He’s penned 1,668 songs and is still going strong


Vitthaldas Vaghela’s popular garba songs play at all major venues in state

By Hemington James
Posted On Thursday, October 09, 2008 at 02:50:41 AM

Vithalda Vaghela is in search of a publisher who could print his bhajans and Garbas he has written till now

With 1,426 bhajans and 1,668 garba lyrics, 78-year-old Vitthaldas Vaghela has no match far and wide when it comes to penning songs.

Vaghela can write on anything under the sun, instantly. He has been so prolific and popular that at least one of his songs are played at least once in the night at major venues during Navratri.

Born on September 2, 1930 in Lakhtar taluka of Saurashtra, Vaghela started off as a watch repairer who was deeply interested in the region’s popular folk art ‘Dayra’. With time, his passion gained intensity and he took to writing ‘lok geets’ and garbas full time.

Vaghela songs are based on the social milieu, on community issues and causes like the fight against cancer and on politics and politicians. His recent lyrics on cancer awareness were published in the Navaratri special issue of Cancer Samachar, a book published by the Cancer Hospital. He also wrote the screen play for a serial ‘Ganga Sati’, the character of which was played by TV actor Deepika Chikhlia, who later became BJP MP. His most famous garba is ‘Chotile dakla vagya...’, a hit down the ages.

Some of Vaghela’s popular lyrics have been given voice by leading singer Hemant Chauhan and many have been recorded and marketed by music company T-Series.

However, as with all successful song writers, Vaghela too has been victim of plagiarism and piracy. “Some of my old bhajans and garbas are being recycled and pushed as original. And people who steal my songs for recycling do not pay me a penny,” he says.

Vhaghela is now looking to publish his works in the form of books. “I am looking for a suitable publisher.”

Talking of Vaghela’s bhajans, Gujarati singer Hemant Chauhan told Ahmedabad Mirror from US, “I have high respect for Vitthaldas Vaghela. He writes excellent poetry. Whenever I want something special, I go to him and express to him what I want. Invariably, Vitthaldas delivers on request. I have sung at least 800 of his songs.”

Another popular singer Meenaben Patel says, “Vithaldas’ garbas and bhajans are hits because he uses authentic Gujarati in his poetry.”

I have high respect for Vitthaldas Vaghela. He writes excellent poetry. Whenever I want something special, I go to him and express to him what I want. Invariably, Vitthaldas delivers on request.
-Hemant Chauhan, Gujarati Singer


I have sung many of Vithaldas’s songs. The words he uses are excellent.
-Praful Dave, Gujarati singer

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