Charudatta Aaphale: Shaping e-wings to Kirtan

(The following report is actually a story made by me for The Hitavada. It appeared in the cityline issue of this newspaper and the original story can be read by Clicking here. The report is written on the occasion of Rashtriya Kirtan Festival .held in Nagpur from 28th October to 3 November.)
Rashtriya Kirtan Festival .in Nagpur is receiving remarkable response from youth. But can you imagine a Kirtankar as a youth icon? One who delivers lengthy lectures on implausible Purana that can attract the Gen X like never before? Making this possible is revolutionary. But not for Charudatta Aaphale, a man committed to making revolutions.

Charudatta’s dedication to Rashtriya Kirtan made him the global ambassador of this unique art. Charudatta, better known as Aaphale Guruji among youths, has large number of followers all over the globe. Besides his popular fan club on youth’s heartbeat website Orkut, two other e-fan clubs on international-level are dedicated to him. All these fan clubs are moderated by the youths and almost all members of these fan clubs are from young intellectual brigade of World Wide Web. Moreover, Aaphale is probably the only Kirtankar whose Kirtans are available on You tubeand Google video. One can easily view and download the clippings from his famous kirtans after a simple web search. Marathi Mandal of Australia dedicated a special webpage to him as well as a group of NRIs from USA run another e-fans club of the kirtan icon. What qualities have drawn together a universal prop up for the man? Charudatta is representative of generation next of Rashtriya Kirtan. The art of kirtan is an ancestral gift to him as his father, Govindswami Aaphale was the pioneer of Rashtriya Kirtan. Charudatta is trained under the legendary kirtankars Dholebuwa, Ghagbuwa and Sundarbuwa Marathe. During the last 20 years of his kirtan career, Charudatta has been traveling all over the country as well as abroad and has conducted over 4,500 kirtan programmes. Most renowned cassettes industries like ‘Venus’, ‘Alurkar’, ‘Zapata’ and ‘Varadhast’ have produced numerous cassettes and CDs of Charudatta, religious as well as dedicated to martyrs of Indian freedom struggle. His kirtan on Swatantryaveer Savarkar is most famous as it is full of positive aggression and groundbreaking thoughts. It’s available on You Tube as one of his disciples from USA, Guruprasad uploaded it for all. Charudatta’s attachment with youth also reveals through his work from the development of kirtan as an art. He imparts training to the students of kirtan through Kirtan-kul. Kirtan is known as blending of all 64 arts mentioned in Indian culture. Charudatta also excels in many arts among these. Besides performing kirtans, Aaphale is one of the best actors on Marathi stage. His forte is musical dramas and his excellent acting skills enabled him to enact most of the pivotal characters in Indian mythology. King Dushyant, Devarshi Narad, Saint Chokhamela, Lord Shrikrishna plus many other contemporary characters like Gangadharbuwa, Nilobarai and Khansaheb. For his outstanding performances, he has been proud recipient of Akhil Bharatiya Natya Parishad Award for consecutive three years. In a documentary on Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj, Charudatta played a key-role of legend of Marathi musical stage, Balgandharva. In a National Award winning documentary on Balgandharva, he played the real life male individual as well as the female characters portrayed by Balgandharva. He also portrayed Saint Gyaneshwar in a documentary on Saint Namdeo. On the occasion of birth centenary of another illustrious singer, actor Master Deenanath - Charudatta staged the late actor’s epic play ‘Ranadundubhi’ in which he portrayed the lead female character. Charudatta is a talented student and analyst of the Natya Sangeet and Indian Classical music. Through his stage shows and television appearances, his singing talent is well admired. Besides all this, his poetry singing has also gained tremendous popularity. His famous “Jay Mrityunjay” on the life of Swatantryaveer Savarkar comprised 40 songs composed and sung by him and has completed 50 shows till date. Through his Kirtans, Aaphale Guruji conveyed the message for all-round development of nation. His views are vivid, words are straightforward and intention is a strong youth. About 40-year old Kirtankar wishes for a strong, independent and confident youth, all set to fly high with firm bonding with the cultural and religious foundation of India. Today’s youth is inspired by his overall appearance and his devotion to the empowerment of the nation. That is why he is globally acclaimed and become the first ever e-kirtankar of India. Through his e-appearances, Aaphale Guruji is shaping the global wings for the divine eagle of Rashtriya Kirtan. So, if you missed his today’s Kirtan from the Mahotsava, don’t be upset. Just log on to ‘You Tube’ and hit the search-box for today’s Kirtan.

