Raj Gadhvi is a fine art applied artist. (In very little age he has done 24 audio-visual motion television ads as a director and editor,Made his team winner many times in the SEMCOM COMPETITIONS,,,,,He has worked in One T.V serial and two documentary films as an actor also… ( 1st Fashion photographer who exhibited an Exhibition Successfully in entire anand district & gujarat.)

He Awarded by SONAL YUVAK MANDAL(PALANPUR) & SHADI EXPO 2009 FASHION SHOW(ANAND) for his best work in fashion photography. He also sings very well for the sake of hobby above 100 bollywood songs re-recorded by him professional .He likes to play piano,harmonium,mouth organ,guitar single base. His goal is to make professional gujarati films which can massaging positively others and connected to young bloods..He is proud to be an artist….and he will always try to do work as u like better and better…

Shree Nitu Ziba is doing great efforts for the community. He is a Press Reporter in Gujarati Daily Newspaper publishing from Rajkot since last 89 years. We should appreciate his work. Please find following news from him about the community.

Here in Mazadar Moraribapu giving every year 4 Kag Award to person who are working with Lok Sahitya, Charni Sahitya, and Lok Sangeet.
This year Kag Awar given 4 person to :
(1) Shri Kavi Maheshdanji Narandanji Misan (His father was Rajkavi of Morbi State of Saurashtra)
(2) Bhikhudan Gadhavi : Lok Sahitykar, Lok Sangeetkar
(3) Late Shri Gagubhai Leela : Informer of Charani Varta to Zaverchand Meghani.
(4) Dolat Bhatt : Columist and Lok Sahitya writer.

In this Award they get 25000 Cash and Certificate, Showl

This year Moraribapu declered, He want to give this Award to 5 person with Rs. 25000. He inform to committee to selecte one more Person from Rajasthan Who are working developing in this Lok Sahitya and Charni Sahitya.

Resently on 18 March We passed one Big “HariRas” Granth Yatra from Surendranagar to Dwarka, more than thousand people joined in this yatra. In Rajkot We wellcome them with Safa Pailoting and arranged Big Function in Arvindbhai Maniyar Hall, Jubilee.
Organiser of this Yatra was Surendranagar Hariras Path Sangh of Achaldan Boxa.
Yatra Start from Surendranagar on 1st Mach, reache at Chotila at 2 pm, at Rajkot 3 PM. Night hault at Rajkot and Dinner with Rajkot Charan Samaj’s family. More then thousand people take dinner with this Yatri. On 2nd March Yatra gone to Jambuda, Sachana, Ishardham, Jamnagar and at night at Jamkhambhalia stoped. On 3rd March at morning 10 am Hari Ras Granth is handover to Lord Krishna at Dwarka with thousand Bhakt of Hariras Granth Yatra. On behalf of Gujarat State Govt. Mr. Purushottam Rupala was attend this function at Dwarka. He give superb speech on Hariras Granth and Charn Kavi. Retd. Collector P. P. Boxa, Loksahitykar Babubhai Ranpura, MP Puspdan Gadhavi, Bhikhudan Gadhavi, Manubhai Taparia, Secretary of Gujarat Govt. Shri Vasantdan Gadhavi, Punjal Rabari, and Dr. Keshubhai Ziba, also together.

Dinesh Lamba is an Indian film actor mainly acting in Bollywood. He is primarily seen in supporting roles and has appeared in over 20 Hindi and Tamil films and several television commercials.

Dinesh Lamba was born in a small village call Jambuda near Jamnagar in Gujarat in 1976. He studied in Sainik School Balachadi during 1987–94. His debut movie was Samay (2003). He essayed the role of villain in the Tamil film Urchagam and appeared opposite Rahul Bose in the horror film Fired.

Educational Qualification:  Bachelor of Performing Arts (Dramatics)

Work Done:

Commercials

(1) Castrol

(2) Pizza Hut

(3) Water Kingdom

(4) Hitachi A C.

