Babul (Hindi: बाबुल, Pronounced: ''bəˈbo͞ol'') is an old
Hindi
Hindi ( Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been ...
term for father indicating a daughter's affection. The term is now mainly used in
Bollywood songs
Hindi film songs, more formally known as Hindi Geet or filmi songs and informally known as Bollywood music, are songs featured in Hindi films. Derived from the song-and-dance routines common in Indian films, Bollywood songs, along with dance ...
in the context of a newly married daughter leaving her father's home.
In
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, the conclusion of a daughter's marriage, marked by the bidaai (farewell) ceremony, is a profoundly sad occasion, because after this she leaves her father's house and permanently relocates to her husband's family. The moment thus marks the end of her past life and the beginning of a new one. The expression of this sentiment varies, but is usually in the formed of hushed sobs, while maintaining sober calmness and composure. This sentiment is often reflected in
Bollywood
Hindi cinema, popularly known as Bollywood and formerly as Bombay cinema, refers to the film industry based in Mumbai, engaged in production of motion pictures in Hindi language. The popular term Bollywood, is a portmanteau of "Bombay" (fo ...
and regional films.
Famous examples
Wajid Ali Shah
Mirza Wajid Ali Shah ( ur, ) (30 July 1822 – 1 September 1887) was the eleventh and last King of Awadh, holding the position for 9 years, from 13 February 1847 to 11 February 1856.
Wajid Ali Shah's first wife was Alam Ara who was better k ...
(1822–1887), the last
nawab
Nawab ( Balochi: نواب; ar, نواب;
bn, নবাব/নওয়াব;
hi, नवाब;
Punjabi : ਨਵਾਬ;
Persian,
Punjabi ,
Sindhi,
Urdu: ), also spelled Nawaab, Navaab, Navab, Nowab, Nabob, Nawaabshah, Nawabshah or Nobab, ...
of
Awadh
Awadh (), known in British historical texts as Avadh or Oudh, is a region in the modern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which was before independence known as the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh. It is synonymous with the Kośāla region of ...
, wrote a popular
bhairavi
Bhairavi ( sa, भैरवी) is a Hindu goddess, described as one of the Mahāvidyas, the ten avatars of the mother goddess. She is the consort of Bhairava.
Etymology
The name ''Bhairavi'' means "terror" or "awe-inspiring". She is th ...
thumri
Thumri () is a vocal genre or style of Indian music. The term "thumri" is derived from the Hindi verb ''thumuknaa'', which means "to walk with a dancing gait in such a way that the ankle-bells tinkle." The form is, thus, connected with dance, dr ...
"
Babul Mora Naihar Chhooto Jaye", where he likens bidai to death, and his own banishment for his beloved Lucknow
video searchfor
Saigal's 1938 rendition):
बाबुल मोरा, नैहर छूटो ही जाए
चार कहार मिल, मोरी डोलिया उठायें ...
मोरा अपना बेगाना छूटो जाए , ...
आँगना तो पर्बत भयो और देहरी भयी बिदेश ...
जाए बाबुल घर आपनो मैं चली पीया के देश , बाबुल मोरा ...
Translation:
My father! I'm leaving home.
The four bearers lift my doli (palanquin
The litter is a class of wheelless vehicles, a type of human-powered transport, for the transport of people. Smaller litters may take the form of open chairs or beds carried by two or more carriers, some being enclosed for protection from the el ...
) (here it can also mean the four coffin bearers).
I'm leaving those who were my own.
Your courtyard is now like a mountain, and the threshold, a foreign country.
I leave your house, father, I am going to my beloved.
The expression is found in the Sanskrit texts also. In
Abhijñānaśākuntalam
''Abhijnanashakuntalam'' (Devanagari: अभिज्ञानशाकुन्तलम्, IAST: ''Abhijñānaśākuntalam''), also known as ''Shakuntala'', ''The Recognition of Shakuntala'', ''The Sign of Shakuntala'', and many other variant ...
the sage Kanva, who had adopted
Shakuntala, mourns:
यास्यत्यद्य शकुन्तलेति हृदयं संस्पृष्टमुत्कण्ठया ..
ऐक्लव्यं मम तावदीदृशमिदं स्नेहादरण्यौकसः
पीड्यन्ते गृहिणः कथं नु तनयाविश्लेषदुःखैर्नवैः, , ६, ,
Shakuntala must go to-day, I miss her now at heart ..
What must a father feel, when come
The pangs of parting from his child at home?
Gurbani
This word Babul has been used in Gurbani, the Sikh scripture few times. Babul means father. God has been referred to as Babul in Gurbani.
ਬਾਬੁਲੁ ਮੇਰਾ ਵਡ ਸਮਰਥਾ ਕਰਣ ਕਾਰਣ ਪ੍ਰਭੁ ਹਾਰਾ ॥
My father (Babul, God) is all powerful and capable. He is the doer and cause of everything.
Farewell from father
Many Bollywood movies have songs on the babul theme. There have been several movies that use the term "babul" in the title: ''
Babul (1950 film)
''Babul'' (English: ''Father's House'') is a 1950 Bollywood musical drama film directed by S.U. Sunny, produced and with music direction by Naushad. The film stars Dilip Kumar, Nargis, Munawar Sultana in pivotal roles. A box office success, the ...
