Video editor: Vivek Gupta
2 October 2019 marks the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. We have celebrated him as the father of the nation. We have also, over the years, not only questioned the relevance of his ideals of non-violence and satyagraha, but also institutionalised corruption. Today, Gandhi merely remains immortalised on currency notes.
On the Mahatma's sesquicentennial birth anniversary, here's a song that is as much a prayer to him, as it is a confession of what we've done to his memory.
This song is adapted from the 'Sabarmati Ke Sant' song from the film Jagriti (1954), directed by Satyen Bose, which won the Filmfare Award in '56. It was originally sung by Asha Bhonsle. You can listen to the original song here.
For 73 years we've shared hatred!
Oh Saint of Sabarmati! What have we done to you!
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
Ah! What a war you fought, unique in all the land
Alas! We have whittled away our freedom to naught
Yours was the penance of empathy
And our wealth? Religious intolerance
The storms of intolerance have blown out your torch
Oh Saint of Sabarmati! What have we done to you!
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
On a currency note, you're now a namesake
Yet, not even books speak of your ideals
Caste lives on, the flower of knowledge is yet to bloom
The day your pyre was lit, our spirits waned
Corruption spreads its canopy, like a poisonous tree
Oh Saint of Sabarmati! What we have done to you!
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
The youth fear the siren of unemployment
The farmer and the labourer die of hunger
Your sacrifices lie forgotten, and the weight
of this folly, is now upon our children
Having forgotten you, we have moved on unfazed
Oh Saint of Sabarmati! What we have done to you!
Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram
आपस में बैर बांट जिए हम तिहत्तर साल
साबरमती के संत तेरा कर दिया ये हाल
रघुपति राघव राजाराम...
धरती पे लड़ी तूने अजब ढंग की लड़ाई
हुई खाक ये आजादी जो हम सबने लुटाई
हर दर्द समझने की तपस्या तुम्हें भाई
मजहब लड़ें आपस में यही अपनी कमाई
मतभेद की आंधी ने बुझाई तेरी मशाल
साबरमती के संत तेरा कर दिया ये हाल
ठप्पा बनाके नोट पे तुमको किया निहाल
किताबों में भी ना मिलती है अब तो तेरी मिसाल
ना जात मिटी ना खिली शिक्षा कि वो कली
जिस दिन तेरी चिता जली धुंधला गया जलाल
बनके खड़ा है भ्रष्टाचार विष भरा तमाल
साबरमती के संत तेरा कर दिया ये हाल
बेरोजगारी के बिगुल से नौजवान डरे
मजदूर और किसान भूख के तले मरे
बलिदान तेरा भूलकर हमने ये क्या किया
कल की पीढ़ियों पे भार इसका लाद ही दिया
तुझको भुला के हमने किया ना कोई सवाल
साबरमती के संत तेरा कर दिया ये हाल
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