Shafqat Amanat Ali performs rendition of Gandhi's favourite hymn

Bollywood composer Vishal Dadlani lauded 'Ankhiyan' crooner's attempt

Local band Fuzon's former frontman, Shafqat Amanat Ali was featured in a tribute to India's founder Mahatama Gandhi on the occasion of his 150th birth anniversary on October 2.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry released a special commemorative video featuring Gandhi's favourite hymn Vaishnav Jan To Tene Kahiye. 

The five-minute video is a mash-up of voices and tunes from across the world. In the days leading up to the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi, Indian missions and embassies got in touch with artists from 124 countries and collaborated with them for a rendition of the hymn.

Amanat's solo version of the hymn was later released by the High Commission of India.


Bollywood composer, Vishal Dadlani lauded the Ankhiyan crooner's attempt. The musician took to Twitter and wrote, "My friend Shafqat Amanat Ali sings Vaishnav Jan, Gandhi ji's favourite bhajan, and proves pretty conclusively, as he always does, that music is both, "ibaadat' (worship) and "bhakti" together!"

My friend @ShafqatAmanatA sings #VaishnavaJan , Gandhiji's favourite bhajan, and proves pretty conclusively, as he always does, that music is both, "ibaadat" and "bhakti" together! https://t.co/SklUXzF11x

— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) October 3, 2018

To this, Amanat responded, "I haven’t heard a more beautiful description of this rendition. Means a lot coming from you. Thank you for always being so generous with your appreciation brother! Hope this initiates efforts for peace. Hope to see you soon in Lahore."

I haven’t heard a more beautiful description of this rendition.. Means a lot coming from you @VishalDadlani and thank you for always being so generous with your appreciation brother! Hope this initiates efforts for peace & hope to see you soon in Lahore https://t.co/NCl7dN9jml

— Shafqat Amanat Ali (@ShafqatAmanatA) October 3, 2018

Talking about the original hymn, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement, "The result is an eclectic, colourful and rich rendition infused with the local flavour of the region," adding that the "star" of the five-minute fusion medley is Baron Divavesi Waqa, the president of the tiny island nation of Nauru.

"President Waqa's gesture was not just a special tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th Birth Anniversary but was also a personal gift from him to Prime Minister Narendra Modi," the MEA said in a statement.

The five-minute mash-up was released by PM Narendra Modi during the closing of the four-day Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Conference that was held in New Delhi.

The medley featured artists from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Laos, Nepal, Oman, Azerbaijan, China, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Finland, Cuba and many more.

The MEA said it will put up all the individual country recordings on its YouTube channel.


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