(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) – Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi operated his tab to play a new version of an ancient Gujarati Bhajan song to entertain Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and Prof. Mrs. Maithree Wickremesinghe after hosting them and their delegation to lunch at Hyderabad House on October 20.The song sung during the Indian Freedom Struggle is an all time popular hit in India.
Prime Minister Modi, a Gujarati himself once held the post of Gujarati Chief Minister. The essence of the song titled ‘Vaishnawa Jana tho’ means, “People sensitive to others’ trials and tribulations, provide succour to people in difficulty and devoid of pride are true” ‘Vaishnawayo’. ‘They honour the whole world, do not insult others and are pure in word, deed and thought. As such their mothers are blessed’.
Modi revealed that the song was sung by Sri Lankan artistes Bhathiya, Santhush, Umariya Sinhawansa, Asanka Dhananjaya and Rashika Pradeep as a tribute to late Mahatma Gandhi and recorded in Sri Lanka at Independence Square.
Prime Minister Modi later expressed his thanks for the musical tribute paid to the late Mahatuma Gandhi. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremeisnghe in reply said it was by following in the footsteps of Mahatma Gandhi that late. D.S. Senanayake gained Independence for Sri Lanka and he was thankful for the guidance.
