As part of the birth anniversary celebrations of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi the Department of Performing Arts recreated the evening mood at Sabarmati Ashram, which was a significant part of Mahatma’s life.
The ancient hymns of Basavanna and Tulsi Das rang out at the Bangalore University’s auditorium. The hall echoed to the music of peace and solidarity as people sang Mahatma’s favourite bhajans like Vaishnava Janato and excerpts from Ramcharita Manas by Tulsi Das.
“Gandhiji preached non-violence throughout his life and these bhajans were sung every evening in his Sabarmati Ashram. We choose these bhajans to recreate that element of peace,” said Prof B M Jayashree, who is also the head of the Department of Performing Arts at Bangalore University.
Singer Jayashree mesmerised the crowd with ‘Mai to sawariya’ a devotional bhajan by Meerabai, and ‘Beet gaye’ by Kabir Das. She was accompanied by two students who played tabla and harmonium. Hundred speeches on non-violence could not have created the tranquil atmosphere that few bhajans like ‘Kalabeda kolabeda’ by Basava and ‘Namo Namo Raghavaya’ by Thyagraja did.
These songs are almost lost from public memory in today’s fast paced world, the overwhelming urgency to run ahead of others, has transformed basic qualities like honesty into a disability.
Now, impatience is the new mantra. Somehow we have managed to lose a bit of humility in us, which the Mahatma tried to instil in the world. “Gandhiji was fond of these bhajans, and I think they kept him bound to the ideas of inter-religious harmony, non-violence and truthfulness.” said Prof Jeevan Kumar, Director of Gandhian Studies.