NEW DELHI, INDIA, October 2, 2018 (YouTube): On Gandhi Jayanti Day in New Delhi during the closing ceremony of the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a medley version of the famous bhajan by artists from over 40 countries. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), all Indian Missions abroad identified a local artists/group to record the bhajan in the run-up to Gandhi Jayanti. “The result is an eclectic, colorful and rich rendition of the hymn infused with the local flavor of the region. From Armenia to Angola, Sri Lanka to Serbia, Iraq to Iceland, prominent local singers/groups have showcased their talent to this favourite hymn of the Mahatma,” said an official statement from the MEA.
The famous Gujarati hymn was penned by the 15th-century poet Narsimha Mehta and was one of the favorite bhajans of Mahatma Gandhi who included it into the roster of prayers routinely sung before his meetings. The English translation of the Gujarati Bhajan is as follows: “Call those people Vaishnavas who feel the pain of others, help those who are in misery, but never let self-conceit enter their mind. They respect the entire world, do not disparage anyone, keep their words, actions and thoughts pure, the mother of such a soul is blessed. They see all equally, renounce craving, respect other women as their own mother, Their tongue never utters false words, their hands never touch the wealth of others. They do not succumb to worldly attachments, they are firmly detached from the mundane, they are enticed by the name of God (Rama), all places of pilgrimage are embodied in them. They have forsaken greed and deceit, they stay afar from lust and anger, Narsi [the 15th century poet who wrote the song] says: I’d be grateful to meet such a soul, whose virtue liberates their entire lineage.
View inspirational video at “source” above.