The Mukesh memorial music programme on TV last week brought into focus again the life of the great playback singer. The house where Mukesh lived in Chandni Chowk is now a rabbit warren. What was once a sprawling haveli was taken over by encroachers, who made ugly little factories in it, where gold plating was done on trendy items by groups of young men, who were paid a pittance for their labours. If a fire were to break out in this ramshackle place, the fire brigade would have a tough time in controlling it and saving the lives of those living there.

Mukesh Chandra Mathur was born in this haveliin the 1920s and went to DAV School from it with a bag of books slung on his shoulders. The late K Dayal, who was his classmate, used to tell colleagues in the Statesman that even in those early days Mukesh’s voice had a haunting effect on the listeners. He sang at school functions and at get-togethers at friends’ houses.

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At one birthday party Mukesh and his friends shared a cake, followed by delicious paranthas from Parantha Gali, because in those days there was no fast food, not even instant chips.

They washed down the stuff with lassi and followed it up with kulfi. At school functions, Gantewala’s sweets were popular. But the boys had to conribute four annas each to buy them.

Mukesh used to sing at family weddings also. At one such celebration the veteran actor Motilal was also present in his capacity as a distinguished relative. Mukesh’s voice left a deep impression on him and he invited the boy to Bombay. Thanks to Motilal, he got a toe-hold there and after that there was no looking back for him, for he became the virtual screen voice for Raj Kapoor’s songs. The dilapidated house in Chandni Chowk brings Mukesh’s memory alive when some love-struck young man living there hums one of his soulful songs.