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Dhirubhai Sarvaiya – Kathiyawad’s popular humorist & folk singer

Dhirubhai Sarvaiya

Dhirubhai Sarvaiya

હું તો વગડાનો માણસ છું – ધીરૂભાઈ સરવૈયા

Born to a farmer family, Dhirubhai Sarvaiya lives in a village called Khirasara, 14 kilometers away from Rajkot city. Dhirubhai has total of seven brothers including him, and unbelievably all of them live together in the same village. Of course, for the better living, the homes are separate, but all situated in the same line. So a total of 50 members in Sarvaiya family live together and hence it  can surely be called a joint-family.

Dhirubhai Sarvaiya

He is 42 years old (as on the year 2009), and since last 22 years, he has been in the field of Lok Sahitya. In his early days of being a ‘Kalakar‘ he used to sing hymns mostly. But later, his hobby changed the curve and he became a highly popular humorist, particularly in Saurashtra region of Gujarat state. In the video below, he shares the story of how he turned to a humorist from a folk singer.

Today, his fame has crossed the boundaries. His humorist programs are organized everywhere in Gujarat state, in other countries like USA, England, Dubai and Singapore.

Interviewing Dhirubhai Sarvaiya, was my personal passion, as I am a great fan of his humor since last few years. To me, he is a man who is in close touch with his village roots. He is a common man with uncommon talent. As he says that many of his jokes come from his observation of village life-style and its people.

So, after finding his number, I called him up and introduced myself and activities of Speakbindas. Dhirubhai has no knowledge about website, blogs and all. All I could convince him was, Speakbindas is a medium where people from around the globe can read interview and watch article. He generously, was agreed for the interview. He told us to meet after few days, post- Bhim Agiyaras. And as he had promised, he invited us at his home at Khirasara.

Coincidentally, he was in Rajkot only when we gave him the confirmation call from our car itself. He asked us to stop by a well known garden on highway, from where we were to follow him. He arrived in his Indigo car. He was in formal dress, and looked like he lost some weight too. So from there, we followed his car till his home.

Aah! what a home he is living in. Mostly the village surrounding was beautiful, and plants and tress in his home were adding beauty to it. It was a day of hot summer. But as Dhirubhai says “In evening times, it is very beautiful to sit on terrace with family members and friends.” He led us inside his home and offered us some coldrinks too. He genuinely asked us if we would like to have a lunch with him at his home. Well, we had already completed our lunch at home, but his greeting sounded very genuine.

Overall, he sounded very down to earth person, with no celebrity show-off at all. Rather, he made us very much comfortable at his home. His fan base is so huge all over Saurashtra and Gujarat. Meeting him personally was like an honor for us. He gave the interview very candid way. Apart from this interview video, we have recorded our personal moments too with him, which we spent after the interview. We had asked only for his 10 minutes, but we could spent one and half hour with this very joyful personality. Those who are from Rajkot and wish to view those special moments, are most invited to my office. Email me on Speakbindas AT Gmail Dot Com.

Below is only the excerpt of the interview. Video has lots more to watch and know about Dhirubhai.

Devang Vibhakar with Dhirubhai Sarvaiya

Devang Vibhakar with Dhirubhai Sarvaiya

Speakbindas: To laugh is easy, but to make others laugh with full heart is a tough job. How you mastered this art?
Dhirubhai Sarvaiya: In this era, people have a life full of tensions. So whenever I go out, my vision is always humorous. The reason why our humor touches people is because it tells a story about their life. For example, recently when I was going through a market I saw person having a small ice cube in hand. He seemed like he was observing the same. I asked him what he was doing and he said “I am trying to find from where this ice cube is leaking!” So this is how we look at things humorously.

Speakbindas: Your programs are being organized in various countries as well. Which are the countries you have been so far? And how was the experience with audience there?
Dhirubhai Sarvaiya: I have traveled to USA twice, once England, Dubai and Singapore. And because such programs are rarely organized in foreign countries, Gujaratis do attend them even by traveling 200 miles distance. And they feel pride by listening to humorists like me. And our work is something like “Vato ni Herapheri”. We tell the Indian stories in foreign and vice versa.

When I returned from my first trip to USA, someone in my village asked me that what is that which is not in USA but is in India? And I said to him that in USA there is no such a mother like we have in India.

I think, foreign countries are good to travel, to see places, to do business etc. but if it’s about living, then India is far better. Here we feel the smell of our motherland.

Speakbindas: Do you go with any preparation to host a program?
Dhirubhai Sarvaiya: I have nothing in my mind until I go on stage. It all comes naturally after sitting on the stage. So there are no such preparations for the program. And let me tell you, Devang that, such programs can not be hosted with preparations. You can not have a practice at home to fight with someone outside!! So for me, it’s a God Gift.

