As the gathering at the
Samadhi kept on growing year after year, the fame of Jullundur as a seat of
great classical music in north
India
grew far and wide.
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Pandit Vishnu Digamber |
A miracle happened
in the year 1908. It was the visit of Pandit Vishnu Digamber. As he was
going to Jwalamukhi with his disciples, he halted at Jullundur for a
night. He heard that a Sangeet Sammelan was in progress at Devi Talab.
He could not restrain himself from attending such a Sammelan. Soon he
was also sitting among the listeners. He made a request to Pandit Tolo
Ram to give him some time to sing. Pandit ji thought that the handsome
looking youngman was perhaps unaware of the great classical standards of
the Sammelan. However, hesitatingly he allowed him to sing at the end of
the sitting. Pandit Vishnu Digamber recited his composition in Raag
Jaunpuri the words of which were, "Tum Kon Rijhvan Jayo".
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The
voice of Pandit Vishnu Digamber was like a thunder though it had in it the
melody and sweetness of the Heavens. It at once captured the hearts of all
the listeners. Nobody ever seems to have listened to such a Raag and Aalap.
Listeners were simply amazed at this feat. They were so enthralled by the
performance of Pandit Vishnu Digamber that they took him round the City in a
procession on an elephant.
Pt. Vishnu Digamber's visit
added new dimensions to the Sangeet Sammelan. Its popularity touched all
corners of the country. So much so, that the musicians would consider it
their proud privilege to participate in this Sammelen. It was a great honour
and a testimony of merit for a musician to present his art from the stage of
the Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan.
Even the great musician Pandit Omkar Nath Thakur who scaled new heights of
glory in the field of Indian classical music had to produce the Harballabh's
Testimonials of merit before being allowed to, give his performance before
the Maharaja of Kapurthala. It will not be an exaggeration to say that the
stamp of perfection was marked upon a musician only when he had participated
in this Sammelan.
After Pandit Vishnu
Digamber’s visit, Pandit Tolo Ram a gave serious thought to inviting
musicians from all over the country and for this purpose he undertook a
journey throughout India and invited renowned singers. Participation of
stalwarts like Sarvshri Bhaskar Rao, Ram Krishan Shankar, Pandit Bala Guru,
Pandit Omkar Nath Thakur, Shri Mohammed Khan Sarangia, Bade Gulam Ali Khan,
Imdad Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan added new
grandeur to the Sammelan.
Until 1922 the entire
organisation of the Sammelen was concentrated in the hands of Pandit Tolo
Ram. However Pandit Ram Rakha Ram, Pandit Dogar Mal and Shri Arjan Dass who
were his close associates helped Pandit Tolo Ram in making the arrangements
since with the ever increasing popularity of the Sammelan, it was becoming
more & more difficult for Pandit Tolo Ram to make the arrangements
single-handedly. Thus, the necessity of a regular committee to look after
the arrangements was felt. There was no dearth of enthusiasts who came
forward willingly & voluntarily to co-operate with Pandit Tolo Ram.
Pandit Jagan Nath Parti, a
teacher by profession, an ardent lover of music and a devotee of Pandit Tolo
Ram was appointed the first secretary of Baba Harballabh Sangeet Mahasabha.
Rai Bahadur Devi Chand became the first President of the Mahasabha. Shri J.N.
Parti remained secretary from 1922 to 1964. The fact that he remained
secretary of the Mahasabha for a long period of 42 years, speaks volumes
about his dedicated and sincere services to the cause of the Sangeet
Sammelan. Pandit Tolo Ram remained the main spirit behind the Sangeet
Sammelan which was the great mission of his life. It was the vision and
foresightedness of Pandit Tolo Ram that carried the Harballabh Sangeet
Sammelan to the zenith of glory. The Sangeet Sammelan grew absolutely into a
secular, non-sectarian institution and singers irrespective of caste, colour,
creed and nationality have been participating in it year after year. Pandit
Tolo Ram turned this tradition into a unique institution during his
life-time. The Sangeet Sammelan caught the attention of newspapers long ago.
In 1913, The Tribune published a brief notice of the great Harivallabh
Sangeet Sammelan of Jullundur under the headline: "A Symposium of
Musicians". After mentioning "for the information of those not already
aware" that this conference meets once in the year and is the only one of
its kind in India, " it went on to say: 'An additional attraction
this year will be the presence of Pandit Ram Krishan Bajaj (an
illustrious singer styled Tansen of his age) of Goa, who has accepted an
invitation to come and take part. In view of the cold weather, it is
requested that visitors will kindly bring their beddings with them, and
arrangements will be made to look to their comforts otherwise. "
Till the last breath,
Pandit Tolo Ram tirelessly worked with devotion and dedication. He endowed
the Sammelan with sobriety and sanctity. As every piece of music has its
end, the long and glorious life of Pandit Tolo Ram came to an end in the
year 1938.
