Tristate fans hold prayer meeting for Gujarati singer and composer Purushottam Upadhyay

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Tristate area music lovers paid tribute to famous Gujarati singer and composer Purushottam Upadhyay Sunday, December 22, 2024 at the Royal Albert’s Palace in New Jersey.

Organized jointly by the Gujarati Literary Academy of North America and Indo-American Cultural Society of USA, the prayer meeting drew huge crowds who had been fans of Upadhyay.

Several friends and admirers paid verbal tribute, while singers Sarojben Gundani and Foram Shah, along with Tabla player Dipak Gundani, paid musical tributes to Upadhyay by singing a few of his famous songs.

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Special guests, leaders and admirers all remembered Upadhyay’s visits to the US, his remarkable talent and his dedication to Gujarati poetry and music.

Community leader Pradip Peter Kothari said he was not very knowledgeable about music but had had the privilege to listen to Upadhyay who was loved so much as to draw so many admirers to the meeting even in extreme cold conditions.

The event was interspersed with famous songs of Upadhyay, with Foram Shah singing ‘Mari koi dalkhi ma pandada nathi, mane pankhar nib eek na batawo’. ‘Kahu chhu jawani ne pachhi wali jaa’ and other songs of Upadhyay were also sung. Playing of videos of his music programs was also part of the tribute.

Speaking in Gujarati, FIA’s Srujal Parikh said that Gujarati music had lost a Surbhed in Upadhyay. Parikh said he heard Upadhyay and Hansa Dave for the first time 40 years ago at a program in the courtyard of Vadodara’s music college and had then noted the king-like richness of Upadhyay’s music. Upadhyay’s ‘pankhida ne aa pinjaru junu junu lage’ has left a  lasting impression on his mind, Parikh said.

Bharat Rana of FISANA spoke about Padma Shri recipient Upadhyay’s tireless contribution to Gujarati Music.

Paying his tribute, Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh, Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media and ITV Gold, said the meeting was to celebrate, remember and salute the music legend of a singer and composer that Upadhyay was. Parikh described Upadhyay as a modern-day reviver of Gujarati heritage. Upadhyay was trained in Classical Hindustani music, and could have become very famous like Lata Mangeshkar and other singers. But Upadhyay chose to revive Gujarati music and for that we will always be thankful to him for the great service he has done to Gujarati heritage, Parikh said.

Other community members familiar with Upadhyay’s contributions spoke at the event including Ram Gadhavi and Ashish Desai.

Upadhyay was not just her guru but also an older brother, said singer Sarojben Gundani who sang Upadhyay’s ‘mara swapna nagar ni sheri ma’.

Upadhyay was not known only for the quality of his voice which captivated and amplified many, but also for his kindness, humility and wisdom which he carried through his life, said Dr. Vithal Dhadook. He said Upadhyay’s songs filled with devotion and emotions carry the essence of his deep understanding of life’s sorrows and joys and the struggles of his music journey. Upadhyay shared his soul through his music and in doing so created a great bond, Dhadook said. Beyond being artistic, Upadhyay was a man of great character. His generosity, compassion and integrity inspired everyone around him, said Dhadook, adding Upadhyay’s  unwavering dedication to truth and his ability to bring people together through the universal language of music will remain with us for ever.

Ajay Patil, Edison Council member said the prayer meeting organized soon after Padmashri recipient Upadhyay’s passing was a testimony to the legacy and respect for him. Patil said Upadhyay was one of those who invest their entire life for one cause, dedicating his life to Gujarati language and music. Stating that Upadhyay’s music will stay for generations to come, Patil urged the audience to celebrate Upadhyay’s legacy.

Saying that he was touched by the musical tribute to Upadhyay, Iselin Council member Viru Patel thanked the organizers for promoting Gujarati music in the tristate area. Patel said Upadhyay was a legend and a part of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. “After Avinash Vyas, if there is any name in (Gujarati) music, it is that of Purushottam Upadhyay,” Patel said.

The Gujarati Literary Academy, with Ram Gadhavi as its President was formed to promote Gujarati literature, with literary, educational and cultural purpose.

The academy initiates, encourages, and sponsors research and translation of Gujarati literature, and aids in the publication of such research and creative writing in Gujarati language.

The Indo American Cultural Society aims to increase awareness of the impact the Indian sub-population in America.

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