By Firoz Bakht Ahmed
The capital has lost a worthy son in Padma Shri Yogeshwar Dayal, not only the lifeline of Delhi's cultural and literary fabric but also a leading votary of inter-faith concord. He died Sep 7 at age 93. He had been ill since the death of his wife last year.
In 1961, Dayal revived "Phool Walon ki Sair", which had been stopped by the British in 1940 because it attracted masses from far and wide and was proving to be a potential unifying platform for Hindus and Muslims. It is an interfaith cultural festival drawing people from all sections and faiths.
It begins on the first day in the form of a procession with a huge and decorated 'pankha' (fan) from Mehrauli's Dargah Hazrat Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki near Qutub Minar where the 'chadar' is also laid as a mark of reverence. On the second day, the procession reaches Yogmaya Mandir, also near Mehrauli. Dayal was a member of the Anjuman-e-Sair-e-Gulfaroshan, an association of flower lovers and sellers.
Dayal said about Phool Walon Ki Sair: "The procession would advance towards the main Mehrauli road. Lanterns, wall lights and 'handas' (gas lights) transformed the night into day. On one lantern would be the emblem of 'hilal' (crescent) peeping through the coloured glass and on the other a 'ropahli' chakra (Hindu religious sign), escorted by Kotwal Sharful Haq (the city police chief) on horseback and behind him a contingent of marching sepoys."
It was Dayal who revived classical dance and music in Delhi first by organising an all India music conference in 1936. In 1937, he formed the Hindustani School of Music and Dancing, later to be known as Sangeet Bharati. After that he started the Kala Vihar and Lok Kala Manch.
In 1942, Dayal organised a major music and dance festival at Jubilee Cinema near Fountain in Chandni Chowk.
Similar other big festivals were held in 1944 at Firoz Shah Kotla, in 1946 at Qutub Minar and in 1951 at the Diwan-e-Khas at Red Fort. The Red Fort festival was an all India one, inaugurated by then president Rajendra Prasad and presided over by then prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
In 1956, the Indian government requested Dayal to organise the 2,500th Buddha anniversary festival. After this he put together the Tagore Centenary Exhibition. It was he who literally introduced the kathak dance to Delhiites in the late 1930s.
To hold Holi-Eid Milans was his religion that continued till his death.
Owing to his versatility, many institutions wanted him in their managing committees. He accepted only a few, saying he accept the post only if he was able to devote quality time. He was a member of the board of governors of the Cambridge School Society and of the managing committee of GargiCollege.
A lover of art and a good artist himself, Dayal was also secretary of the Sarada Ukil School of Art. He was associated with the Shri Dharmik Lila Committee that organises one of the biggest Ram Lila shows in India in Old Delhi.
Born in 1913 at Haveli Jugal Kishore at Chandni Chowk, Dayal was from an affluent, cultured and educated family. Having completed schooling from Kashmere Gate, he graduated from Hindu College. He studied law in Delhi University.
Dayal was also secretary of both the Literary Society as well as the Historical Society of Delhi University.
In 1931, he invited Mahatama Gandhi to Hindu College while he headed the Literary Society.
In the early 1960s, he practised as an honorary magistrate in Delhi.
Dayal was a connoisseur of history and organised many lectures inviting luminaries like Rajendra Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Maulana Azad and others.
Dayal was awarded Padma Shri for his services in 1969.
Surviving Dayal are Usha Kumar, a senior advocate in Delhi High Court, and sons Satish Dayal, a businessman, and Suresh Chand, a retired colonel.
__________________________________________________________________________
(Firoz Bakht Ahmed is a commentator on social, educational and cultural issues. He can be reached on firozbakht@rediffmail.com)