Among Kathputli Colony oustees, a Sufi star, an artist

Bhagwan Das said he has performed in front of Jawaharlal Nehru. Amit Mehra

Post midnight, 60-year-old Bhagwan Das lay wide awake on a makeshift cot outside a house in New Patel Nagar. Since the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished his house in Kathputli Colony on October 30, Das has not been able to finish a single meal. “I am not angry… I am hurt,” he said as his eyes welled up.

Within minutes though, his face lit up as he spoke of the past – about the time when he used to travel the world as a Sufi singer, performing with maestros, and had India’s Prime Ministers in the audience.

“I’ve sung in front of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi…I was in the US for two-and-a-half months in 1985, performing all across the country. I met Ghulam Ali, Lata Mangeshkar, Zakir Hussain…those were the days we received immense respect,” he said, as a number of men from the colony huddled together to listen to stories of his glorious past attentively.

One of them, 38-year-old dhol player Pappu Bhat, said, “The next two generations in the colony learnt everything about music from him.”

Elaborating on his travels from France to Belgium, Holland, Dubai, Iran and Oman in the late 80s and early 90s, Das said, “At that time, I never imagined that a day like this would ever come… that I would be sleeping on the streets. The governments of this country have given me awards… why can’t they give us some respect too?”

Meanwhile, on the road next to the Shadipur flyover, 55-year-old Kamla Bhat’s robust, deep voice was in dire need of warm water. “I have sung songs in Rajasthani films, at All India Radio, in Pragati Maidan, and in hotels such as Ashok and The Oberoi…but in the last few days, I have cried so much, I’ve lost my voice,” said Kamla, who has five children and five grandchildren — all being trained to sing by her.

Late at night, a group of boys walked around with dhols strapped to their shoulders — it’s wedding season in the city, after all. “We haven’t worked in five days, today business was not great, new dhol players were called in because we have been unavailable. This is our season, we look forward to it all year…but because we’re homeless now, we haven’t been able to look for work,” said 19-year-old Krishan.

In another corner of the footpath sat 50-year-old Baili, with four broken sewing machines, and a plastic box full of mehendi cones. She too has been out of work for a few days now — despite bookings.

“I make Rajasthani outfits for dancers and put mehendi at weddings. But this season has been the worst so far because we are on the streets. Should I look after the children and the elders and fight for my house or work? It’s a tough choice,” she said.