Lou Majaw hails Bob Dylan

Lou Majaw, one of India's original rock 'n' roll bards and the man who has kept Bob Dylan's songs alive in India, has hailed the American legend songwriter and singer for being awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on Thursday.

The 75-year-old rock legend received the prize "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition". Dylan is the first songwriter and the first American to win since the novelist Toni Morrison, in 1993, to win the prestigious award.

"I am not surprised but I am shocked. What took so long for them to give him the Nobel Prize for Literature. He should have been awarded long time ago for his contribution to the world," Majaw, who has been celebrating the legendary singer's birthday on May 24 since 1972 in Shillong, said.

"God Bless Bob Dylan and God bless the world for awarding Bob Dylan the prestigious award," Majaw, who is also popularly called as "Bob Dylan of the East", added.

Dylan is an iconic singer and songwriter whose soulful, occasionally political and often irreverent songs during his nearly five-decade-long career have won him millions of fans across the world.

"Bob Dylan's writings are so powerful right from the late fifties and especially during the 60's and 70's. He has given so much to the world through his writings and if the world leaders give five to ten minutes to Dylan's songs. I am sure this world, irrespective of religion and colour of the skin would understand peace," an elated Majaw told IANS.

"But I have my doubts that they have ever listened to his songs. The lyrical depth of his songs, the sense of understandings of one another we have been given 24 hours a day. I wish the world leaders listen to his songs be it "Blowin' in the Wind" and "The Times They are A-Changin'". They will understand the meaning of peace," he said.

Majaw will perform Bob Dylan's songs to honour the legendary singer at a cafe in Shillong on Sunday.

Dylan was born Robert Allen Zimmerman in 1941 and began his musical career in 1959, playing in coffee houses in Minnesota.

--IANS

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