'', ''
Baabul (2006 film)
''Baabul'' () is a 2006 Indian Hindi-language drama film, directed by Ravi Chopra. The movie stars Amitabh Bachchan, Hema Malini, Salman Khan, Rani Mukherji and John Abraham. The film celebrates B. R. Chopra's 50 years in cinema, though it wa ...
'', ''
Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na
''Babul Ka Aangann Chootey Na'' is an Indian television series which aired on Sony Entertainment Television India.
Plot
The story is based on the life of a 24-year-old woman, Aastha, who belongs to a middle class family and lives with her fathe ...
'' (it is hard to leave father's courtyard) and ''
Babul Ki Galiyaan'' (father's streets).
A song by punjabi singer
Amrinder Gill from his album
Judaa 2
''Judaa 2'' is a 2014 studio album by Amrinder Gill. The album was composed by Dr Zeus and Bilal Saeed whereas lyrics were penned by Bilal Saeed, Jeet Salala, Bittu Cheema, Happy Raikoti, Alfaaz, Himat Jeet Singh and Charan Likhari. The album i ...
is also titled Babul.
A song by
Sahir Ludhiyanvi
Abdul Hayee (8 March 1921 – 25 October 1980), popularly known by his pen name (takhallus) Sahir Ludhianvi, was an Indian people, Indian poet and Film songs, film song lyricist who wrote primarily in Urdu in addition to Hindi.
His work i ...
from 1968 film ''
Neel Kamal'' is often played in Indian weddings is
"Baabul ki duaaen leti ja, ja tujh ko sukhi sansaar mile"
बाबुल की दुआएं लेती जा, जा तुझ को सुखी संसार मिले
नाज़ों से तुझे पाला मैनें, कलियों की तरह, फूलों की तरह
बचपन में झुलाया है तुझ को, बाँहों ने मेरी झूलों कि तरह
मेरे बाग़ की ऐ नाज़ुक डाली, तुझे हर पल नई बहार मिले ,
Take your father's blessing! May you find a happy world.
I raised you tenderly with love, like a flower,
I used to swing you in my own arms like a swing.
O delicate branch of my garden, may you always find spring.
It is said that the singer
Mohammad Rafi
Mohammed Rafi (24 December 1924 – 31 July 1980) was an Indian playback singer and musician. He is considered to have been one of the greatest and most influential singers of the Indian subcontinent. Rafi was notable for his versatility and ...
sang this song just before his own daughter's marriage.
Shakeel Badayuni wrote this song for the 1957 classic ''
Mother India
''Mother India'' is a 1957 Indian epic drama film, directed by Mehboob Khan and starring Nargis, Sunil Dutt, Rajendra Kumar and Raaj Kumar. A remake of Khan's earlier film '' Aurat'' (1940), it is the story of a poverty-stricken village wom ...
'':
"Pee ke ghar aaj pyaari dulhaniya chali"video search
/ref>
पी के घर आज प्यारी दुल्हनिया चली
रोएं माता पिता उनकी दुनिया चली
मेरी क़िस्मत में जाता था परदेस रे
छोड़ कर अपने बाबुल का आँगन चली
The bride leaves today for her beloved's house.
The father and mother cry, their world is going away.
It was my fate to go to a distant land,
I leave, leaving behind my father's courtyard.
Returning to father's home in Savan
In the month of Savan (
Shravana
Shravana is the 22nd '' nakshatra'' (Devanagari नक्षत्र) or ''lunar mansion'' as used in Hindu astronomy, Hindu calendar and Hindu astrology. It belongs to the constellation Makara (Devanagari: मकर), a legendary sea creature ...
), the bride is supposed to return to her father home, now as an outsider. A song by
Shailendra (movie
Bandini) expresses this
video search:
अब के बरस भेज भैयाको बाबुल
सावन में लीजो बुलाय रे
लौटेंगी जब मेरे बचपन की सखियाँ
दीजो संदेशा भिजाय रे
This year, father, send my brother,
to come and get me during Savan,
when my childhood friends will also return,
do send a message asking me to come.
This song forms the title of a 2002 film
Ab Ke Baras.
See also
*
Wajid Ali Shah
Mirza Wajid Ali Shah ( ur, ) (30 July 1822 – 1 September 1887) was the eleventh and last King of Awadh, holding the position for 9 years, from 13 February 1847 to 11 February 1856.
Wajid Ali Shah's first wife was Alam Ara who was better k ...
*
Indian wedding
Weddings in India vary according to the region, the religion, the community and the personal preferences of the bride and groom. They are festive occasions in India, and in most cases celebrated with extensive decorations, colour, dresses, music, d ...
*
Bollywood songs
Hindi film songs, more formally known as Hindi Geet or filmi songs and informally known as Bollywood music, are songs featured in Hindi films. Derived from the song-and-dance routines common in Indian films, Bollywood songs, along with dance ...
*
Hindi wedding songs
Hindi wedding songs are a major genre of Bollywood songs. They often form the backdrop of some very memorable emotional or joyful scenes in Hindi movies. They are often played during Indian, and other South Asian weddings.
Traditional wedding mus ...
*
Hindi dance songs
References
{{Reflist
Hindi words and phrases
Marriage in Hinduism
Wedding songs
Hindi cinema
Filmi