On leaving home…

Since I was doing my graduation, I was preparing for this. It was 27th April of year 2007 when I was in Nagpur to face my first interview for job. It was for The Hitavada. Mr. Vijay Phanshikar, Editor of The Hitavada held my interview. I was so keen to join the job, that when he asked me whether I am ready to join from 1st may, just 3 days after my interview, I said “Yes Sir, I can!”
But the destiny’s arrangement was poles apart. It took two and a half month for me to get appointment letter. Meanwhile, I got my BA final result which was fairly promising. I resolute to utilize these days for my own mental and personality built up. My blogs started between these days, my study regarding literature for post graduation began and I was waiting badly for the result from The Hitavada. One week after my result when I was quiet optimistic about the appointment letter, dad told me to get admission in college for further studies as mere wait was slavish act. The study of Law became my next goal and I reached Law College for admission. It wasn’t that difficult to get admission in Law College as my percentage was enough for spot admission. So, the authorities asked me to fill up the form and fees for the first semester. I submitted the form on 29th June but can’t pay the money as the clerk was not present. It went on 1st July and non stop raining forbidden me to get out of the house on that day. So it went on 3rd of July. This time it was fixed. It was Ganesh Chaturthi; the pious day. I was fully prepared. The money was with me; but I was not willing to pay it in the college. One ray of hope was present about the journalism job. I passed a long time. And finally when it was 11.30, I was tying my shoe-lace, the cell phone rang.
“Hello…”
“Is this Chaitanya Deshpande?”
“Yes!”
“I’m Alok Tiwari from Hitavada press. Your appointment letter is ready. You can come and get it today.”
“I am in Yavatmal now…” I don’t know how I was feeling, but still I said.
“No problem, you can come tomorrow. After ten thirty and receive the letter. “
“I’ll come tomorrow …” I think I was about to ask something when the call ended from either side. With my half-tied shoe-less I just relaxed on the chair. The call was echoing in my ears. This is the thing for which I was waiting since two and half months! Finally, it was all set to leave home. Everyone was happy for me. I remembered quotes from many of my relatives, friends and teachers,
“There is nothing in this small town. We have careers in metros!”
“Once you leave home, you will prosper like anything!”
“You have career in creativity; you can’t get the job of your kind here! Just leave home.”
And finally,
“I’m Alok Tiwari from Hitavada press. Your appointment letter is ready. You can come and catch it today.”
….
On 4th July, I was in Hitavada office with one friend. I got the official appointment letter. Some clerk told me to meet Alok Tiwari sir for further proceedings. Then I realize who the man was…
He was the second head of editorial department; Executive Editor of the Hitavada, Mr. Alok Tiwari.
…

The novel anticipation is building.

With the result of Matriculation Examinations, the new glitter can be easily noticed among number of eyes around me. Girls, riding on moped at once became somewhat proud about the unknown excitement. Guys are riding little rapidity with musical horns to celebrate the success. All this magic is due to the anticipation of Novel College Life. The proud girls, celebrating guys and college campus full of new colors remembered me my entry in college. The year passed was my last year in college, so the emotions gathered with more intensity. Well, my start of college-life was not so exciting and charming as compared to these guys and gals.

I passed my matriculation with seventy percent of marks and was planning to join Arts stream for my higher secondary exam. But, many of my family members and teachers insisted for the science stream. The discussion cum debate was very long and finally, we decided to choose science field for my 12th class. It was nothing wrong with me, because I was interested in science field too. The only enemy of mine was the ‘Algebra.’ I was very much weak in the numerical problems and equations. My maternal uncle’s friend was well known mathematics teacher in the town who assured me that he will manage my Algebra problems and I can easily get rid of this ghost. He gave me the list of well-known tuition teachers for other subjects like Biology and Physics; and finally I was ready to be a science student. But this process took a long time and the form submission date for science stream was gone off. This was really shocking for me, as I was mentally prepared for Science now. The efforts for my admission began when science stream Junior colleges were ready to hold the classes. I was very much late, but with the help of my uncle and his friends, finally got one seat in Anglo-Hindi Junior College. The final obstacle was overcome by my father who paid two thousand rupees as donation. I was the one unfortunate guy who scored seventy percent, still admitted by submitting the donation. This was really a pain for me and this process; all these actions gave birth to the anti-science stream mind in me. Finally though I was in the science stream, I was not at all happy with my uncle and his friend because they were those who insisted for the science stream and because of them, my father have to pay the donation amount. So, I rejected to join my uncle’s friend’s tuition and never went to the list of teachers provided by him, which was my next adverse action. All these actions result in many ill-fated results in future; which I will share some other day. But today, it’s about my entry in Junior college, which was not that much exciting and promising.

Anyways, my young friends are entering in the new life and I wish them all the best and hope every success for them.