(5) Eveready Batteries

(6) Rin Supreme

(7) Birtannia Gooday

(8) Havell Cablewire

(9) Ranipal

(10) Close up

(11) T V S Centra Bike

(12) Escort Tractor (WITH AMITAB  BACHAN)

(13) Axis bank

HINDI FEATURE FILMS

(1) Ab Tak  Chhapan directed by Shimit Amin

(2) Samay directed by Robby Grewal

(3) Jaago directed by Mehul kumar

(4) Waisa Bhi Hota Hai II directed by Shashank Ghosh
(5) Masti directed by Indra kumar

(6) Aavaran directed by Kaval Sharma

(7) Page 3 directed by Madhur Bhandakar

(8) Dubai Return directed by Aditya Bhattacharya

(9) The Rising directed by Ketan Mehta

(10) Kisna directed by Subhash Ghai

(11) Aeteraaz directed by Abbas-Mustan

(12) Naina I-Dream Production directed by Shripal

(13) The Perfact Husband (Hinglish Film) directed by Priya Singh  Paul

(14) Sarkar

(15) Mr. ya miss

(16) Main aisa hi hoon

(17) Shaadi se pehle

(18) Karzzzz

(19) Mumbai meri jaan

(20) Mumbai express

(21) Mustang mama (under production)

(22) Dady cool (under production)
(23) Fired (under production)

(24) Go

(25) Firaaq

(26) Urchagan (Tamil)

(27) Thutupar (Tamil)

(Nominated For Cannes Film Festivals)

Short Films for International Awards

1) 9:24 Local directed by Dhananjay (Won Platinium Award For Best film In World Fest Festival In Huston USA)

2) 6×4 The Space directed by Wilson Louis
3) one day A Beach directed by Porous

Veteran folk tale artist 62-year-old Shri Bhikhudan Govindbhai Gadhvi will get the Sangeet Natak Akadami award(Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2009. His is one of the 33 names and one and only name from Gujarat announced by the General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, New Delhi for year 2009’s Akadami Puraskar.

Born in Junagadh district’s Manekwadi village near Keshod, Shri Gadhvi is active on stage for last 41 years. He started narrating folk tales in public when he was jsut 20. Bhikhudhanbhai’s 350 audio cassettes including ‘Bhadanu Makan’, ‘Khandaninu Khamir’ are super hit in Saurashtra belt. He has given his programmes in countries including America, Britain, Indonesia among others.

Talking with DeshGujarat, Shri Gadhvi said, “I was informed by Academy yesterday via telegram about my inclusion for the prestigious award.”

When asked from where he learned the skill of folk literature, Shri Gadhvi said he used to read Shri Zaverchand Meghani and Shri Dula Bhaya Kag with great interest in his teen-age. When he grew up he started exploring the land of Saurashtra himself to learn more about the folk culture and treasure of folk literature. “This exploration went on for years and it’s still going on,” said Shri Gadhvi.

Shri Bhikhudanbhai will be receiving Shri Dula Bhaya Kag award at Shri Kag’s native village Majagar by Shri Morari Bapu on 18th February, anniversary of Shri Kag.

Surajmal Misrana (also spelled Suryamal Misan ;1815-1863) was a poet from Bundi city of Rajasthan. He hailed from Charan caste. He knew six languages and was a scholar of grammar, logic, history and politics. He wrote in Hindi, Pingal and Dingal. His important work includes Vansh Bhaskar, Vir Satsai, Balwant Vilas and Chhandomayush.

Surajmal Misan was a court poet in Bundi which was ruled by Chauhan dynasty. He undertook the work of Vans Bhaskar at the request of Maharaja Ramsingh. The word Vans means genealogy and Bhaskar means the Sun, hence Vans Bhaskar is intended to be a chronicler of Chauhan dynasty who claim to be originated from the Sun. He intended to write Vans Bhaskar in two volumes, and twelve part in analogy with the sun which has two solstice and twelve months in a year. However he left the work at 8th part of second volume because of the differences aroused with his patron, who became British protectorate while poet insisted to support Indian Rebellion of 1857. His glorification of local heroes helped to develop the spirit of nationalization in Rajasthan.

