Hari Tuma Haro is an Indian bhajan or devotional song by Mirabai, the 15th-century poet saint. It was Mahatma Gandhi's favorite song, who requested M S Subbulakshmi's rendition for what was to be his last birthday celebrations.[1]

Themes [ edit ]

"Hari Tuma Haro Janki Peer", "Oh Lord, take away the pain from mankind" is prayer to God, for alleviating the suffering of the downtrodden and those suffering. [2]

Lyrics [ edit ]

Hindi: [3]

हरी तुम हरो जन की पीड़

द्रौपदी की लाज राखी, तुम बढायो चिर

भक्त कारणा रूप नरहरी, धर्यो आप शरीर

हरिनाकश्यपा मार लीन्हो धर्यो नहिना धीर

बुडते गजराजा राख्यो, कियो बहार नीर

दास मीरा लाल गिरधर, दुख जहाँ तहां भीड़



Transliteration: [4]

hari tum haro jana kī pīr

draupadī kī lāj rākhī, tum baḍhāyo cīr

bhakta kārana rūpa narahari, dharyo āp śarīr

hiraṇyakaśyapa mār līnho, dharyo nāńhina dhīr

būḍate gaja rāja rākhyo, kiyo bāhar nīr

dāsī mīrā lāl giradhar, duḥkha jahāń tahāń pīr



English Translation: [5]

Almighty Lord God, remove the sufferings of Your slaves.

You protected the honor of Draupadi, Lengthening the garment that covered her.

For the sake of Your devotee, You assumed the form of Nrsimhadeva.

You killed Hiranyakasipu With Your fierce form.

You rescued the drowning elephant Gajaraj, Taking him out of the water.

Oh Master Giridhara! I am only Your maidservant, Mira. Here and there, there is only suffering and pain.

History [ edit ]

M. S. Subbulakshmi had previously visited Gandhi in Delhi, and sung Ram Dhun. Gandhi expressed the wish to hear Subbulakshmi sing the song. Subbulakshmi answered that she wasn't familiar with the song, and suggested that a noted singer should sing the bhajan. In turn, Gandhi replied that "he would rather hear her speak the words than hear someone else sing it". Feeling obliged, Subbulakshmi worked with her friends who knew the tune and lyrics, and when she got them right. The song was recorded at All India Radio (AIR) studios in Chennai, the night of October the 1st, finishing at 2 A.M. of October the 2nd. The following morning the recording was airlifted to Delhi, where it was played to Gandhi in the evening of his 78th birthday, October 2, 1947.[6][7][8]

A few months later, on 30 January, 1948, when AIR announced Gandhi's assassination, it was followed by playing of Subbulakshmi's recording of Hari Tuma Haro repeatedly.[6][7] Hearing this, it is said that Subbulakshmi fainted.

In popular culture [ edit ]

This song is sung by many renowned Indian singers such as M. S. Subbulakshmi[9] and Jagjit Singh.[10]

See also [ edit ]