Artist's Delight

Artist Navin Suchak uses his sketch book to capture delightful moments of his life. On an evening stroll at Ahmedabad's central park, the Law Garden, last Sunday, he chanced upon the group of harmonica players which has made it a practice to play in public gardens in an effort to revive this handy musical instrument. Navin Suchak was particularly fascinated by Dr. Naresh Khandwala and Professor Piyush Pandya playing harmonica before an enthusiastic crowd of onlookers. Here is how the artist captured the spirit:

Aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche : Birth Day Boy, Devansh

Harmonica club was once again invited for a charity show in the Tagore Hall by 'Happening'. The programme started with a surprise, a song on mouth organ.It was a tribute to late Rafi Saab, Paresh Bhatia and Devansh played 'aaj kal tere mere pyar ke charche har jabaan par'. 31st August is Devansh's Birthday and all of us wish him Many Happy Returns of the Day. Devansh's parents have given him Lary Adler professional 16 as a gift. I would like to introduce Paresh Bhatia to all of you by mentioning that he can write the notations in the exact scale while the song is being played even for the first time. His sense of musical notations is just amazing. With his help,very shortly we are going to publish notations of different hindi songs on this blog, for which we will require your demands. So pl start giving your demands. Let us see who is the first to ask.

Vardhaman Jain: On Right Track

Vardhaman Jain, an engineer working for the Indian Railways, is a highly talented harmonica player, who has kept himself away from limelight. However, we tracked him down through the ubiquitious medium of the Internet. Here, he has described his tryst with this cute and sweet little instrument:

"I have always been an avid music lover since my childhood.During my engineering graduation at MNIT Jaipur(1979-84) I used to play violin . 0ne bright day , sitting in my hostel I heard a beautiful tune on mouthorgan . I immediately stood up and followed the tune. It was none other than my friend Pradeep Verma ( currently working in Maruti Udyog Ltd.Gurgaon )

I was so fascinated by this tiny instrument producing so sweet & melodious sound that I couldn't resist from buying one for myself.

My first harmonica was' Tower' made in China. On the very first day I tried to play "Hai apna dil to aawara....." & I succeeded.I was highly motivated.During those days I used to listen mouthorgan tunes of Late Shri Milon Gupta on radio & try to copy them.

Inspite of my keen love for the instrument , somehow it got discontinued because of my busy working life in Railway. . After my posting in Vadodara I had an opportunity to perform in Railway Officers Club, which has once again given life to my old hobby.

With deepest gratitude I wish to thank every person who has come into my life & inspired me to continue the journey towards my passion.I don't have any formal training in music.I believe in listening music....then.. just go by my ears....& try to copy the tune.

I sincerely listen to each and every mouthorganist and try to learn something out of their playing. This is the only way to learn & improve for me.

With this intention only I've joined esnips and I hope to share and learn from anybody who is passionate for the instrument. I would like to thank all e-snipers who help me in this task.....who motivate me through their comments....guide me through their valuable suggestions....

I'll keep on uploading my home recordings on this website. Please take out some time to listen & give me your honest opinion to correct my flaws.

1. Mere Mehboob Kayamat Hogi

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2. Main Shayar To Nahi

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3.Mere Naina Sawan Bhado

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4.Yeh Raat Yeh Chandni

ye raat ye chandni...

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5.Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni

aaja sanam madhur ...

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An Appeal to Harmonica Lovers

The response to this blog has been overwhelming ever since it was launched three months ago. The blog has been attracting visitors from across the globe - North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. It has visitors even from the tiny island Hawaii.

While this is very encouraging, there is no way we can contact the visitors and develop with them a strong bonding. We would like to interact with all the visitors and share our experience, thrill and joy with them. This is possible only if the visitors not just leave their footprints but send in their comments as well.

We would love to showcase all the harmonica players on the blog by posting their profile, photos, videos and audios. We appeal to all harmonica players who visit the blog to send in their brief introduction, photos and recordings of their numbers in audio and video formats.

Sabnavees Spells Magic through Suzuki

We had introduced Ramakrishna Sabnavees on this blog sometime ago. An engineer by profession, Sabnavees had picked up mouth organ in his childhood. He is the founder of the Harmonica Club of Hyderabad. May his tribe grow. Here are some of his numbers:

AJEEB DAASTAN HAI YEH




ZARA HAULE HAULE CHALO



SRILANKAN MELODY

THIS IS A SRILANKAN MELODY WHICH I HEARD FROM MY SRILANKAN FRIEND WHEN I WAS WORKING IN MUSCAT



DIL DEKE DEKHO


JANE MANN JANE MANN



DIL TADAP TADAP KE



TUMSA NAHIN DEKHA



YEH RAAT PHIR NA AAYEGI

Jaane Kahan Gaye Voh Din

I have been feeling very depressed past one week for not being able to play mouth organ because of some health problem. My doctor has advised me to go easy till I recover fully.

