, on his return from U.S.A., as the morning in that holy temple begins with the playing of his records of " Tulsi Ramayan " . But it was not to be.
I remember him start concerts in foreign land with the song " Hum Us Desh Ke Waasi Hain, Jis Desh Main Ganga Bahti Hai ". I remember him being proud of his country and the values it represented.
I remember a plaque which he brought from America a few years ago, which still hangs in his music room at home. I remember the inscription :
That man is a success who has lived well, laughed often and loved much ;
who has gained the respect, of intelligent men and the love of children ;
who has filled his niche and accomplished his task ;
who leaves the world better that he found it, whether by an improved poppy ;
a perfect poem or a rescued soul ;
who never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty or filled to express it ;
who looked for the best in others and gave the best he had.
Could the author have known Mukesh?
.