—–Suryamal Mishran—–

Adho Duraso (दुरसा आढ़ा) 1538 (aged -114–-113) was a famous Rajasthani poet of medieval era. He was from the Charan family of the Indian state Rajasthan

He was born in 1538 to Mahoji at Jaitaran (in Pali district of Indian state Rajasthan). His childhood was spent in poverty. He had two wives and four sons. Due to his poetic talent he served in many royal courts (durbars) like Bikaner Jodhpur, Sirohi, etc. According to some legends he was having amicable relationship with Mughal king Akbar and had a prestigious place in his court. He spent his last days in his son Kisnoji’s house at Panchetiya village and he died there in about 1651.

His son Opo Adha was also a famous poet. Dursa Adha is believed to have been a maternal uncle of the goddess Karni. Historian remembers him for his boldness to sing praises of Maharana Pratap(an archenemy of Akbar) in the court of the Akbar. A golden statue of Dursaji stands in Achalgadh, Mount Abu. Dursaji’s niece the mother-goddess Karani (between 1387 and 1537) is revered as the major deity of Rathod and other communities of this region. She is supposed to have helped Rao Bika (a ruler of Rajasthan) to occupy the territory of Bikaner. Her shrine is at Deshnok near Bikaner.

His poetry mostly include the heroism and manliness of the rulers of that time. His large works are:

• Virud Chihattari: in honour of Rana Pratap
• Doha Solanki Viramdevji ra
• Jhulana Rav Surtan ra
• Marsiya Rav Surtan ra
• Jhulana Raja Mansingh Macchvaha ra
• Jhulana Ravat Megha ra
• Git Raji sri Rohitasji ra
• Jhulana Rav Amarsingh Gajsinghota ra: Heroic poetry of Rao Amarsingh of Nagaur
• Kirta Bhavani
• Mataji ra Chhand
• Sri Kumar Ajjaji na Bhuchar Mori ni Gajagat

I am here to discuss an important thing for our community which is going to be done soon. I would like to give brief information about Charan Organization which we are planning to make at national or international level that will connect most of the Charans and will lead some good work for the community as well. Those who are interested to be part of that and needs more information, feel free to contact me at my email id : jitudan@gmail.com , I would love to give you more information about it.

Vision: What is IOFC?

International Organization for Charan-Gadhvi [IOFC] will be an organized global network of all the willing Charan in the world, which will provide link to the scattered institutions /organization and any individual of Charan/ Gadhvi community in the world and it will provide a common platform to make collective effort for the betterment and sustainable unity & growth of community.

Mission: How IOFC will be organized?

• To establish a systematic organization on physical ground in India by democratic process, governed by its rules and regulations, under the legislation of Government of India.

• IOFC will provide link to the scattered institutions/small organization of Charan around the globe, engaged in the various activities for the community and the individual via computer network as well as physical approach by its members of executive /governing body or the regional representative.

• Mission is to establish “Regional Cultural Centers” at every region and link them to central body of IOFC. These cultural centers will be a socio-economic center for the various social, Educational and cultural exchange activities for the members of IOFC.

• IOFC shall be part of website (coming soon) which will provide information on Educational, historical, social, cultural, economical, current affairs and matrimonial services to the members of IOFC.

Objectives of IOFC: Why we need IOFC?

1. To unite all individuals and minor/major, formal/informal social organizations/groups from various regions in India and abroad and link them to a systematic, structured Organization(IOFC).

2. To provide a common platform for various cultural, social, educational, research [arts and literature] and youth activities.

3. To take up educational development programs and to encourage needy and eligible students at various educational Institutes run by Charan.

