Hari Tuma Haro

"Hari Tuma Haro"
Song by Several artists like
Jagjit Singh
M. S. Subbulakshmi
Published 15th century
Genre Bhajan, Devotional
Writer Mirabai
Language Hindi

Hari Tuma Haro is an Indian bhajan or devotional song by Mirabai, the 15th-century poet saint. It was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite song, who requested M S Subbulakshmi's rendition for what was to be his last birthday cleberations.[1]

Themes

"Hari Tuma Haro Janki Peer", “"Oh Lord, take away the pain from mankind" is prayer to God, for alleviating the suffering of the downtrodden and those suffering. [2]

History

M S Subbulakshmi had previously visited Gandhi in Delhi, and sung Ram Dhun. Gandhi expressed the wish to hear Subbulakshmi sing the song. Subbulakshmi answered that she was familiar with the song, and suggested some noted singer. In turn, Gandhi replied that "he would rather hear her speak the words than hear someone else sing it". Feeling obliged, Subbulakshmi worked with her friends who knew the tune and lyrics, and when she got them right. The song was recorded at All India Radio (AIR) studios in Chennai, the night of September 30th, finishing at 2 a.m. Thereafter the recording was airlifted to Delhi, where the recording was played to Gandhi on the following evening, on his 78th birthday, October 2, 1947.[3][4][5]

A few months later, on 30 January, 1948, when AIR announced Gandhi's assassination, it was followed by playing of Subbulakshmi's recording of Hari Tuma Haro repeatedly.[3][4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Menon, Nitya (September 18, 2014). "When the Queen of Song captured the West". The Hindu. Retrieved 2014-09-30.
  2. ↑ Narayan, M.K.V. (1 January 2010). Lyrical Musings on Indic Culture: A Sociological Study of Songs of Sant Purandara Dasa. Readworthy. pp. 53–. ISBN 978-93-80009-31-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Murthi, R.K. Encyclopedia of Bharat Ratnas. Pitambar Publishing. pp. 179–. ISBN 978-81-209-1307-3.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Ahuja, M. L. (2006). Eminent Indians : Musicians. Rupa & Company. pp. 32–. ISBN 978-81-291-1015-2.
  5. ↑ "Subbulakshmi, M. S.: Biography". Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation. Retrieved 2014-09-30.