Description

Author’s Note

“Melodies From the Hearts May Please Your Hearts”

In our childhood, my father used to sing folk songs every night. My younger sister and I would listen intently until we slowly drifted off to sleep. These melodies became an inseparable part of our lives — not just songs, but cherished echoes of heritage. Folk music, for me, is more than tradition; it is the rhythm of memory and belonging.

If someone asks, “What is the definition of Gujarati folk songs?”, the simplest answer would be:

“When an anonymous creator captures the emotions of a woman’s heart without pen and paper and sings it with soul-stirring melody — that is our folk song. That is a melody from the heart.”

Gujarat, with its 1600 km long seashore, holds an ocean of folk songs that are just as deep and vast. These songs are not only famous but meaningful. While some assume that Gujarati folk songs are limited to themes of food and shelter, this couldn’t be farther from the truth. These compositions carry timeless messages and profound cultural insights, which is why they are still sung today and even form a part of our education system.

Although Gujarati folk music thrived through oral tradition for centuries, the last hundred years have seen significant efforts in documentation and preservation. Many compilations and academic explanations have enriched its legacy in print form.

One such celebrated work is “Chando Ugyo Chowkma” — a book authored by my father, Shri Nilesh Pandya, a respected singer, researcher, and writer. Published by the Department of Information, Government of Gujarat, this book was awarded the Second Prize in Folk Literature by the Gujarat Sahitya Academy, Gandhinagar. It has since been included in the syllabus of K.J. Somaiya Autonomous College, Mumbai, and Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, and is cited as a reference book at Bhakta Kavi Narsinh Mehta University, Junagadh.

During my M.A. studies, I translated selected songs from “Chando Ugyo Chowkma” into English as part of my dissertation. I have since added more translations to present this work:

“Melodies from the Heart” — a curated collection of 50 Gujarati folk songs along with their English narration.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the Department of Information, Government of Gujarat for publishing “Chando Ugyo Chowkma”. My sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Kamal Mehta Sir, whose insightful words brought life to the preface of this book. I am deeply thankful to Prof. Dr. Jaydeepsinh Dodiya Sir, Prof. Dr. Iros Vaja Sir, Prof. Dr. Neela Pandya Madam, and Prof. Dr. Viral Shukla Sir for their thoughtful forewords and unwavering encouragement.

I am also truly grateful to Dr. Arjun Dave and Vedant Knowledge Systems Pvt. Ltd. for their constant support in making this publication possible.

Lastly, I owe my deepest love and thanks to my family:

– To my father, Nilesh Pandya, whose voice and vision built the foundation of this book,

– To my mother, Prof. Dr. Nayana Pandya, for her wisdom and support,

– And to my sister, Vani, for always believing in me.

I hope that Melodies from the Heart resonates with your soul, just as these songs have lived in ours. May these heartfelt verses and their translations bring you closer to the timeless beauty of Gujarati folk music.

– Ambar Pandya