4. To promote cultural heritage of Charans by motivating poets, artiest and writers.

5. To promote spiritual/social activities in view of minimizing bed habits/ bed social customs.

6. To provide life support to needy people among Charans as well as others as and when required.

7. To provide and share information related to social events, achievements, awards or any other important news via common network.

8. To provide matrimonial services to needy persons among Charans.

9. To collect the information from various regions and make world wide data base for Charans.

10. To take up research project on the historical evidence of ancient Charans in view of providing value added knowledge to the future generation of Charans.

11. To run a quarterly/yearly magazine” YUG CHARAN “[Name is subject to change]

માંડવીમાં ચારણ સમાજના સેવકના નિધનથી શોક ફેલાયો:

કચ્છમાં ચારણ સમાજના સેવક અને આઇ સોનલ માનાતેર પ્રવાસના સંયોજક તેમજ આજીવન ખાદી અપનાવી સમાજના વિકાસ માટે શિક્ષકની નોકરી છોડી દેનારા પચાણભાઇ વશિ્રામ અલગાનું (ગઢવી સાહેબ ગાંધીવાદી), સોમવારે અવસાન થતા કચ્છભરના ચારણ સમાજે સાચો સેવક ગુમાવ્યો હોવાની લાગણી અનુભવી હતી.

કચ્છમાં સૌ પ્રથમ ચારણ છાત્રાઓ માટે જમીન સંપાદન કરવા માટે જ્ઞાનગિરજિી નિર્મલગિરજિી મઠના મઠાંધિસ પાસે રજૂઆત કરીને લક્ષ્મણરાગ ચારણ બોિડઁગ ચાલુ કરવામાં આવી જેમાં પચાણભાઇનો સિંહ ફાળો હતો. કાઠડાના વજાભાગત અને માંડવીના નાનાલાલ વોરા સાથે મિત્રભાવના સંબધો કેળવ્યા હતા. સૌ પ્રથમ માંડવીમાં ગઢવી મિત્ર મંડળની સ્થાપના ના પ્રણેતા અને આજીવન અખિલ કચ્છ ચારણ સભાના અધ્યક્ષ રહેલા પચાણભાઇનું જ્ઞાતિ સમેલનમાં સવાલાખ રૂપિયાની પોટલીથી સન્માન કરવામાં આવ્યું જેના પ્રત્યુતરમાં આ રકમ સમાજ ઉત્કર્ષ માં દાનમાં આપનાર સદ્ગત એક સારા લેખક હતા. તેમણે આઇ સોનલ ઇશ્ર્વરી, પથિકે રિિધ્ધ અને ચારણ પરિવાર સહિતના ત્રણ પુસ્તકો લખીને ચારણોમાં શિક્ષણની જયોત પ્રગટાવી હતી.

૮૯ વર્ષની ઉમંરે પણ પોતાનું કાર્ય પોતાની રીતે પુરું કરવાના હિમાયતી હતા. તેઓએ અંતિમ શ્ર્વાસ સુધી સ્વાવલંબી જીવન જીવ્યું હતું. સોમવારે નીકળેલી તેમની અંતિમ યાત્રામાં અખિલ કચ્છ ચારણ સમાજના શામલાભાઇ જખુ, વીજયભાઇ ગઢવી (રાષ્ટપતિ એવોર્ડ વજિેતા) યાદવ સાહેબ (કાઠડા), વાલજીભાઇ (સિંધોડી), શિવરાજ ડાયા, નારણભાઇ, પુનશીભાઇ, કાનજી ગઢવી, હરીભાઇ (તાલુકા પંચાયતના પ્રમુખ), બ્રહ્નપુરી તેમજ હનુમાનચોકના યુવક મંડળના લોકો તથા નગરજનો મોટી સંખ્યામાં જોડાયા હતા.

