When it comes to history, we tend to think of it as things that happened in the distant past; things unconnected to our present, apart from the tangled threads that bind space-time causality. But in reality, history is something that happens all around us, all the time. It is always relevant, always present in the shaping of the world we live in. And sometimes, if we are lucky, we get a chance to be intimately connected to it. Such was the chance that I got in early childhood, through my grandfather- Shahir Maharshi R.D. Dixit. Today, on his memorial day, I pay this small tribute to the man who inspired my interest in history, and consequently this blog.
What is a Shahir?
Shahiri is a medieval form of folk music and art from Maharashtra. It involves colorfully dressed Shahirs (bards) and musicians performing the ‘powada’ a form of ballad poetry which usually tells a particular historical or mythological story. Apart from this, Shahirs also perform other local art forms like laavani, phatka, and more.
Shahiri traditions have evolved into some distinct forms, one of them being ‘Rashtriya Shahiri’- which addresses historical personalities and incidents through music, with the aim to inspire a nationalistic fervor in the audience. Harnessing the ‘Veer Rasa’ from among the ‘Navarasas’ or the 9 Aspects of Emotion in Art, it evokes a sentiment of pride and valor by recounting the deeds and lives of heroes.
The shahiri tradition in Maharashtra dates back almost a thousand years, even finding mention in Sant Dnyaneshwar’s work. However, during the times of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, it became a powerful tool to inspire the Marathi populace into fighting for freedom. During British rule, it was again revived by Maharashtrian freedom fighters to exhort the people to resist British tyranny, as well as address the evils prevalent in society. It was during the peak of this movement that, in 1916, a new star was born.
Raghunath Dixit- Early Days
Young Raghunath Dattatray Dixit was born on 4th June 1916 to a poor Brahmin family in the village of Chinchani near Sangli, Maharashtra. He came from a long line of priests and keertankars, whose traditional job was to inculcate morals in the society through their devotional songs. The family also owned a temple, and was devoted to Lord Dutta, the representation of the Hindu Trinity- Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. Growing up, Raghunath inherited all these values.
Losing his father at the tender age of 4, he was raised by his elder brother Ganesh. As the freedom movement gained momentum in the ‘20s, Ganesh Dixit took up the Shahiri art and began performing in shows across Maharashtra. Raghunath, acting as a companion and assistant, also began to learn the art of shahiri. Soon he started writing and singing his own compositions, gaining fame as ‘Chhota Dixit’.
Krantishahir R. D. Dixit and the Freedom Struggle
Roaming the countryside, the brothers roused the masses with their fiery music, exhorting them to fight against the British rule. They sang about Bhagat Singh and Queen Laxmibai of Jhansi, and others who had spent their lives fighting the British. They sang of the valiant Marathas such as Tanhaji Malusare, Baji Prabhu Deshpande, Netaji Palkar, Chimaji Appa, and others who had driven invading forces of the Mughals and the Portuguese out of Maharashtra. Above all, they sang of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the great founder of the Maratha Empire and the ideals of Swarajya. Soon, they found a mentor in Maharshi Nyayratna Vinod– philosopher, spiritual seeker and freedom fighter, companion of Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad. Under his philosophical and spiritual guidance, the Dixit brothers flourished.
Their crusade of verses soon came to the notice of the British. They imprisoned them several times to stop their shows from reaching the people and inciting them to rebellion. However, the brothers and their companions would continue their program as planned. Appreciating their efforts towards the Freedom Struggle, Nyayratna Vinod bequeathed to them the title of ‘Krantishahir’ or ‘Bard of the Revolution’!
Not stopping at resisting the British, the brothers also campaigned against the atrocities inflicted by the Nizam of Hyderabad. The Nizam refused to accede to the soon-to-be Republic of India, against the will of his subjects. Despite stringent warnings from the British not to incite the people against the Nizam, the brothers risked arrest and torture to spread awareness among the people living under his tyranny. Ultimately, in 1947, India became an independent country, and a few months later, Hyderabad became a part of it!
The Royal Shahirs
Many of the Princely States in British India invited the brothers to perform at their courts. In Madhya Pradesh, they received commissions from the great Maratha Houses, such as the Holkars of Indore, the Shindes of Gwalior, and the Pawars of Dhar and Dewas. In Karnataka, the Ghorpades of Sondur, while in Gujarat, the Gaekwads of Baroda also regularly invited them to perform. Impressed by Ganesh’s fiery performance, Maharaja of Dewas also named him the Darbar Shahir, or the Royal Bard!
In Maharashtra itself, they received patronage from the Patwardhans of Miraj and Sangli. One of the highlights of their careers came in 1946, when they were invited to compete in a ‘Shahiri’ tournament during the coronation ceremony of Chhatrapati Shahaji Maharaj of Kolhapur. Needless to say, Ganesh won the first place while Raghunath won a joint second!
They say that it is when everything seems to be going well, that tragedy strikes. Barely two years had passed since independence, when Krantishahir Ganesh D. Dixit passed away due to a sudden illness! Such misery, Raghunath had never known! His elder brother had been everything to him- father, teacher, friend, and leader. How was he to keep going, bereft of his guiding light? Overcome with grief, he resolved never to perform again, and packed up his daph instrument.
Post-Independence Freedom Movements
At this crucial moment, it was his mentor, Nyayratna Vinod, who consoled and supported him. “Your brother may have passed away, but is his work here done?” He asked. There were still a lot of political and social injustices to fight against. Who would continue this work, if not Raghunath himself?
