Originally written in Gujarati, Vaishnavo Janato became a rage during the Indian independence struggle. Gandhi’s favorite dhun always found a place during Gandhi’s prayer meetings at the Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad
MUSICALLY YOURS/Ramesh Kumar
My memory of another of Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite dhun, Vaishnavo Janato, is linked to Lata Mangeshkar and M S Subbulakshmi. One is tempted to club this popular composition of the 15th-century Gujarati poet Narsi Mehta to Hinduism, and it is unavoidable. Hence, hearing this beautiful composition by Hindus is no surprise. However, Vaishnavo Janato as a qawwali, Sufi style, by Baluchistan Muslims is an incredible experience.
Check this link here to hear this rendition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NGeUhGKEjE
Some may point to the late Mohd Rafi‘s 1970 film Gopi’s Sukh ke sab saathi hain pictured on Dilip Kumar and many more Rafi songs on the Hindu pantheon of gods. Remember, it was a film.
Back to the Baluchi singers and Sufi style Vaishnavo Janato rendition. Here’s the song in Hindi:
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये,
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे ।
पर दुःखे उपकार करे तो ये,
मन अभिमान न आणे रे ॥
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये ।
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे॥
सकल लोकमां सहुने वंदे,
निंदा न करे केनी रे ।
वाच काछ मन निश्चळ राखे,
धन धन जननी तेनी रे ॥
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये ।
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे॥
समदृष्टि ने तृष्णा त्यागी,
परस्त्री जेने मात रे ।
जिह्वा थकी असत्य न बोले,
परधन नव झाले हाथ रे ॥
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये ।
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे॥
मोह माया व्यापे नहि जेने,
दृढ़ वैराग्य जेना मनमां रे ।
रामनाम शुं ताली रे लागी,
सकल तीरथ तेना तनमां रे ॥
वैष्णव जन तो तेने कहिये ।
जे पीड परायी जाणे रे॥
What Narsi Mehta is saying:
One who is a Vaishnav (Devotee of Vishnu)
Knows the pain of others
Does well to others
Without letting pride enter his mind.
A Vaishnav, tolerates and praises the entire world.
Does not speak ill of others
Keeps his promises, actions, and thoughts pure
Your mother is blessed indeed.
A Vaishnav sees everything equally, rejects greed and avarice
respects women as he respects his mother
though his tongue may tire, he will utter no untruth
Never touches the property of others.
A Vaishnav does not succumb to worldly attachments
He has renounced lust of all types and anger
The poet Narsi will like to see such a person by whose virtue,
The entire family gets salvation.
Originally written in Gujarati, it became the rage during the Indian independence struggle. This song always found a place during Gandhi’s prayer meetings at the Sabarmati Ashram, Ahmedabad.
Who is an ideal Vaishnav? Mehta responds by cataloguing the qualities of such a human being. Looking at it, we can declare a challenging laundry list it was and is. Be good to everyone is the simple message.
I heard several versions, and the Lata Mangeshkar rendition floored me the most. Five million views! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIvCtJEispY) Pinch yourself. Visit the link to listen to the Indian nightingale at her best.
MS’s version was short. Another is K S Chitra, a popular playback singer from the South. Check this link to listen to her version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9niDOizkBGg)
One of the commentators for this qawwali version on YouTube writes: “If shastriya sangeet were to be taught in all families, India would never have been partitioned,” attributing to the late Bade Ghulam Ali Khan saheb. How accurate is this statement? I have no idea. But the big picture behind this statement is truly remarkable.
The crowning glory was when India celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birthday on October 2, 2018. India roped in singers from 124 countries to sing this devotional song. Check this version in multiple foreign voices. Amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAbarXjmAwc
Don’t you want to listen to this goose-bumping experience? What’s holding you back?
Also by the same author: Devotional songs that were close to the heart of Mahatma Gandhi – THE NEWS PORTER
The writer, a hardcore business and economic journalist-cum-author, dives into the entertainment world to bust his emotional stresses regularly. He lives in Greater Noida, India, with his wife and a parrot. He is reachable at ramesh@konsultramesh.com. Views are personal.
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