Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram: Difference between revisions

 

{{Short description|A devotional song popularised by Gandhi}}

"'''Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram'''" (also called '''Ram Dhun''') is a [[bhajan]] (devotional song) widely popularised by [[Mahatma Gandhi]] and set to tune by [[Vishnu Digambar Paluskar]] in [[Raga]] ''Mishra [[Gara (raga)|Gara]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Lal |first=Vinay |url=https://southasia.ucla.edu/history-politics/gandhi/raghupati-raghav-rajaram/ |title=Experiments with Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence |publisher=The Menil Collection |year=2014 |editor-last=Helfenstein |editor-first=Josef |location=Houston |pages=244–45 |chapter=Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram |editor-last2=Newland |editor-first2=Joseph N.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Dalton|first=Dennis|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R6AUDU_54PwC&pg=PA109|title=Mahatma Gandhi: Nonviolent Power in Action|publisher=Columbia University Press|year=1993|isbn=0-231-12237-3|page=109|author-link=Dennis Dalton}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Sinha|first=Manjari|date=2008-08-08|title=Tuned to excellence|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/Tuned-to-excellence/article15399563.ece|access-date=2009-04-27|work=The Hindu}}</ref>

The precise origins of the song are not entirely clear.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lal|first=Vinay|url=https://southasia.ucla.edu/history-politics/gandhi/raghupati-raghav-rajaram/|title=Experiments with Truth: Gandhi and Images of Nonviolence|publisher=The Menil Collection|year=2014|editor-last=Helfenstein|editor-first=Josef|location=Houston|pages=244–45|chapter=Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram|editor-last2=Newland|editor-first2=Joseph N.}}</ref> It is believed to have been either written by [[Tulsidas]] (or based on his work [[Ramcharitmanas]])<ref>{{Cite book |last=Devi |first=Vindhya Basini |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F45jAAAAMAAJ&q=%22%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF+%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%98%E0%A5%81%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AF+%E0%A4%98%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE+%E0%A5%A4+%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%80+%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%AD+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE+%E0%A5%A4%E0%A5%A4+%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8+%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%9F%E0%A5%81+%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%9C%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%81+%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE+%E0%A5%A4+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%AC%E0%A4%A7+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%81+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE+%E0%A5%A4%E0%A5%A4+%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AF%E0%A5%81+%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%A8+%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE+%E0%A4%A7%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AE%22 |title=Loka-rāmāyaṇa: Śrīmad Gosvāmi Tulasīdāsa jī viracita Śrī Rāmacarita Mānasa para ādhārita |date=1998 |publisher=Madhyapradeśa Tulasī Akādemī |language=hi |author-link=Bindhyabasini Devi}}</ref> or based on a 17th-century sung-prayer by the [[Marathi people|Marathi]] saint-poet [[Samarth Ramdas|Ramdas]].<ref>{{cite thesis |type=PhD |last=Snodgrass |first=Cynthia |date=2007 |title=The Sounds of Satyagraha : Mahatma Gandhi's Use of Sung-Prayers and Ritual |publisher=University of Stirling

|url=https://dspace.stir.ac.uk/bitstream/1893/555/1/Sounds%20of%20Satyagraha.pdf |pages=159}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Gokhale |first=Namita |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YTknAgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Marathi+saint-poet+Ramdas%22&pg=PT74 |title=In Search Of Sita: Revisiting Mythology |date=2009-10-15 |publisher=Penguin UK |isbn=978-93-5118-420-1 |language=en |author-link=Namita Gokhale}}</ref>

[[Anthony Parel]] writes in ''Gandhi's Philosophy and the Quest for Harmony'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Parel |first=Anthony J. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MQhz0fW0HZUC |title=Gandhi's Philosophy and the Quest for Harmony |date=2006-08-10 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-86715-3 |pages=167 |language=en}}</ref>

 

{{Quote|text=[t]he origin of Ramdhun is shrouded in legend. According to the legend that he preferred it was composed by the great Hindu poet Tulsidas (1532-1623). While on a pilgrimage visiting the Vishnu temple of Dakore, Northern India, Tulsidas was moved to bargain with Vishnu. Until Vishnu revealed himself as Rama he would not bow his head in prayer. His wish was promptly granted: Rama appeared in his mind with his wife Sita, and three of their devotees. Hence, explains Gandhi, "Ramdhun, meaning intoxication with God [Ram]|author=|title=}}

 

There have been many versions of the Ramdhun, and the version that Mahatma Gandhi used had an "ecumenical flavour" to it. Gandhi modified the original bhajan, adding that the ''Ishwar'' of the Hindus and the ''Allah'' of the Muslims were one and the same,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thapar |first=Romesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HoBDAAAAYAAJ&q=Tulsidas |title=Seminar |publisher= |year=1998 |pages= |language= |quote=Rarely do they bother to point to his innovation of adding ''Ishwar Allah Tero Naam'' to the Tulsidas Ram dhun ''Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram''. |author-link=Romesh Thapar}}</ref> to make the song more secular-looking and to spread the message of reconciliation between Hindus and Muslims.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Handoo|first=Jawaharlal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ThbaAAAAMAAJ&q=%22raghupati+raghav+raja+ram%22|title=Folklore in Modern India|date=1998|publisher=Central Institute of Indian Languages|isbn=978-81-7342-053-5|language=en}}</ref> The song was extensively used to project a secular and composite vision of Indian society — it was sung during the [[Salt March|1930 Salt March]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Dandi: Salt March |url=https://southasia.ucla.edu/history-politics/gandhi/dandi-march/ |access-date= |publisher=Lal, Vinay. University of California, Los Angeles}}</ref>

