Shubha Mudgal

Dear friends,

Many thanks for the lovely dinner you organized for us this evening. Aneesh and I have really enjoyed being with you for these 4 days and we hope you will stay in touch with us even after the presentation on the 18th is over. Please do continue to use the blog and let us start a discussion forum on it.

I would be very interested in looking at song texts in marriage or wedding songs and discussing the social context which is revealed or reflected in them. For example, one of the songs I learnt from my father’s family was:

Ambar bel Udaipur chhayi ji raaj, saat baras ki bhayi meri laado ji raaj

hans vaake Baba ne goad uthayi ji raaj, kaho meri laado tum kaiso var dhoondo ji raaj

अम्बर बेल उदयपुर छाई जी राज

सात बरस की भई मेरी लाडो जी राज

हँस वाके बाबा ने गोद उठाई जी राज

कहो मेरी लाडो तुम कैसो वर ढूँढो जी राज

This song text clearly points to the custom of child marriage, but it also indicates the elders in the family indulging the little 7 year old bride to be by asking her what kind of groom they should get for her.

I’m sure there must be many other interesting texts that you people know of. Let’s talk about them if possible, and if the subject is of interest to the group.

Happy blogging!