Ever since I had this problem, friends from all over Gujarat have been calling me up to inquire about my health. Those in Ahmedabad had come to the hospital and at home to meet me. Today, I was blessed by the visit of Apoorva Bhatt and Dilipsinh Chavan who drove down from Baroda on a motor cycle just to meet me.

I grabbed the opportunity to make them play for me while I captured it on video. So, here is a special gift to me from Apoorvabhai and Chavan Saab:

When Ahmedabad Players Rocked

The Harmonica Club of Gujarat was invited by the Lions Club of Karnavati to render two group songs. Lion Kumarpalbhai Shah, who is also a founder member of the Harmonica Club wanted to introduce our team members to the elite audience. The programme was specially organized for the inmates of oldage homes. More than 100 parents deserted by their children attended the programme. The Harmonica Club members played Yaad kiya dil ne kaha ho tum and Hai apna dil to aawara. The auditorium rocked with humming from the audience.
The players from left to right: Tapan Bhatt, Chaitanya Desai, Yogesh Bhatt, Alex Lobo, Ashwin Wasunjakar, Sandeep Patankar,Dr. Khandwala, Kumarpal shah, Piyush Pandya, Manohar Vaidya, Bansi Gujjar, Rohini Jhala, Devansh Shah, Manhar Majithia.

Jare Udaja re Panchhi : Apoorva Bhatt

Apoorva Bhatt played this song in Kamati Baug, Vadodara.
He prefers to play 12 hole chromatic harmonica in scale C.
I remember my first meeting with Apoorva Bhatt, I had just started learning to play harmonica from Paresh Bhatia. One evening he told me that a harmonica group was invited in Ahmedabad and i must attend the show as he was to fly to Dubai.
I reached the venue one hour earlier with my collection of harmonicas.
I was introduced to all the players by Amjadbhai and then suddenly Apoorva Bhatt came to me looking at the collection softly asked ' very nice , now let us hear you play ', and i took out one tiny Marine Band Delux and started playing ' maine tere liye hi saat rang ke ' which i had recently learnt. The moment i finished the first stanza he stopped me and started playing the interlude music. That time I noticed two things, one he was playing some different instrument than mine and secondly his style of play.
I asked him to show his harmonica and that was 12 hole super chromonica 270.
I took the complete video of the programme as i was asked to sit in the first raw, and after the programme got over i went to him to get some tips. He gave me his visiting card and said ' come to Baroda for the whole day ' that's all....
Then after a couple of days he called me and asked if i could share the video of that programme with him, and also gave me a hint that Holi was after two days. And i was in Baroda on Holi.
we spent the whole day together with Amjadbhai, Rupesh and one little girl who plays Tadap Tadap song. I was trained to play Chords, Octave, Whamping etc. That day I had my first Chromatic harmonicas. I was given super chromonica 270 and 280.
I had mentioned this incidence in the yahoo group, thanking all the Baroda players.
Today not a single day goes without talking.
Only fortunate people get a friend like Apoorva Bhatt.

Jaane Kaisa Hai Mera Diwana

I am learning single notes playing from Manohar Vaidya, the maestro who plays any tune with perfection and minutest details on the harmonica. Till I heard him play, I was under the illusion that I could play good harmonica. But, I was hiding behind chords and vamping to shield my flaws. Once I started playing in single notes, I realized how difficult it is to take out any tune with perfection. One needs to not just completely internalize the tune but reproduce it on the harmonica. Here I have ventured to play a number from the film Aansu Ban Gaye Phool. Please comment on it so that I can improve. You need to click on the the first line of the song under the small icon given below to be able to listen to it.

jaane kaisa hai me...

Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai : Apoorva Bhatt

People in Vadodara say That,Textile engineer Apoorva Bhatt got his first harmonica in the cradle !!!
Inspired by his father who used to play flute then, started playing harmonica at a very tender age, has trained more than a dozen professional players.
He played Gaadi Bula Rahi Hai in Ahmedabad, normally Rupesh whistels on harmonica for him but due to certain unavoidable circumstances he could not join the group and Amjadbhai performed without any practice.
This video gives the proper introduction of Apoorva Bhatt's calibre.

