Mahatma Gandhi on Music for Independence and Nation building

        Mahatma Gandhi took up the cause of Indian music in 1894 in the context of his efforts to remove misgivings of Britishers in South Africa about Indians who were treated with utter contempt there. He did so by quoting many sources which extolled Indian culture and wisdom and presented them before Britishers for promoting unity, amity and understanding among Indians and British settlers in South Africa. In an open  letter addressed to the Members of the Legislative Council and Legislative Assembly of Durban he quoted Sir William who wrote that " The Indian art of music was destined to exercise a wider influence" and the notations of such music had passed  from the Persians to Arabia, and was then introduced into European music by Guidood' Arezzo at the beginning of the 11th century. It is indeed instructive that Gandhiji invoked the Indian music to promote unity among Britishers and Indians in the late ninetieth century.

       Later when he came back to India in 1915 after his first Satyagraha he reflected on the necessity of music education for children. While speaking at the second Gujarat Educational Conference in Broach on 20th October 2017 he regretted by saying that " Nowhere do I find a place given to music". Observing that "It exercises a powerful influence over us", he remarked, "We do not realize this vividly enough, otherwise we would have done everything possible to teach music to our boys and girls."

        It is educative to learn that he noted with great deal of sensitivity that "The Vedic hymns seem to follow musical tunes in their composition" and  "Harmonious music has the power to soothe the anguish of the soul."  Going beyond the music inherent in the stanzas of revered scriptures and its healing impact he located  the power of music in the songs sang in chorus by lay people like   boat men and labourers who were motivated and propelled by such music to do their work with and zeal and efficiency .  In thus realizing the deeper and creative effect of music he stressed on imparting lessons on classical music and observed, "Music must get a place in our efforts at popular awakening" and "The views of Dr. Ananda Coomaraswami1 on this subject are worthy of serious study".  The linkage he established between music and popular awakening in 1917 is very striking.

        He prepared a Scheme for National Education in 1917 and accorded music its due place in it. He wrote,  "Music has been introduced as an aid to recitation and also that one may understand something of the subject."  In 1918 he talked in favour of indigenous music and said, "Our native tunes have the power to elevate people from their fallen state; the band has no such power . Why should we, then, give up such simple, beautiful and sweet things as the zanz and the pakhaj?" All such articulations of Mahatma Gandhi made in 1917 and 1918 made him one of the ardent champions of music in the second decade of twentieth century.  

        Even as Mahatma Gandhi was not a trained musician and had no elementary knowledge of music  he had  extraordinary love for  it and brilliantly expounded its far reaching significance for individual, social and national life. In Sabaramati Ashram established in 1917 there used to be open air prayer meetings and hymns used to be sung by all participants and the music of such prayer meetings had a spiritual and sublime impact on the minds of the inmates. The Ashram Bhajanabali with collection of hymns recited in Sabaramati Ashram celebrated the  musical  and spiritual dimensions which remained integral to the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi.

        While explaining the  abiding place of music 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 of our own society and civilization 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 exponent 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 tuned to 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 the 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.  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 author served as Officer on Special Duty and Press Secretary to President of India late Shri K. .R.Narayanan and had a tenure as Director in Prime Minister's Office and Joint Secretary in the Rajya Sabha Secretariat.

 Views expressed are personal .