Awards

Awards

Speakbindas: Dhirubhai, you make others laugh like anything. Can you make your family members laugh too?
Dhirubhai Sarvaiya: Oh! Yes. Sometimes, when I am with family and telling something, on some incidents, even my wife, my children too laugh.

Speakbindas: Well, there are some people if we look at their faces, we think that, this persona wouldn’t have laughed in recent time! Can you make such hard looking people laugh?
Dhirubhai Sarvaiya: Yes, of course. Sometimes, some people have told me that some of their family members like father or grandfather or so never laughs, or do not even attend a program throughout. But I have been told by few families that their such family member has attended my program and enjoyed it throughout. So the thing is that, they attended the program throughout only because they enjoyed the same.

Dhirubhai Sarvaiya's photo with Morari Bapu

Dhirubhai Sarvaiya's photo with Morari Bapu

Speakbindas: How do you feel over your such huge popularity?
Dhirubhai Sarvaiya: It feels good, because I am getting paid for my hobby. People pay me with a broad smile on their faces. And it’s not only money they pay, they also give me lots of love. I have never been ill because the money I am paid comes with lots of smile in it. So it’s God’s blessing that we get both money and love from people.

Dhirubhai with father Haribhai Devsibhai Sarvaiya

Dhirubhai with father Haribhai Devsibhai Sarvaiya

About

Devang Vibhakar is the Founder and Editor of www.SpeakBindas.com. He has interviewed more than 350 people. His effort was recognized by Limca Book of Records, twice. He has been to Scotland as well as Germany as part of vocational & cultural exchange programs and has compiled five books so far. He's passionate about bringing forth interesting stories & interviews of entrepreneurs to avid readers of SpeakBindas. He can be reached here.

34 thoughts on “Dhirubhai Sarvaiya – Kathiyawad’s popular humorist & folk singer

  1. jayesh says:

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  2. anghan nllkanth says:

    you should come in surat for you programme. surashtrians are waiting for you honnour.

  3. Jigar says:

    dhirubhai is undoubtdly my and my family’s favourite humorist…. the thing which i like most in him is he is very natural… even sometime u laugh by seeing his expressions only if there is not much humour in joke..!!!!! his style nd way of talking is really superb.. its a really God gift…
    well my uncle knows him nd works with him.. but i havent got chance to meet him.. i hope i would get it…
    always be happy nd keep smiling dhirubhai..!!

  4. વાહ ધીરૂભાઈ વાહ,

    અમારા સુરેન્દ્રનગરમાં આપનો પ્રોગ્રામ હોય તો હુ બધા કામ પડતા મૂકી ને તમારી હાસ્યની ગંગામાં ડૂબકી મારવા આવી જાઊ છું.

    જો કે બીજા દિવસે પેટના દુઃખાવાની દવા લેવી પડે છે.

    દેવાંગભાઈ, ધીરૂભાઈ વિષે માહિતી આપવા બદલ આભાર…

  5. bhai bhai … maja aavi gai …
    aabhar vibhakarbhai ne….

  6. Paavan says:

    Hi,

    This is one of the best and also popular kathiyavadi singer ever,visited last time at Bhavnath Fair,Junagadh.

    Lots of his fan came there and its really unforgettable moment for me also.

    Thanks for sharing about him

    Paavan Jethava

    Junagadh – Talav Gate.

  7. kUMAR DAVE says:

    Dear Vibhakar,

    Thanks for the Dhirubhai’s Interview.
    Gr8.
    I am also from Rajkot & artist (DRUMMER), I am now relocate to PUNE, I always miss RAJKOT for DAIRO & NAVRATRI of LEO PIONEER.

    Kumar Dave
    PUNE

  8. raj patel says:

    Dear Vibhakar,

    Thanks for the Dhirubhai’s Interview

  9. jogidan gadhavi says:

    jay mataji
    aape lakhyu ke hu vagda no maanash shu. ae vaaky ma meghaani ye lakhel hu pahaad nu baalak shu. vaaky no prabhav dekhay she.je andaaj shahity pipashu ne maate man mohak she.9898360102 jogidan na jay mataji

  10. Divyesh bhatt says:

    dhiru bhai atle one & only. Atyar na samay ma gujrat ni sahity shrusti ane gnan sathe manoranjan ne takavi rakhnar hasti.

  11. Ravindra r jadav says:

    I like dhirubhais jokes i loves his jokes hartful

  12. Parth S Thakar says:

    Gujarat ni mati ane sanskruti ni sugandh jo koi hasya kalakar ma hoy hoy to e dhirubhai sarvaiya…

  13. NIsarg RAval says:

    Please tell me the contact number of dhirubhai sarvaiya…..