चारण समाज ने किया साध्वी का स्वागत:

सांचौर चारण समाज की साध्वी आई रूपल माता के मंगलवार को जुनागढ़ से सांचौर पहुंचने पर समाज बंधुओं ने स्वागत कर आशीर्वाद लिया। चारण समाज सेवा संस्थान के सचिव मनोहरदान चारण जाजुसन ने बताया कि साध्वी रूपल माता के देशनोक जाने के दौरान मंगलवार को सांचौर समाज भवन में उनका समाज के लोगों ने शाल व पुष्प से स्वागत किया। इस दौरान साध्वी ने समाज में बालिका शिक्षा का स्तर बढ़ाने की बात कही। स्वागत समारोह में अमरदान मईया, हेमदान गोमी, अमरदान काछेला, जबरसिंह गोमी, भंवरसिंह लुणियासर, अखेदान जाजुसन सहित बड़ी संख्या में समाज के लोग मौजूद थे।

जयपुर। गुजरात से आए 56 वर्षीय आर्टिस्ट प्रभात सिंह बारहट ने इस बार अपनी ब्लैक एंड व्हाइट कॉम्बीनेशन से गुलाबी नगरी के वाशिन्दों को मंत्रमुग्ध करने का ईरादा जताया है। महज 12 साल की उम्र में ही भारत-पाक की दिल दहला देने वाली 1965 की लड़ाई के दृश्य की अपनी पहली पेंटिंग से प्रभात ने परिवार में खासी प्रंशसा बटोरी थी। हालांकि कलर से कोई खास परहेज नहीं करने वाले कलाकार प्रभात से खास बातचीत-

गुजरात में जन्मे लेकिन भाया राजस्थान:-
सन् 1953 में गुजरात के राजकोट में जन्मे प्रभात को बचपन से ही चित्रकला से लगाव था। देशभर के राज्यों में अपनी कला का प्रदर्शन कर चुके सिंह को जोधपुर ने खास तौर पर लुभाया है और यहां का पारम्परिक माहौल उन्हें खासा रास आया है।
चित्रों के साथ कविताओं का दामन:-
पेशे से चित्रकार लेकिन कविताओं में रूचि रखने वाले प्रभात एक अच्छे कवि की भूमिका भी बखूबी निभा रहे हैं। कविताओं को अपनी प्रेरणा बताने वाले सिंह के पास स्वयं की अनछपी कविताओं का बड़ा संग्रह भी है।
प्रदर्शनी में जुटा यूथ:-
आर्टिस्ट प्रभात की इस प्रदर्शनी में यूथ की भागीदारी ने उन्हें और भी उत्साहित कर दिया है। प्रदर्शनी में करीब 70 फीसदी यूथ विजिटर्स होने के कारण सिंह ने इसके समाप्त होने के बाद ही मौका मिलने पर फिर से प्रदर्शनी लगाने का फैसला किया है।
दैवीय नग्नता नहीं उकेरी जाएं:-
प्रभात का कहना हैं कि कई नामी आर्टिस्ट भगवान और देवियों की न्यूड पेंटिंग्स के जरिए हमेशा सुर्खियों में बने रहते हैं। लेकिन उन्हें ऐसा नहीं करके हर धर्म में आस्था के प्रतीकों से खिलवाड़ नहीं करना चाहिए। बल्कि उनका सम्मान करना चाहिए।
मोदी ने दिया कला को सहारा:-
गुजरात के मुख्यमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी की प्रशंसा करते हुए प्रभात ने बताया कि कलाकारों को सही तौर पर गुजरात में सम्मान दिया जा रहा हैं। ऐसे में अन्य राज्यों को भी गुजरात स्टेट ललित कला अकादमी के प्रोत्साहन देने के तरीके को फॉलो करना चाहिए।
चित्रों में उकेरा प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्य:-
इस बार प्रभात ने चित्रों में ग्रामीण जीवन, स्त्री मनोभावों के साथ खास तौर पर प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्य का कलात्मक चित्रण किया है। जिसके बूते उनकी पेंटिंग्स को काफी सराहा जा रहा है।
50 का अनुभव बनाता फनकार:-
जहां कई नामी आर्टिस्ट एक कलाकार की आयु को 40 बरस आंकते है वही कुछ इससे पहले भी कला क्षेत्र में खासा नाम कमाते है। लेकिन प्रभात के लिए 40 के तिलिस्म के बजाए 50 की आयु को फनकार माना गया है। स्पष्ट करते हुए उन्होंने कहा कि पचास साल की आयु में अनुभवों का पिटारा होने पर कलाकार सही तरीके से क्रिएटेविटी का सदुपयोग कर सकता है।

