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Hans can not be introduced with a single sobriquet. Credited with over 60 music albums, including a dozen in Gurbani and devotional music, besides playback singing for films, Hans has emerged as an icon for music lovers the world over. Having added another glamorous dimension to his illustrious singing career, he has also had an acting stint as a hero in a Punjabi film Mehndi Shagnan Di and a guest appearance in the film Baisakhi but Hans restricted himself to playback singing for films like Kachche Dhaage, Nayak, Bichhoo, Shaheed, Jodi No. 1, Monsoon Wedding, Black and White, Kuchh Kariye, Patiala House, Wagha, Terian Mohabbataan, Mauhal Theek hai and Mausam. His song "Ikk Tu hi Tu" in Mausam made waves. The release of his new album of ghazals in Urdu and Hindi titled "Ikk Ishara" is in the offing. His versatile sons have chosen acting as their calling. While the younger son Yugraj Hans excelled along with Arya Babber in the clean Punjabi movie Yaar Anmulle, the prodigious singer-actor Navraj Hans makes a majestic presence in an untitled Hindi film in the making. Hans has many admirers in Bollywood, the latest being the comedy king Dilip Kumar who specially invited Hans on his 89th birthday. Dilip Kumar whistled in ecstasy after Hans doled out songs of his choice. The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Padma Shri was bestowed upon him. He was also awarded the Lifetime Fellowship by Punjabi University, Punjab state honour of Rajgayak and special commendation from Atal Behari Vajpayee, the then Prime Minister of India. Even the San Jose University CA, USA, has appointed Hans as visiting Professor of Sufism, a proud moment for a Punjabi vocalist. Incidentally, Hans was the only Indian to be appointed as judge at the Asia Song Contest in the UK continuously for three years, with the likes of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan Saheb. Singing and eulogising the kalaams of jogis and Sufi saints in the streets of the sleepy village of Shafipur, near Jalandhar, the child prodigy Hans could have never dreamt of his intimate meeting and befitting honour from former US President Bill Clinton. Both were associated in a noble cause of generating funds for India American society for the riot victims in Gujarat in 2001. " Swar hi Ishwar hai and its sadhna under a guru is indeed a godly blessing, ..." maintains Hans, sharing his musical journey and life struggles. "At the very outset, I offer my gratitude to my revered guru and guide Ustad Puran Shahkoti, a darvesh of pristine classical and Punjabi folk music," says the Sufi singer. Extremely impressed with the devotion of his Hans Raj Hans towards music and his guru, Shahkoti awakened his dormant abilities into potential for professional excellence. Hans delineated his love for music and motherland in his very first patriotic song "Shaheed-e- Azam Bhagat Singh di ghori," which announced his arrival on the musical firmament of the region and the rest is history. For visitors from Pakistan, Hans is equally popular as a Sufi and folk singer of astounding merit across the border. His gesture to dispel darkness in India-Pakistan relations and promoting brotherhood between India and Pakistan through a live performance and lighting lamps at the Wagah border annually on August 14 is widely appreciated by them. Punjabi folk music is rich in melody, emotional and forthright as it deals with the life and pastoral living, feels Hans. However, as any art though rooted in tradition survives through innovation and as such a creative blend of traditional music with modern sensibility can bring far reaching results, he adds, but it requires expertise of classical music. "I have done extensive study on the holy teachings of Sikh gurus and Sufi saints and it has been a soul-enlightening affair for me. It inspires me to dedicate my life to the teaching and propagation of soulful music," says the music maestro. Adds Hans, "It is my lifetime dream to establish a sangeet ashram in Punjab, where learners can grasp the best of musical nuances, moral ethics and discipline in life and music and, above all, the love and zeal for preservation of traditional folk music and spirit of soulful Sufism. The government, NGOs `A0and corporates must come forward to disseminate the melodic fervour and flavour of all music genres and encourage the pioneers," signs off Hans. He ends with an Urdu couplet "Khushboo ko phailne ki tammana toh hai, magr/ Mumkin nahin hawaaon se rishta kiye bagair ..."
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OVER
the years, the
definitive concept of Punjabi folk music had lost its vitality, as a
consequence to falling prey to alien musical influences, the debasing
power of money, glamour-struck performing artistes, all caused by
commercialisation of the realm of art. Caught between the filmy, pop
background and native notions, many of the Punjabi artists who claim to
be Sufi singers know little about Sufi spiritual culture. The song
writers too, mostly without any literary achievement, resort to vulgar
lyricism. There are a few like Hans Raj Hans who still hold on to
eternal values which our rich folk and Sufi cultural traditions have
given us and take these to spectacular heights. The singing maestro Hans
Raj Hans is undeniably the most decorated artist and prolific performer
who has won the admiration of the music lovers in India and abroad. As
his versatility encompasses his adroit mastery over myriad music
genres, the Indian classical music, Punjabi folk, ghazal, thumri,
playback singing for films, besides services for the community.