Ninety-four-year-old Leelawati Heerachandani, affectionately known as Dadi Leela, continues to warmly receive well wishers at her family home in Heerabad, Hyderabad.
Belonging to an educated family of the old city, Dadi still likes to entertain her guests by singing Sufi songs of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai, Sachal Sarmast, Sami and other poets, as well as reciting Bhajans. Dadi started learning how to sing at the age of four, and by the age of seven, she had advanced to learning the harmonium. Till this day, however, she continues signing and practicing every morning.
Dadi was taught by renowned artists and instructors of the time, which included among others, Sadhu TL Vaswani, close associate of Mahatma Gandhi in the Satyagraha Movement and a known social worker of the time. During her youth, theatre was acknowledged as an important tool which portrayed society and promoted culture, and Dadi subsequently became involved in staging ‘Natak’ on theatre.
She has performed with leading singers of the era, including Master Chander, Preetam Das, and has even met celebrity Sufi singer Kanwar Bhagat, who was killed in Muslim—Hindu riots during partition.
Her passion for singing gave her a unique reputation, as following her graduation from college, the education minister of the time, late GM Syed, had her appointed as a music teacher in 1940 at the Teachers Training College for Women, Hyderabad.
The late queen of Sindhi songs, Zareena Baloch and Rubina Qureshi, the wife of film star Mustafa Qureshi, were some of her students in music. They also received their first breaks at the Radio Pakistan with the help of Dadi.
After music, Dadi taught also taught Principles of Education until she was promoted to Principal Government Girls College Mirpurkhas, the time she spent the office was according to her “the golden era of her life.”
When she began her career as Principal, Dadi noticed that there were only a few students enrolled at the college. Upon enquiry, her staff informed her that since parents were rigid, girls found it more difficult to come. After this, Dadi personally launched a campaign, going door-to-door to convince parents, mostly Muslims, to enroll their girls in college. Few years later, when she transferred to Hyderabad, there were more than 500 girls studying in the Mirpurkhas Girls College.
She retired from the office of Director Education Hyderabad in 1975.
Reminiscing about her life in Heerabad, Dadi relayed that it used to be a beautiful place during the British rule. Officials from abroad often visited the area, which the municipality staff cleaned from Market Tower to Jail Road twice everyday.
Dadi Leela received her basic education from the Guli Bai Primary School and then was enrolled at Government Secondary School—a coeducation school by her enlightened parents. Giving credit to the old education system, Dadi explained that it is because of her talented and hardworking teachers that she is aware of the rhyme, rhythm and meter in poetry.
She has more to say about the changing scenario and declining cultural values of the society, and in order to teach future generations something from her life experiences, Dadi Leela has been planning to compile three books including one called ‘Daughters of Sindh’.
Elected a member of the provincial assembly in 1985—88, the winner of Presidential Award has seen the various ups and downs in politics, declining traditional values and social change. However, the poet, composer, performer and stage artist’s only lament is that now there is a dearth of quality music and singing in Sindhi and Urdu TV channels.