राजसमंद, ५ जन. (प्रासं.)। जिला बॉडी बिल्डिंग संघ, जयपुर के तत्वावधान में आयोजित ओपन मिस्टर जयपुर जूनियर/सीनियर वर्ग प्रतियोगिता में लायंस डेन हेल्थ क्लब के खिलाड़ी महीप सिंह चारण ने उत्कृष्ट प्रदर्शन करते हुए जूनियर वर्ग में मसल्समेन ऑफ दी जयपुर २०१० का खिताब हासिल किया। महीप सिंह चारण ने सीनियर वर्ग में भी बेहतरीन प्रदर्शन करते हुए बेस्ट पोजर का अवार्ड पर अपना कब्जा जमाया। राजसमंद जिले के महीप सिंह ने विश्वविद्यालय में भी मि. सुखाडिय़ा का खिताब हासिल किया।

जोधपुर। क्रांतिकारी केसरीसिंह बारहठ की स्मृति में दिया जाने वाला पुरस्कार क्रांतिकारी केसरीसिंह बारहठ सम्मान इस वर्ष समाजसेवा के लिए बनासकांठा (गुजरात) के सांसद मुकेश गढ़वी को प्रदान किया जाएगा। इसी तरह कवि सांवलदान आशिया की स्मृति में दिए जाने वाले कवि सांवलदान आशिया राजस्थान साहित्य सम्मान चूरू के साहित्यकार प्रो. भंवरसिंह सामोर को दिया जाएगा।

भूपाल चारण छात्रावास में 27 दिसम्बर को करणी सेवा मंडल उदयपुर के चतुर्थ वार्षिक प्रतिभा सम्मान समारोह में पुरस्कार प्रदान किए जाएंगे। मंडल सचिव महेंद्रसिंह ने बताया कि कार्यक्रम में प्रतिभाओं को छात्रवृत्तियां भी प्रदान की जाएगी। समारोह की अध्यक्षता अखिल भारतीय चारण समाज अध्यक्ष सीडी देवल तथा सुखदेव गढ़वी मुख्य अतिथि होंगे। अखिल भारतीय चारण महासम्मेलन संयोजक मोतीभाई गढ़वी, पाबूसिंह आशिया व गोपालसिंह पालावत विशिष्ट अतिथि होंगे।

रतनगढ़& मानव प्रबोधन प्रन्यास शिव बाड़ी बीकानेर की ओर से आयोजित राज्यस्तरीय गीता भाषण प्रतियोगिता में लोहिया कन्या महाविद्यालय की छात्रा अभिलाषा चारण ने प्रथम स्थान अर्जित किया।

Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo was born and brought up in a small village situated at Jodhpur district in the state of Rajasthan.

His father was working in the Revenue Department. The village did not have a school, so he had to stay away from his parents for his studies. His sisters looked after him. Till Fourth standard, he studied in a school which had only one room and only one teacher. Mr. Rajendra Ratnoo’s father was an extraordinary student himself and lots of credit goes to him in shaping him up. He missed the opportunities to have higher studies. So he emphasized a lot on his children’s education. They are a big family and he is the eighth child in the family. His father ensured that everyone in the family till the last child get the best quality of education. His father was the person who truly believed in human resource development. His father felt that rather investing in other assets, it is better to invest in children’s education. His father also worked in a Collector’s office and so he desired that at least one of his children should become an IAS.

