Rajkot: Traditional songs on Mahatma Gandhi, preserved by tribal communities in Jharkhand for more than 100 years, will come alive in Rajkot from Sep 16 to 19 as part of the ‘Bande Mein Hai Dum—Gandhi 158 Not Out’ project.The ‘Gandhi Gaan’ programme is being organised under the Gandhi Caravan initiative of Vishwagram Trust, with the aim of connecting the younger generation with Gandhi’s philosophy and the spirit of swadeshi through music. Five performances featuring folk and Gandhi songs will be held at educational institutions across the city.The programmes will be presented by Megha Sriram Dalton, a renowned folk singer from Jharkhand who is also a Bollywood playback singer. Known for presenting traditional folk and tribal music in contemporary formats, Dalton studied music at Banaras Hindu University (BHU).According to the organisers, the songs that will be performed are composed by tribal communities during the freedom struggle, particularly around the period when Gandhi visited tribal regions of Jharkhand. The songs express the communities’ admiration for Gandhi and convey patriotic messages.Over the years, many of these traditional compositions were at risk of disappearing. Dalton undertook extensive research and travelled to remote villages across Jharkhand to collect and preserve the songs. The initiative now seeks to introduce this rich musical heritage to a younger audience while presenting it in a contemporary format.The five performances will be held at R K University, D H Virani High School, K S N Kansagara Mahila College, M J Kundaliya Mahila College and IPSA (Indubhai Parekh School of Architecture).The Gandhi Caravan is part of a wider programme being held in Rajkot from Sep 15 to 27. The programme includes workshops, conferences, lectures and other activities exploring Gandhi’s ideas on food, clothing, housing, education, justice, management and technology.
