Gangubai

Gangu Ambore (Gangubai), a leper woman in Tadakalas (Maharashtra, India) singing a devotional song during an interview with animators of VCDA in 1997.
Video/sound recording: Bernard Bel.
Interviewer: Hema Rairkar.
The complete interview and songs are available on SLDR: http://hdl.handle.net/11041/sldr000759

Gangubai - Yes, Saheb
Maid - Quite right.
Gangubai - Will you all become (Bori Babhali women)?
Hematai - Bori (jujuba) and Babhali (acacia) women have comforted you. I agree. But, what did those Bori Babhali women say to you before that ?
Gangubai - She had to tell. She had to tell about her sorrow.
Hematai - Yes, right. But what did they tell ?
Gangubai _ Yes, I was overcome with grief, where can I express ?
Hematai - Quite true. That is what we are asking. Now, Bori Babhali women have comforted you, Ok. But when you went to those Bori Babhali women for comfort , what did you say to Bori Babhali?
Gangubai - I felt like talking about my sorrow to them, so I did it.
Hematai - We are asking that only. What did you say ?
Maid - Tell it through a song.
Hematai - Tell us through a song about which sorrow did you tell her because of which she comforted you ?
Gangubai - If brother or father hurt you by their words...
Hematai - If father hurts you...
Gangubai - If brother or father hurt you by their words, then a person will open the heart to her saying why do they give trouble like this without reason. That is why a person opens the heart.
Hematai - Father and who else hurt you?
Gangubai - Sister-in-law. I expressed my sorrow in front of them.
Hematai- Which sorrow ?
Gangubai -About my sufferings.
Hematai - What words did you use ?
Gangubai - Husband died. I was so grieved. We feel, it is good for him. But how God has harmed me.
Hematai- We have been left behind.
Gangubai - I feel sad about it. Now I feel what is the use of staying behind ? What is the use ? I don't want either God, religion, money, riches. I don't want to go anywhere. I will express myself here only.