Published 17:19 IST, October 2nd 2019
Gandhi Jayanti: Remembering some of Mahatma's most beloved hymns
The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was fond of music as much as he was of the idea of an independent India. He liked hymns with devotion, harmony themes
The father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, was quite fond of music, laying particular emphasis on the meaning of the songs. His most favourite hymn was said to be Vaishnava Jana Toh which was written by a bhakti poet Narsinh Mehta. The themes that were common to most of his favourite hymns were devotion, harmony and other related themes.
Vaishnava Jana To Tene Kahiye Je
Narsi Mehta's Vaishnava Jana To Tene Kahiye Je is said to be Gandhi's favourite hymn. It was a part of most of his prayer meetings that had many more hymns he liked. The hymn was written by poet Narsinh Mehta in Gujarati in the 15th centuryand talks about the life, ideals and mentality of a Vaishnava Jana, someone who follows Lord Vishnu. The main stanza of the hymn says 'Call those people followers of Vishnu who, feel the pain of others, help those who are in misery, but never let self-conceit enter their mind.'
Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram
Another hymn popular popularized by Gandhi was Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram originally written by Sri Laksmanacharya. The lyrics were modified by Gandhi for his own version of the hymn. This modified version was chanted by him and his people during the Dandi March of 1930. This version has been used recently in many Bollywood films as well. Gandhi's version of the poem added lines like 'ishwar allah tero naam, sabko sanmati de bhagwan' to promote harmony between Hindus and Muslims at that time. The meaning of the Hymn is 'O Lord Rama, a descendant of Raghu, Uplifter of the fallen, you and your beloved consort Sita are to be worshipped, all names of God refer to the same Supreme Being, including Ishvara and the Muslim Allah.'
Hari Tuma Haro
Gandhi was the lover of another hymn which was composed by the 15th-century saint Meerabai, the devotee of Lord Krishna. The hymn was Hari Tuma Haro. He requested Carnatic singer MS Subbulakshmi to record this song. The lyrics of the song mean 'Hari, remove the sufferings of your slaves, you protected the honour of Draupadi, lengthening the garment that covered her.' The song played at Gandhi's last birthday celebrations on October 2, 1947. According to reports, the song played on AIR on repeat mode after announcing his assassination.
Lead, Kindly Light
Lead, Kindly Light is another hymn that Gandhi was really fond of. It is not stated anywhere during what period did Gandhi come across this hymn. The hymn was written in the year 1833 by John Henry Newman as a poem with the title, 'the Pillar and the Could'. According to accounts, Gandhi really liked the first stanza of the hymn. It is mentioned at the Gandhi Museum which is located in the Tamil Nadu city, Madurai.
Other hymns that Gandhi really liked are Abide With Me by Scotland's Henry Francis Lyte and Ekla Cholo Re by Rabindra Nath Tagore. October 2nd is celebrated as the Gandhi Jayanti in India every year and as the International Day of non-violence in the rest of the world.
Updated 18:07 IST, October 2nd 2019