Chandrashekhar Khare: Lost Gem Found

Yesterday was a day of pleasant surprises, thanks to the google chat link on our Blog. I got to chat with a couple of harmonica lovers. One was Chandrashekhar Khare. I had heard so much about him from Apoorva Bhatt and Tapan Bhatt. We had a brief exchange over the chat window and, then suddenly the Internet connection was lost, before I could ask for his contact details. However, I was filled with joy on receiving an email from him today. I was overwhelmed. I called him up to seek his permission to put up his email on the blog. He was kind to have allowed me. Here it is:

Dear Nachiketa ji,

It was a pleasure talking to you on chat yesterday. I was thrilled to no extents.

I am actually preparing a few song recordings on my harmonica with the help of my mobile phone. However,due to lack of practice of years, I am unable to get the kind of finish that I expect from myself. So it sounds very amateurish.Hence I am taking some more time to send my recordings. Request you to bear with me. Please do not think that I am acting pricey or something ( just in case you felt this way). I am a learner of this fine art which is a gift of Maa Saraswati to all of us.

I feel really happy the way Blogspot page for the Harmonica Club of Gujarat is shaping up. It is only and only because of your rich experience in Journalism that it has the fine look that we see. The presentation of blog page is really nice and the language is great. It is like going through articles from any good national level newspaper. With a person like you around, it has to be that way !! Hats off to you !!

I was introduced to Apurva Bhai sometime in 1994-95 during my stay at Baroda. In fact I used to go to meet Late Shri Sarag Fadnis, himself a great harmonica player, where I first got to meet Apurva Bhai. Till then I used to play a chinese Chromatic instrument called "Lark".Then I got my first Super Chromonica through Shri Fadnis. I still play the same along with my 64X chromonica which I purchased much later in year 2000/2001. It was only this year that I came to know about the sad demise of Shri Fadnis that happened a few years back. I remember that Shri Fadnis had got a few recordings done in a professional studio in Baroda. In case those are still available with his family, I suggest they can also be put in the blog as a tribute.Apurva Bhai may be able help in this regards as they both stayed in the same area in Baroda.

Apurva Bhai, as you know is a brilliant artiste. I became an instant fan upon meeting him. More importantly, he broke one myth that I believed in. I used to think that Gujaratis can not be good musicians. For them only money is music. But he shattered that myth and I now believe that Gujaratis can do whatever they set their eyes on !!!!

Mr Prabhakar Bhatt Bhatt was in same company ( DDE-ORG Systems) in Baroda where I used to work earlier. For an year or so we didn't know each other. But through a common colleague, we got introduced to each other and our mutual interest in harmonica. He was the one who first took me to Shri Sarang Fadnis. And after that for the entire stay of mine in Baroda, I was in regular touch with Apurva Bhai, Sarang ji and Prabhakar ji. In October 1995, I left Baroda for a new job in Ahmedabad. Those were not the days of e-mail and mobile. So after some days, I lost touch with all of them and actually with my instrument also. Apurva bhai and I had a brief communication on letters for about an year. But then everything was lost for a long gap of about 12-13 years.

This year beginning ( perhaps) feb/March, I happened become member of a google group of my Baroda company where I saw the profile of Shri Prabhakar Bhatt Bhatt. I immediately sent him an e-mail. That is where everything started again. I got the number of Apurva Bhai from him. And Apurva Bhai,being the large hearted man that he is, immediately introduced me to countless other harmonica players almost within a week's time and still going on .... But again, destiny took a different turn and I landed in Bangalore on transfer in my present company i.e. Wipro. Only this time, I want to ensure that I never again lose touch with the wonderful people I have met !!

I was trying hard to meet Mr Tapan Bhatt before leaving Ahmedabad. But somehow it did not happen.I will not miss second chance whenever I get it !! I used to in Jodhpur Gam area since 1999 and used to go to Vastrapur from the same road where he stays. What a pity I got introduced to him so late !!

I think I will be testing your patience of reading in case I go on writing the mail beyond this point. So I will give it a break here itself and preserve something for my next mail !!

Warm regards

Chandrashekhar Khare

Project Manager - SI

HP: +91 9741498019

Magician Who Plays Mouth Organ: Ashok Bhandari

Internet has made the world very small, where you can bump into strangers as well as long lost friend. Ashok Bhandari, my classmate at Banaras Hindu University, found me one day through Orkut and scrapped me. My joy knew no bounds. We were getting in touch after more than 30 years. During these years, Ashok had become a professional magician.

(Left: P C Sorcar Right: Ashok Bhandari)

Ashok Bhandari is a recognized name in the world of magic. He feels that magic is a healthy means of entertainment so he uses a mix of magic, music and theater to make it more interesting. He wants to expose the abuse of magic so in all his shows he has a section showing how easy it is to cheat people by using magic. He likes to educate people through his shows and demonstrates how easy it is to use magic to fool people so that they cant be the victims of all the taantriks and godmans. He likes to perform for children the most to catch them and teach them very young.