Aspirations to become a collector.

It’s an interesting incident. When he was in fifth standard, his father worked at the Collector’s office in Tonk district of Rajasthan. His father used to take him to Collector’s office on weekends. That was the starting point when he was exposed to such an institution and service. Later on Shree Rajendraji discovered that his brothers were aspiring for the same job. He came to understand that with this capacity as collector we can do a lot of good for the poor.

Later on, after completing his MA, he felt that he should dedicate his life for uplifting the poor. Initially, he had a dilemma on whether to join a NGO or to join public sector. Since he had aspired to become a Collector,he felt becoming an IAS is the best opportunity to serve the people.

The inspiration to become a Collector.

His father was helping him to take right kind of decisions. After he completed his MA, to achieve his goal, he decided to go to Delhi. He was able to get an enriching environment in New Delhi. Especially his commitment to serve the people got a lot of inspiration from his socializing and from teachers in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. Students at JNU were having great commitment for doing good things for the society. There is a single personality who inspired him to become a Collector, it’s his father. He is no more, but he like to dedicate his service to his father.

He is currently serving as District Collector at City: CUDDALORE State: TAMIL NADU

Rajendra Ratnoo: Presidential award winning district collector of Cuddalore (TAMIL NADU)

Karni Mata Temple, or The Rat Temple: Karni Mata was a Hindu sage in the fourteenth century, worshipped by her followers as an incarnation of Durga. Legend has it that Karni Mata tried to bring the child son of a local storyteller back from death. Yama, the god of death, however had already reincarnated the child as a rat and therefore Karni Mata would not be successful in her attempt at restoration. A pact was formed between Yama and Karni Mata, that all her followers would be reincarnated as rats under her protection, and that the reincarnated son would live where her temple stands today, in . The original temple was built in the fifteenth century, just after Karni Mata’s disappearance from the village, having lived more than one hundred fifty years by that point. The temple in its current construction came from the Maharaja of Bikaner in the early twentieth century. Karni Mata came to the king in a dream, instructing him to build a new temple on top of her old temple, to protect her rats, soon to leave the area and perish if not properly cared for. The temple is lavishly decorated in silver and gold, with intricate marble carvings. Amazingly, with a rat population of 20,000, the temple is relatively clean and free of odor.

For classical music enthusiasts, Saturday night was a treat, when a week-long festival organised by Saptak kicked off. They got to hear talented, teen tabla exponent, Kabirdan Gadhavi.
Kabirdan’s solo at Gajjar Hall mesmerised listeners. He is a disciple of Banarasi gharana. “The 13th Sangeet Sankalp Saptah-2008 is dedicated to the memory of Padma Vibhushan, late Pt Kishan Maharaj, maestro of the same gharana. Kabirdan is the youngest star of this gharana,” says HC Kapasi, convenor of the festival.
The 17-year-old lad belongs to Virvadarka village in Maliya taluka, 200 km from Ahmedabad. He lost his mother a year ago and his father Bapubhai, a proof-reader with a Gujarati publication, is battling cancer. In fact, father and son live at his office, at present.
The tabla prodigy has been commuting to Ahmedabad as he’s been training at Saptak for the past eight years. Bapubhai’s only hope is his talented son, who performed twice at Saptak’s annual festival as a child artiste in 2004 and 2006.
It was a memorable occasion for the duo when, after listening to Kabirdan, Pt Jasraj told the audience. “A few days ago, a journalist asked me about future of classical music in India. It was tough to answer the question. But, after this performance, I can definitely say that Banarasi gharana doesn’t have to worry for 60 years.”
Kabirdan bagged first prize (junior category) at Pt Omkarnath Sangeet Spardha’ organised by Gujarat Sangeet Natak Academy in 2006. He has also been awarded a scholarship by Tatas. “The scholarship is important, not because of the money, but the recognition. It will help establish my son in the profession,” says a proud Bapubhai, who is himself a poet.