"chaman ro-ro ke kehata hai" : Tribute to the Emperor of Laughter

While surfing in cyberspace yesterday, I was shocked and dazed by the news of the untimely demise of Jaspal Bhatti. “Laughter is the language of the soul,” said Pablo Neruda. Who more than Jaspal Bhatti could have wielded the language of the soul with such immaculate perfection? Laughter is the best medicine, they say. The gods in heaven must have been envious of the Jaspal medicine that we mortal were enjoying in this country. I am sure Jaspal will not refrain from mocking at the cruelty of fate that left us bereft of cheer and laughter in so absurd a fashion.

At this tragic moment, I cannot help recall the lyrics by Shankar Jaikishan of the famous Hindi song sung by Hemant Kumar in the 1954 film Badshah.  

rulaa kar chal diye, ik din hansi ban kar jo aaye the
chaman ro-ro ke kehata hai,
kabhi gul muskuraaye the
rulaa kar chal diye, ik din hansi ban kar jo aaye the

agar dil ke zubaan hoti ye gham kuchh kam to ho jaataa
udhar vo chup, idhar seene men ham toofaan chhupaaye the
chaman ro-ro ke kehata hai, kabhi gul muskuraaye the
rulaa kar chal diye, ik din hansi ban kar jo aaye the


ye achchha tha na ham kehate kisi se daasataan apani,
samajh paaye na jab apane, paraaye to paraaye the
rulaa kar chal diye, ik din hansi ban kar jo aaye the

Let us keep alive the legacy he left behind and try to bring in this beleaguered world a little smile and plenty of genuine laughter.- An ardent admirer, Nibir K. Ghosh