PM points to affinity between 'Ekla Chalo Re' and Satyagraha

New Delhi, May 10 (UNI) 'Ekla Chalo Re' -- (If they answer not thy call, walk alone)-- the song that stirred millions of souls across the country, today reminded Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of the deep link between the message of Tagore's masterpiece composition and the one exemplified in the Satyagraha movement of Mahatama Gandhi.

The melodious song of Gurudev Tagore and Gandhiji's philosophy of Satyagraha summoned extraordinary courage from the hearts of ordinary people and motivated them to great acts of sacrifice, he said.

The occasion was the launch of a DVD of the Hindi version of Tagore's select songs and half-an-hour programme on 'Geetanjai' by Doordarshan besides release of a book on the satyagraha movement.

The function was held by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in connection with the 146th birth anniversary of the great poet and the centenary of the great movement Satyagarha in the history of the freedom struggle.

The Prime Minister said Satyagarha was Gandhiji's most powerful weapon in the freedom struggle.

''In the beginning he walked alone. And in walking alone, he was often inspired by Tagore's poem 'Ekla Chalo Re', he said.

''Gandhiji was willing to walk alone because he had the courage of conviction. He did not count on the support of anybody except his inner voice. It is this voice that Tagore captured beautifully in the lines of his immortal song 'Yadi Tor Dak Suney,'' he said.

The DVD was released by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, while the Prime Minister inaugurated the DD programme and the book was released by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

Earlier, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said the songs in the DVD including 'Ekla Chalo re' will be telecast by Doordarshan every Sunday for one year.

The songs will be translated in regional languages too, he said.

The function, held in the premises of Parliament, was attended by senior members of the Cabinet, including Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Rajya Sabha MP Dr Karan Singh besides a number of eminent persons from different walks of life.

The book on Satyargraha has been brought out by the Publication Division of the ministry in collaboration with the Gandhi Smriti.

UNI