Mauritius Message Board: The Writer of Om Jai Jagdish Hare

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The Writer of Om Jai Jagdish Hare

Posted by Satya Nand Sharma(Fiji) on 2/10/2009, 5:03 pm
210.7.2.175

This very common, most popular and soothingly melodious song was written by a powerful literary figure of the 19th century, Pandit Shradha Ram Sharma Phillauri(1836 - 1881) who was born and lived in Phillaur, Julandhar, Panjab.

Biography
He was born to a Brahmin family. A social reformer and called “the father of modern Punjabi prose” he was well versed in Gurmukhi, Hindi, Sanskrit and Persian languages. He also studied astrology, took keen interest in music and later became a Sanatani priest.
The Britishers had temporarily exiled him from his home town mistakenly suspecting him of conducting propaganda against the British rule.

Family
His father’s name was Jai Dayalu who was a priest and an astrologer. He was married to a Sikh woman Mehtab Kaur. They lost a son when he was only 30. Their great grandson lived up to the age of 92 and taught at D.A.V. College, Jalandhar. Their great great grandson Shri Sewak Ram Joshi lives in Canada.

Works
One of his books, Bhagyawati is considered as the first novel in Hindi. The novel advocated widow marriage, condemned child marriage, and affirmed the equality of male and female children.
The other famous book he wrote was “Sikhan De Raj Di Vithia” (the Story of Sikh Rule) It gave an account of Sikh religion and the rule of Maharaja Ranjit Singh (1780 – 1839). In it he wrote about Punjabi culture and language, customs and folk songs. It was prescribed as a text book
He also wrote Punjabi Batcheet to help Britishers communicate in local dialects.

Om Jai Jagdish Hare composed by him in 1870 is sung as aarti song not only in India but across the world by Hindu followers. He may have been inspired by Dashavatara a chapter from Gita Govinda of Jayadev of 12th century.

Om Jai Lakshmi Mata, Om Jai Shiva Omkara and Om Jai Shiva Shakti Hare are other variants of the same song based on the same tune and structure.
“Oh Lord of the Whole Universe” is the English translation by Dr D.K.Bhanot who has also compiled Malay-English Dictionary.
The song has been used in Bollywood films like “Anand Math”,” Purab Aur Paschim” and “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai” The film Om Jai Jagdish has been inspired by this universal prayer.

While on his death- bed he said, “There are two writers of Bhasha in the whole of India. Now only one shall remain”. His reference was to Bhartendu Harishchandra (1850 – 1885) who is known as “the Father of Modern Hindi Literature”. Renowned critic Ram Chander Shukla (1882 – 1942) writes about Pandit Shardha Ram “His language was forceful and his speech hypnotic. He was a true lover and an effective writer of his times.”

Pandit Shradha Ram “Phillauri” was one of the founders of a Hindu school in Ludhiana and the Gyan Mandir in Lahore.
On 3oth September Pundit Shardha Ram Phillauri Memorial Society celebrated his 170th birthday in Ludhiana.
He was far ahead of his time.
Compiled by
Satya Nand Sharma (Fiji)
Email : sataynandsharma@yahoo.com