Ashok bhandari is a magician of over 40 years of experience, performing over a thousand shows in India and Abroad He started performing magic at a very young age of 5 years. He has performed in almost every country in Europe including Japan, and Russia .

He has been awarded many times around the world. At the very young age of 5 he was awarded by Pt. Jawahar lal Nehru ( the prime minister of India) in the year 1962. Then at the age of 12 he was awarded by Smt Indira Gandhi in the year 1969. he was awarded by the President of India Mr B.D.Jatti at the Rashtrapati Bhawan New Delhi. He was awarded “The WONDERKING “ by the people of japan when he performed at the Japanese Hawaiian center for three continuous months non-stop.

Now he is concentrating on children and performing shows in schools also in different parts of India to promote how to be aware of the magic abuse amongst children. He is also working on a design of a small workshop to teach magic using small house hold and easy to use chemicals

The reason why I am featuring him on this blog is not just because he is my childhood friend, but because he is an excellent harmonica player. He plays harmonica during his magic shows. Here are a few clips of the numbers he has played.


1. Yaad Kiya Dil Ne Kaha Ho Tum

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2. Mere Dil E Nadan

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3. Arabian Music

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Our Heartfelt Condolence

Harmonica Club of Gujarat expresses deep sorrow over the sad demise of Mr. Amanulla Khan, father of our member Amjad khan ( Babubhai ).
He was 68 years old and is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.
May the Almighty give strength to the family to withstand the bereavement.
May his soul rest in peace.

Dosti Dash ke Saath : Dash

Dash does not require any introduction. His harmonica speaks on his behalf.
Heading from orissa is now settled in vadodara owns a studio, plays harmonica since childhood.
He is very good in playing chords and octaves.
All of you will love his style of playing harmonics.. very smooth....
When he was serving in Indian Army, he found his harmonica as the best companion.
pl watch his video.

Mouth organ/ Harmonicas for sale : Amjadbhai Pathan

Dear Harmonica lovers,
I have 100 pcs of Tower brand Chromatic Harmonicas for sale. Basic price is Rs 140 + freight.
Pl contact on 09327235096.
Amjad pathan
( Babubhai, Vadodara )

Some of my videos

Yeh Dil Na Hota Bechara



Tumhe Yaad Hoga Kabhi Hum Mile The


O Neend Na Mujhko Aaye


Tum Mile Raah Mein


Phoolon Ke Rang Se

jab we met we were school going kids : Kiranbhai and Dr. Khandwala

They were school going kids when they met for the first time. Kiranbhai went to US and today he is in the computer business. Dr. Nareshbhai Khandwala became an orthopaedic surgeon. Totally different fields for both of them but one thing is still alive with them since their childhood and that is Passion for Harmonica.
Harmonica club of Gujarat is proud to have both of them as senior members.
All the members of harmonica club of Gujarat thank Dr. Khandwala for his sincere efforts in managing the entire show in the Cancer Hospital.
We dedicate the Friendship day to both of them.
Long live their friendship !! Cheers !!!!
Kiranbhai plays a song from Jab we met



Dr. Naresh Khandwala
aaye din bahar ke

Friendship Day

I used to scoff at the plethora of 'days' that have mushroomed recently. However, today I realized the importance of celebrating such days after I received a 'Friendship Day' greetings from Tapan Bhatt, a man I did not know four months ago but who is today among my closest friends. Not a day goes without talking to him.

When I think of it, I have similar feelings for all the members of the Harmonica Club of Gujarat. All of us have become so close in the last couple of months. This is a rare phenomenon in a fast-paced life like ours where individuals are becoming more and more self-centric.

Passion for music is what bonds all of us. There is no other common factor that binds so many people with diverse background.

Happy friendship day to all harmonica players.

"Yeh Dosti Hum Nahi Todenge".

Ye mera prem patra padh kar : Piyushbhai Dave

We were discussing with Apoorvabhai about the players, who were to perform in the Cancer Hospital. And he suggested that in Vadodara they had a player who could play any song if he heard it only once. Immediately all of us asked to request him to come and perform in Ahmedabad.
Piyushbhai Dave a music teacher in one of the reputed schools proved Apoorvabhai's claim 100% right with his talent.
He became a member of the Harmonica Club of Gujarat there and then only.
Probably he thought what is happening is right and quite transperrent...
Piyushbhai, we promise that every member of our club will feel proud no matter where he or she is from... We are proud to have you with us.