Resolving to continue his brother’s legacy, Raghunath returned to the Shahiri world. India may have received independence, but that did not mean all was rosy in the country. A huge movement was rearing its head in western India. It sought to divide Bombay State into two distinct states based on language- Maharashtra and Gujarat. Known as the Sanyukta Maharashtra Movement, it was a major political struggle. Even here, Shahir Dixit played a great role, inspiring people to take to the streets with his fiery words. Invoking the proud legacy of Maratha history, he exhorted people to work for the movement. Their efforts bore fruit in 1960 with the creation of the state of Maharashtra.
At the same time, another political struggle was ensuing in the south- one between the Portuguese and the Indians! In Goa, which had been under Portuguese rule for centuries, the people wanted to accede to the Republic, leading to a struggle with the Portuguese colonial authorities. Again, the daph of Shahir Dixit thundered, speaking of the inquisitions and atrocities carried out by the Portuguese, reminding people of the rights of the Goan people. And so, by the end of 1961, Goa was liberated to become a part of India!
Shahir R. D. Dixit and Social Work
Although India had achieved independence and sovereignty, there were still a number of social evils prevalent in the country. Now, Shahir Dixit took up the task of spreading awareness and creating reform among the people.
Travelling across India, he sang verses calling for abolishing caste discrimination, rejecting superstition, and educating the girl child. He warned of the evils of addiction, and exhorted people to live simple, virtuous lives full of good deeds. He campaigned to create awareness and prevent female infanticide, educating the rural populace on the horrors of such a practice. Across most rural and semi-urban areas, his words spread the message of unity, equality, rationalism, and right to education.
In his own village of Chinchani, his influence was quite profound. He brought about many social changes and economic development in the village through his social work and encouragement. To the villagers, he became their beloved ‘Kaka’, a fatherly figure of wisdom, inspiring them with his words and teaching them how to live. In later years, he also rebuilt the dilapidated ancestral temple of his beloved Dutta Guru, and turned it into a community place where the villagers could gather to pray, recite the aartis and listen to the scriptures. The traditions he founded in his village survive to this very day.
Proliferating Shahiri Traditions: The Dixit Gharana of Shahiri
The work of Shahir Dixit did not stop just at political and social campaigns. Over the years, he had also begun to realize the importance of preserving shahiri traditions, and passing them on to the next generations in a rapidly changing world. He began traveling across Maharashtra, gathering many disciples and students. Without seeking any money or compensation, he taught them the very unique style of shahiri developed by his brother and himself, which had come to be known as the Dixit Gharana of Shahiri. Through his many associates, including Shahir Samrat Bapurao Vibhute and others, the Dixit Gharana spread far and wide. Today, there are over 150 disciples of the Dixit Gharana across Maharashtra, performing powadas in the memory of their ‘Guruji’.
As India developed after independence, Shahir Dixit also realized the importance of creating an organization, a union of Shahirs that would protect their interests and promote their art. Towards that end, he traveled the length and breadth of Maharashtra, meeting with shahirs in almost every town and city and convincing them to be a part of this endeavor. Working with other prominent shahirs such as Shahir Yogesh, he founded the ‘Maharashtra Shahir Parishad’ and served as its Vice-President.
In recognition of his momentous achievements in the field of Shahiri, the Maharashtra Shahir Parishad conferred upon him the title of ‘Shahir Maharshi’- a Saint among Shahirs!
Personal Character and Legacy
Shahir Maharshi R. D. Dixit lived to the age of 92, when he still did not require any support to walk. A lifetime of simple living, hard work and travel gave him an iron constitution, which was seen when he was robbed and thrown off a train at the age of 87, but managed to recover fully from severe injuries. His commitment to his art, and his word of honor were legendary. In 1982, when his wife passed away after an illness, he did not cancel an event which was scheduled a couple of days later. However, he performed that day without wearing the traditional pagadi or pheta, as a sign of his mourning. He once performed a powada in honor of renowned historian and writer Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, who described his hand hitting the daph as ‘thunder and lightning’!
He passed away in 2007, leaving behind a Gharana of folk music with over 150 disciples, a large family of devoted children and grandchildren, and a legacy of poetry and fiery performances. The recordings of some of his work- powadas such as ‘Shaheed Bhagat Singh’, ‘Shivaji Maharaj Avatari Kase?’ and ‘Raja Prithviraj Chouhan’ are available on YouTube. 2 of his recordings can also be found on the website sounds.bl.uk/world-and-traditional-music/young-india-records-label-collections. After his passing in 2007, his son, my father Kashinath Dixit, started the Shahir Maharshi R. D. Dixit Pratishthan Trust, which organizes programs to promote shahiri arts as well as social causes such as education in rural areas.
In 2016, bronze busts of Krantishahir G. D. Dixit and Shahir Maharshi R. D. Dixit were inaugurated at their ancestral town of Chinchani, at the hands of Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Shri. Sanjay (Kaka) Patil. They stand as a testament to their work, a shining example of selfless Karma Yoga for generations of artistes!
As for me? I was fortunate to spend a significant part of my early life under his wing, inheriting an interest in history, poetry, and patriotism. This blog is a way of continuing his legacy in my own way. I can only hope that when my journey ends, I will have made him proud!
शाहीर महर्षी र. द. दीक्षित ह्यांना शत शत नमन!!
– Ashutosh Dixit
Very well written about ShahirMaharshi R D Dixit.
Beautiful tribute to ShahirMaharshi R.D. Dixit.
Keep up the good work!
Very informative, well written and inspiring. Good job Ashutosh.
Liked it!
नातवाने आजोबांना वाहिलेली सुंदर श्रद्धांजलि !