Jaipur/Alwar: Renowned Bhapang artist, Gafruddin Mewati Jogi, celebrated for his soulful renditions of ‘Pandun Ka Kada’—a 16th-century Mewati-style Mahabharat—will be among three persons from Rajasthan on whom the Padma Shri will be conferred.While Jogi and Jaisalmer’s Taga Ram Bheel, the famous Algoza player, have won the accolade for their contribution to the arts, Swami Brahmdev Ji Maharaj has been awarded the Padma in the field of social work.
Hailing from the Mewati Jogi community, Mewati was born in Kaithwada village of Deeg district into a family known for preserving oral epics. “Our tradition is to live the Mahabharata through music and singing,” he often said, describing Pandun Ka Kada as a living folk narrative that he presented in 68 countries.Blending Mahabharat, Ramayan, Krishna bhajans, dohas and royal genealogies in Mewati and Braj dialects, Mewati’s performances embody cultural harmony. “Through my songs, I try to show that Hindu and Muslim traditions are woven together in our folk culture,” he said.A resident of Tiger Colony, Mungaska in Alwar, Mewati is regarded as the sole surviving singer of Pandun Ka Kada. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2024 and is known to have memorised more than 2,500 couplets of the epic. Scholars note that Pandun Ka Kada draws inspiration from the Gorakhnath tradition associated with Gorakhpur.Reacting to the honour, Mewati said, “This award belongs to folk traditions and the Jogi community. My art reflects Ganga–Jamuni tehzeeb, and I hope more people will now embrace folk music as a career. I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this recognition.” Recalling his struggles, he added, “There was a time when I supported my family by seeking food door to door. Later, I was given a govt job in the irrigation department because of my music, but I left it—I could not let this art die.“