  14. Minank Mori says:

    this happens only in “Kathiyawad”

  15. dinesh says:

    Dear Dhirubhai

    AME TAMARO DAYRO KARVA MAGIYE CHIYE TO TAMARO CONTACT NUMBER APSO ATVA CALL KARO 09825136504

  16. Jimmy Dewani says:

    Oh .. he is such a gem of a person .. extremely natural .. very humble and very delightful !! Such a bliss to see him and listen to him .. very cute by his talks, his gestures and pure by his thoughts.

    Though he identified speakbindas is not a very big forum, but he still treated our Devang like a star, for which I am very happy of course.. (We know, he is a star indeed!) …

    My brother is a very big fan of Dhirubhai, which intern formulates me to love this legendary gem humorist..

    With Luv
    Jimmy Dewani

  17. Indeed, he is a good person and down to earth in the treatment. In fact, it was the noon time when I went to interview him (of course, that time was given by him only). When we met, first thing he asked was “Jamvanu baki hase, chalo sathe j jami laiye, marey baki chhe.” I felt his ‘aagrah’ was natural, which we kindly declined 🙂

    Am I a star? Do I shine? 🙂 Just kidding… thanks Jimmy for your kind words.

  18. kapil bhatt says:

    E j bhura e j , dhirubhai dhirubhai j hoi….. biju koi dhirubhai thai j na sake,

  19. Satyapal Sanghvi says:

    Mr Devang Vibhakar,
    I stumbled upon your interview of Dhirubhai Sarvaiya…
    My dear! you may have an ITCH to venture into English…Fine .. you may indulge…
    but why not have it CHECKED by somebody who knows at least primary grammar?
    (I have no personal malice against you, I assure you! How would I have when I heard about you for the fist time herein?)
    –Satyapal Sanghvi,Mumbai ,27 Jan

    1. Hello Satyapal Snaghvi,

      Yes, I have an itch for English since I was in highschool. You know, studying in Gujarati medium and learning English (written & spoken) is indeed a great deal.

      I am still working on it and hope to prepare my self with the proper formation of the language.

      Thank you for your valuable feedback.

  20. Ali haider says:

    I am in Dubai and i like most of the videos
    When is your next dayro and where i would like to personally take part and meet in person
    Give me mobile no to speak to you directly

    Big fan
    Ali haider

    1. Hi Ali Haider,

      I can’t share his number in public here. Call me on my number or contact me via Contact Form

      1. Ali haider says:

        Give me your mobile no i would like to speak to you

      2. Suresh mehta says:

        I want to keep program of dhorubhai.plz share his no

  21. Kanthi Patel says:

    I want to arenge a DAYARO in BANGALORE.
    SO i want contact to DHIRUBHAI. Please give me his or his PA s contact no. ……
    ………KANTHI BHAI PATEL BANGALORE. MOB. 09448045465..09620844888.
    E mail jalaramtimbers2013@gmail.com or kanthipatel@rediffmail.com

  22. kanthi Patel says:

    Am interested to arrange an event(Dayro) in Bangalore for the opening ceremony of INDIRANAGAR PATIDAR SAMAJ BHAVAN and LAKSHMI NAYARAYAN TEMPLE

    Will appreciate if anyone gives me details as to how to contact Mr. Dhirubhai Saravaiya or any other artists in this field.

  23. Nayi parbatkumar says:

    Devngji
    Thank you
    I am funny poetry writer .. muje dhirubhai ka adrees dijiye meri likhi kuchh kavita bhejni
    Hai. Mera mo.9601894464

  24. Mahesh Mehta says:

    Sir
    your Address/ mo. no.
    I want to meet you as early
    -Regards
    Mahesh Mehta
    Malad-
    Mumbai
    M- 09867227209

  25. Sujesh says:

    Hi,
    I think you have done the great job, i loves see the navratri in Gujarat.

  26. Sunil says:

    Hi,
    I really liked, thanks for the great efforts.

  27. hiren mehta says:

    dear sir,
    kindly request you to provide your contact detail.as we want to arrange one program.
    thanks.

  28. yogesh chauhan says:

    Wah dhirubhai tamari speech sambhleli hoy to pan varm var sambhalva ni ichha Thay che.

    Tamari vak chata ma jadu che….

  29. Raviraj Parmar says:

    I won’t to invite dhirubhai for my family function.. I am from surendranagar Plz help me to contact dhirubhai.. It’s urgent..
    My mobile number is 8690511679

  30. Jay says:

    Hi
    and
    Ram..ram..to all
    sir hu to dhirubhai no fan chu, ane dhirubhai ne guru ni jem manu chu.hu jyare 11-12 th standard ma hostel ma hato, tyare ketlak roommates mane dhirubhai kaheta, ane ketlak friends mane desiboy kaheta, kem ke hu friends ne Gam ni vato ane jokes sambhdavto
    So dhirubhai is like idol for mi
    and devangbhai i like your post very much.
    i like this website very much , ” Speakbindas ” that gives freedom to thoughts.
    thanks

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