Satya Narayana Sahu

EVEN as Mahatma Gandhi had elementary knowledge of music he had extraordinary love for it and brilliantly expounded its far reaching significance for individual, social and national life. While explaining its abiding place in the realm of spirituality and religion he passionately wrote about its therapeutic value in overcoming anger and ensuring peace and tranquility of mind.

Above all he splendidly enlightened the whole nation about its fundamental role in serving the cause of India’s independence from foreign rule. As early as 1926, he boldly declared that “There can be no Swaraj where there is no harmony, no music.” Such an articulation from the father of our nation is expressive of his fundamental understanding that music in true sense synchronizes diverse notes and promotes unity, concord and oneness. He wanted our national life resonated with these enduring values for channelsing the energy of our people for the larger goals of unchaining India both from colonial rule and the bondages often caused by many social evils stifling our people to give their best. One discerns the point that music aided Mahatma Gandhi to remain in tune with Truth which he called God and pursue Non-violence to achieve our independence and above all to save the planet earth form the monstrous greed of modern civilisation based on incessant multiplication of wants and desires and reckless exploitation of nature.

In several volumes of his Collected Works, we find his exceptionally in depth understanding of music which went beyond the conventional notion of playing an instrument, singing a song or modulating the voice and fine-tuning the vocal cord. He enlarged the scope of music to link it with larger life. An outstanding leader and communicator he was tuned to the dumb millions of our country and put forth the lasting proposition that music is as essential for the well off and privileged as for the common people.

Mahatma Gandhi was one of the greatest architects of the unity of our people by employing the method of non-violence. His achievements in this regard were no less musical than the lilting tune of the finest musician. He poetically stated “… true music is created only when life is attuned to a single tune and a single time beat.” “The experiment with music” he further added, “will be regarded as a successful one when the crores of people in the entire country will start speaking the same words.” He was one of the finest exponents of that “true music” composed around the theme of unity of India and through which crores of people of our country rose as one person demanding in one voice the freedom for our country.

A man ever in communion with truth he had the finer sensitivity to yearn for music in every aspect of life. In his own words “… if we put a broad interpretation of music, i.e., if we mean it by union, concord, mutual help, it may be said that in no department of life can you dispense with it.” He could hear music in the working of a spinning wheel, in Hindu-Muslim unity, in the scheme for ensuring good governance, in the struggle for abolishing untouchability, removing filth and squalor and filth from our surroundings and uplifting millions of people from suffering and exploitation. Therefore, he wanted children of our country to learn music and wrote that “If many more send their children to the music class it will be part of their contribution to national uplift.” His wonderful interpretation outlined his breadth of vision in linking spread of music with nation building.

Such a man with an elevated consciousness and an approach to locate music in the wider context of life, society and nation, stressed on revival of our soul stirring music and demanded inclusion of music in the course curriculum right from the primary stages of learning. However his love for music was little understood and many even wrongly thought that he with his ascetic life style was opposed to it. He himself exclaimed at such misperception and expressed surprise in 1924 by saying “I, opposed to arts like music! Then, Why, I cannot even conceive of an evolution of the religious life of India without music. I do say I am a lover of music as well as the other arts.”

In 1937, he wrote a piece on Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and praised all those running that Mahavidyalaya for their dedicated effort to promote pure music among boys and girls. He endorsed the Mahavidyalaya’s effort to include music in the syllabus of primary education. He regretted that British authorities did not take measures to introduce music in schools. His remark that “The modulation of voice is as necessary as the training of hand.” brought out his vision in creatively constructing human mind and body through balanced blending of music and manual work. He himself once accepted the request of some musicians in 1925 who wanted to play Sitar while Mahatma Gandhi was engaged in spinning. That was an uplifting experience for him. He put that experience into writing and said that music enhanced the pleasure of spinning and the result was that he spun better than usual and remained in communion with God.

It is tragic that now a days music has been greatly distorted serving the cause of disharmony and discord in our society. At a time when our society is rapidly transforming and values are often getting disintegrated, we need wholesome music to infuse among children, younger generation and the larger public the healthy tunes of concord and unity. Our rich musical tradition which harmonizes body, mind and spirit can save us from the present day degradation. As early as 1917 Mahatma Gandhi had rightly said that “Music must get a place in our efforts for popular awakening”. By rediscovering Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas on music we can generate popular awakening for the larger cause of nation building based on values of compassion, understanding and reconciliation.

[The writer is Director, Prime Minister’s Office]

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