Dr Rajesh Mohan – The Harbinger of Light by Kulwinder Kasid
Dr Rajesh Mohan – The Harbinger of Light
Yeh pathreele ilaake, yeh sulage se registaan
Agar jee-jaan ik kar do, basera ho bhee sakta hai
By Kulwinder Kasid
(This rock-strewn terrain, these smouldering deserts You can still make them your home if you persevere)
Prof Rajesh Mohan is such an amazing personality that he needs no introduction, at least in the music circles of Punjab, especially the Malwa region. Although his eyes cannot perceive light, yet with his inner glow he has been illuminating the path for hundreds of people lost in the dark.
Prof Rajesh Mohan is a man of many talents: a singer, an instrumentalist, a composer, a musicologist, a poet, a teacher and a social activist. His poetry is filled with beautiful thoughts on how to lead a meaningful life. Many of his couplets have the power to change a hardcore pessimist into a passionate optimist.
Ek tum ho jo roshni ki hifazat na kar sake
Ek shaks woh hai jisne andhera jala diya
(There are those among you who could not preserve light And then there is that man who burnt up the darkness)
Dr Rajesh is a master of the art of transforming darkness into light. From the huge amount of work he has accomplished so far, it seems that springs of creativity are spouting from his very soul. Two of his books, Khwaab Likh Raha Hoon (I am writing down a dream) and Be-manzil Safar (A journey without a destination) have already been published.
Kehte hain yeh log ki sab qismat ka chakkar hai
Tapti ret se chehra dhoyen, paas samandar hai
(People say it’s all in the stars That we wash our faces with burning sand,In spite of being so close to the sea)
Dr Rajesh Mohan’s contribution to the world of music is significant – this great artist has written and composed more than 300 classical bandishes, songs, ghazals and nazms. His ghazals and poems have been broadcast from All India Radio, Radio Islamabad and Radio Lahore. Dr Rajesh Mohan stepped onto the international musical stage with his vocal recital in the world renowned Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan at Jallandhar, where he also played the role of a judge in one of the events.
With the aim of promoting Indian classical music among the masses, Dr Rajesh Mohan founded the organization ‘Sur Aangan Punjab’ in 1998. Many branches of this organization are working actively in cities like Fazilka, Faridkot, Kotkapura, Jalalabad, Jaiton, Moga and Hoshiarpur, reconnecting people with pure and soulful music. Many former students of Sur Aangan Punjab are not only working on important posts in schools, colleges and universities, but are also promoting and propagating the real music of India. Sur Aangan Punjab is doing admirable work in reviving people’s interest in Hindustani Classical Sangeet and ghazal through regular programs and public performances all across Punjab, especially in the Malwa region.
Dr Rajesh Mohan was born in Kotkapura on 16th September 1971 to a poor couple, Kanhaiya Lal and Shanti Devi. He did his musical training under the tutelage of Prof Krishan Kant, son of Pandit Kunj Lal and heir to the rich tradition of Vishnu Digambar Pulaskar, and Shri Amba Dutt, a student of Pandit Krishan Rao Shankar of the Gawalior gharana. Dr Rajesh Mohan never allowed the lack of sight to become a hurdle in his musical or general education. He started his basic education from the Blind Home, Ferozepur and went on to do MA in music, with gold medal, from Punjab University, Chandigarh. After that, he qualified the UGC exam, and then got his PhD in music from Punjab University, Chandigarh.
Dr Rajesh Mohan’s compassion for the weaker sections of society has not only made him a sensitive artist, a creative musician and a great poet, but also inspired him to become a social activist, always ready to defend the truth and fight for the rights of the disadvantaged members of society. In 1994, Dr Rajesh Mohan, with the help and co-operation of some of his visually disabled friends, started the Punjab chapter of ‘National Federation of the Blind’, and was unanimously elected its General Secretary. Since then, NFB has been making concerted and determined efforts for the education and employment of the visually impaired and has also succeeded in securing 1% reservation for the visually impaired in government jobs.
In addition to being an accomplished musician, a gifted poet and a good human being, Dr Rajesh is also a dedicated teacher – he has been working as Head of the Music Department at Government Barjindra College, Faridkot for the past 15 years. Moreover, he has been working tirelessly for the past two decades for the musical education and training of economically weak but talented students, acting as their friend, philosopher and guide, teaching them to think rationally and helping them to realize their true potential.
Dr Rajesh Mohan’s personality has many facets, just like his poetry has multiple layers and his music has a variety of colours. Apart from being soft-spoken, polite, kind, tolerant, humble, friendly and witty, he has the unique ability to see and describe things from a poet’s perspective. And perhaps the most attractive quality he has is to be able to see the humorous side of even the most serious situations of life, which instantly puts other people in a lighter and more positive frame of mind. Lastly, his ability to listen to the students’ problems and offer innovative solutions is a proof of his presence of mind and intellect. In short, Dr Rajesh Mohan has all the qualities essential in a good human being and a complete artist.
Dr Rajesh Mohan has been honoured by numerous government and non-government organizations for his artistic achievements, his relentless efforts to help the weaker sections, and his positive contribution to society. He is a role-model, torch-bearer and messiah for struggling artists, especially those who are battling against physical disability. May God give him the strength to carry on with his mission!
