From my early childhood I know three adjoining religious places of New Delhi, as we kids were normally taken to visit them on Sundays and other holidays repeatedly. And those three key points, still sharp in my memory are Gurdwara Bangla Sahib (which used to have a lot of open garden area), Hanuman Mandir (just next to Rivoli cinema in Connaught place) and Birla Mandir (having a lot of Children swings in its park).
Religious sentiments used to be the key feature visiting these three places and till my mid-teens I honestly assumed Birla to be another name of a Divine Deity for the obvious reasons since there was a mandir (temple) popularly known after him as Birla Mandir. The realization about its actual meaning came only after I began reading about many other subjects beyond my usual study material that Birla was a caste and the temple was named after the famous Birla group who had built many other big temples all over India widely called as Birla Mandirs.
No doubt the thought behind making these religious buildings must have been a noble one by incurring such a huge expenditure. But why they are strangely known by the name of their builders instead of the Gods or Goddesses worshipped inside the premises since decades, still confuse me with a lot of pain thinking about our questionable mindsets. And just when I was thinking of writing a verse on the same a friend suggested me a film, which had the exact sentiments expressed in a very fine thoughtful sequence with a beautifully written song by Indivar.
The film is Yaadgar released in1970, featuring Manoj Kumar in the lead role of a factory worker who raises his voice against black marketers, irresponsible doctors, exploitive rich industrialists, corrupt politicians and more as his duty of being a concerned citizen. The film directed by S. Ram Sharma, was written by Manoj himself and had music by Kalyanji Anandji with lyrics by Indivar and Varma Malick.
In one of its hard hitting sequence, there is temple called Rana Mandir named after the family who had built it. The present successor of the rich family is coming to visit the temple after many years and therefore everyone else is kept waiting outside till he arrives and enters the temple first as he owns it. And when a poor person requesting the Pujari to let him say his prayers before going to the work, is pushed badly, Manoj Kumar enters the scene and sings a song with just perfect lyrics criticizing the ritual, the pujari and the followers not raising the valid questions since ages.
The wonderfully penned song by Indivar, composed by Kalyanji Anandji and sung by Mahendra Kapoor, in its opening verses says,
“Aaye Jahan Bhagwan Se Pehley, Kisi Dhanwaan Ka Naam,
Us Mandir Ke Dwaar Kharhey Khud Roye Krishan Aur Ram,
Dhanwan Ko Pehley Miley Bhagwan Ke Darshan,
Darshan Ko Tarasta Rahey Jo Bhakt Ho Nirdhan,
Aisey Hi Agar Dharam Ka Vyapaar Chalega,
Bhagwan Ka Duniya Mein Koi Naam Na Lega,
Aisee Jagah Pe Jaake Tu Kuchh Bhi Na Paayega,
Bhagwan Aisa Mandir Khud Chhorh Jaayega”
Listening to this the rich successor of Rana Family comes forward and asks,
“Bhagwan Rana Mandir Mein Nahin …… To Aur Kahan Milega?”
And the brilliant reply is given as,
“Woh Khet Mein Milega, Khalihaan Mein Milega,
Bhagwan To Ae Bandey, Insaan Mein Milega”
Certainly one of the most meaningful and poignant poetic expressions made in a powerful Hindi film song by a talented team of all thinking, creative minds of the Golden Era.
Cheers!