 

|+Lyrics of the Ramdhun (Gandhi's version)

* Elements of the chant were included in the song "Utho Utho he Bharat" in the movie ''[[Bharat Milap]]'' (1942),<ref>{{Citation|title=Utho Utho He Bharat Tumhaare - उठो-उठो हे भरत तुम्हारे|url=https://www.hindigeetmala.net/song/utho_utho_he_bharat_tumhaare.htm|language=en|access-date=2020-06-28}}</ref> in songs of ''[[Shri Ram Bhakta Hanuman]]'' (1948), the song "De Dii Hamen Aazaadii" in the movie ''[[Jagriti]]'' (1954),<ref>{{Cite web|title=दे दी हमें आज़ादी बिना खड्ग बिना ढाल - de dii hame.n aazaadii binaa khaD.hg binaa Dhaal / जागृति-(Jaagriti)|url=https://www.lyricsindia.net/songs/2336|access-date=2020-06-28|website=www.lyricsindia.net}}</ref> ''[[Purab Aur Paschim]]'' (1970)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Purab aur Pachhim {{!}} Indian Cinema - The University of Iowa |url=https://indiancinema.sites.uiowa.edu/purab-aur-pachhim |access-date= |website=indiancinema.sites.uiowa.edu |language=en |quote=There is also Francis, a French hippie pal of Orphan, who sacrifices his life to save Bharat in a club brawl and then dies requesting, "Pour l'amour de Dieu....votre chanson" (i.e., the Gandhian anthem Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram), while cradled in Bharat and Orphan’s arms in an amazing intercultural pieta.}}</ref> and in the film ''[[Kuch Kuch Hota Hai]]'' (1998),<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JDpLqgaCVhQC&q=%22Raghupati+Raghav+Raja+Ram%22 |title=Indian Horizons |date=2008 |publisher=Indian Council for Cultural Relations. |pages=55 |language=en |quote=...band of boisterous hippies who energetically throw themselves into singing, "<i>Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram</i>." The re-working of one of Gandhi's favourite hymn is effected through wit, humour, irony and even irreverence.}}</ref> in the [[Kannada]] film ''[[Gandhinagara]]'' (1968),<ref>{{Citation |title=Gandhinagara {{!}} Raghupathi Raghava song |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJKhT4I_bPs |language=en |access-date=2022-08-27}}</ref> in the British-Indian movie ''[[Gandhi (movie)|Gandhi]]'' (1982),<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-18 |title=Songs for the 'Great Soul' |url=https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/rhythmdivine/songs-for-the-27great-soul27/5813272 |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=ABC Radio National |language=en-AU}}</ref> in the film ''[[Gandhi, My Father]]'' (2007),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gandhi My Father: 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' song {{!}} Entertainment - Times of India Videos |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/entertainment/music/gandhi-my-father-raghupati-raghav-raja-ram-song/videoshow/47894591.cms |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=timesofindia.indiatimes.com |language=en}}</ref> in [[Satyagraha – Democracy Under Fire|''Satyagraha'']] (2013),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gandhiji's Raghupati Raghav modified for 'Satyagraha' - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/gandhijis-raghupati-raghav-modified-for-satyagraha/articleshow/21367641.cms |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> and also in ''[[Krrish 3]]'' (2013).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-12 |title=Watch: 'Raghupati Raghav',a new party anthem from Hrithik Roshan's 'Krrish 3' |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/watch-raghupati-raghav-a-new-party-anthem-from-hrithik-roshans-krrish-3/ |access-date=2022-08-27 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

* The song is an important [[Motif (literature)|motif]] in the 2006 [[Bollywood]] film, ''[[Lage Raho Munna Bhai]]'', and is featured in the movie.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Chopra |first=Vinod |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u4rFDAAAQBAJ |title=Lage Raho Munna Bhai |date=2010 |publisher=Om Books International |isbn=978-93-80069-75-3 |language=en}}</ref>

* [[Pete Seeger]] included "Raghupati Raghava Raja Ram" on his album "Strangers and Cousins" (1964)<ref>{{Citation |title=Pete Seeger - Strangers And Cousins |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/5042126-Pete-Seeger-Strangers-And-Cousins |language=en |access-date=2022-08-27}}</ref> and performed it in Episode 10 of his television series [[Rainbow Quest]].{{cn|date=August 2022}}

* The game [[Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories]] featured [[Ananda Shankar]]'s version on one of the in-game radio stations, "Radio del Mundo".<ref>{{Citation |title=GTA Liberty City Stories (Radio Del Mundo) Ananda Shankar - Raghupati |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcIfcUn-R54 |language=en |access-date=2022-08-27}}</ref>

* [[Vaishnava Jana To]]