OBITUARY: SYED SAADULLA
BY SHANTANU THAKUR
What do you write about a childhood hero who’s now no more? That he had magic in his fingers when he picked up the guitar? That the guitar was meant for him by destiny? That he could carry it like a baby in his hands and belt out chart-buster hits of famous rock bands from across the oceans to a landlocked regional audience and yet get their pulse? That how wonderful it was that such genius was just a natural gift, not groomed by any formal education in music when he first bloomed?
But Syed Saadulla wasn’t just a master guitarist; he was a complete musician, all petals unfolding gradually over time as he matured as a musician and a caring, gentle person. As an Executive in the All India Radio, he later on became not only an Announcer but also an AIR approved music composer. His velvety, rich baritone and his unique way of presentation made one regular programme, “Varnali”, synonymous with his signature voice. Some of his compositions, like, for example, the song “Ohaar dorei ubhoti atori gola” remains an unforgettable, all-time favourite in Assam. I had once told him that this composition was somewhat Madan-Mohanesque and he affectionately hugged me. This was just one amongst the many other numbers he composed. A voice-artist, a composer, a radio-play actor, a poet and a suave, perfect master-of-ceremonies, Sadullah traversed many spaces with finesse and acumen. Above all, he was a kind-hearted, gentle soul one could relate to immediately on meeting him.
A guitar comes to mind whenever I think of Rajvee da, as we called him fondly. Our aunt's son Tutu was a friend at Dibrugarh. We met when we were young. They had a 'band' back then called the "Quivers". A handsome young man played the electric guitar wearing formal, neat clothes with a smile on his lips. Back in the day we didn't know any other musician who played guitar with that skill. The strum of his guitar resounded in the skies of Dibrugarh. The creations of popular "rock" bands like "Ventures", "Beatles", "Rolling Stones" came to life in the nimble fingers of Rajvee da. Many said that except Shillong, there was, perhaps, no such other skilled guitarist in Assam at that time.
A great, gifted musician and, yet soft, polite, gentle. Even the long guitar seemed small in the hands of Rajvee da. He dominated the full neck of the fretboard from bottom to top. As soon as he took the guitar in his hands, the guitar became a part of his body and soul. He was the driving force of Dibrugarh Akashvani Kendra. In the midst of those hectic times, many of our later generations may not have the luck to listen to his magical sound of his notes on the guitar. Yet, in our minds, Rajvee da's first identity is as an unprecedented guitarist. Even after listening from a distance, one could make out who was playing the guitar. Bhupen Hazarika, too, had praised the magic of his fingers.
Times have changed, but the guitar has endured. Like Saadulla, some young musician in some remote place in the world will any day pick up a guitar and the clear, solid, rounded, bold notes will ring out to remind me once again of his strokes. All flowers fade, but some fragrances linger on for long. Whenever I reminisce, Saadulla will rock. My prayers for his soul.
Shantanu Thakur is a pensioner and a music lover. Nothing more, nothing less.
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