A Musical Memorial – Remembering Mahatma Gandhi & Lal Bahadur Shastri
A unique event was hosted by Lorraine Music Academy and LAMP Trust on the 2nd of October 2014, at Epicentre Auditorium, Gurgaon that paid homage to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on the occasion of his 145th birth anniversary, and to another of our Nation’s Heroes, Lal Bahadur Shastri, on his 110th birth anniversary.
The event had distinguished Guests and members of the community from across the National Capital Region and from other States.
Chief Guest:
- Shri Oscar Fernandes, Former Union Cabinet Minister, Government of India & Honourable Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
The Thinkers’ Forum “Charcha” Speakers:
- Smt. Neera Shastri, Daughter-in-law of Lal Bahadur Shastri
- Sushri Radha Bhatt, Chairperson, Gandhi Peace Foundation
Guests of Honour:
- Dr. Raj Singh, Vice Chancellor, G. D. Goenka University
- Col. Kr. Pratap Singh, Chairman, CCA School, Gurgaon, Haryana
- Smt. Nirmal Yadav, Principal, CCA School, Gurgaon, Haryana
- Shri Dhirendra M. Sharma, Principal, G. D. Goenka Public School, New Delhi
- Smt. Sarabjeet Kaur, Principal, Paramlaksh World School, Alwar District, Rajasthan
- Sushri Gulshan Dewan, Rotary Public School, Gurgaon, Haryana
Presided & Hosted by:
- Shri Aubrey Aloysius, Founder Trustee & President of LAMP Trust, Managing Director of Lorraine Music Academy, Chairman of the National Patriotic Project
- Smt. Lorraine Fiona Aloysius, Trustee of LAMP trust, Creative Director of Lorraine Music Academy
Shri Aubrey Aloysius, Chairman, National Patriotic Project; CMD, Lorraine Music Academy; President, LAMP Trust, gave a welcome speech recalling the impact that Mahatma Gandhi had on his life as a young boy in school. He also shared from Lal Bahadur Shastri’s life recalling the winning of the 1965 war and his famous slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”. He extolled the spirit of sacrifice that our founding fathers and freedom fighters had.
Chief Guest, Shri Oscar Fernandes, Former Union Cabinet Minister, Government of India & Honourable Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), gave an opening speech extolling the virtues of Gandhiji and encouraged all to celebrate him by following in his footsteps. He shared some incidences from Gandhiji’s life that highlighted the sacrifices he made that led the people of the nation to follow him wholeheartedly. He also reflected on Lal Bahadur Shastri’s life and sacrifice for the country.
The Musical Memorial included “THE THINKERS’ FORUM CHARCHA”, moderated by Aubrey Aloysius, which consisted of live on-stage interviews and interactions with Sushri Radha Bhatt, Chairperson, Gandhi Peace Foundation and Smt. Neera Shastri, Daughter-in-law of Lal Bahadur Shastri, delving into the noble qualities, ideals, ethics, values & principles of these exemplary National Heroes, so as to pass them on to inspire our next generation of citizens for positive nation building. “Simplicity is the way of life” was the message that Sushri Radha Bhatt shared with the audience, as she encouraged them to curb the gathering of ‘garbage’ in the house by limiting shopping to the bare necessities of life. She also expressed that it is indeed not easy to imbibe Gandhiji’s ideology in one’s life, it takes time & effort to do so. Smt. Neera Shastri shared many interesting events from her life which made us understand Lal Bahadur Shastri better. The discussion also included recalling the winning of the 1965 war under the leadership of our 2nd Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, and his famous & stirring slogan “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”. “Waste not, want not,” was Smt. Neera Shastri’s motto as she encouraged us to actively take up the “Swachcha Bharat” Campaign launched by our Honourable Prime Minister, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. The inspiring and mesmerising evening witnessed the launch of the “COME INDIA SING FOR CLEAN INDIA” initiative.
More that 110 children and youth from different Schools and Universities from across Gurgaon, National Capital Region of Delhi rekindled in us the patriotic spirit. The musical memorial included performances of Gandhiji’s favourite hymns and prayers performed by the youth and children – members of our next generation, and citizens of India. The songs included “Vaishnavo Jana To”, “Raghupati Raghava”, “Jai Jai Mataram”, and a medley of patriotic dances. Lorraine Fiona Aloysius played on the Piano the world famous music “Ode To Joy” composed by Beethoven whose music Gandhiji’s enjoyed listening to, while Oscar Fernandes, Aubrey Aloysius & Ananya Panwar sang the song “Joyful, Joyful”. A group of singers from the Immaculate Conception Church sang some of Gandhiji’s favourite hymns “Abide With Me” and “Amazing Grace”. The musical memorial also paid homage to another great Hero of our nation, Lal Bahadur Shastri, who gave this nation the popular & inspiring slogan “JAI JAWAN JAI KISAN”.
Photo Album:
(Click here to view)
The program included:
- Welcome Address by Shri Aubrey Aloysius, Chairman, National Patriotic Project
(Click here to view the video) - Lighting of the traditional lamp by the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour alongwith with the hosts
(Click here to view the video) - Group singing of the National Anthem of India – Jana Gana Mana – by the Chief Guest, Guests of Honour, the hosts and the audience
(Click here to view the video) - Speech by the Chief Guest, Shri Oscar Fernandes, Former Union Cabinet Minister, Government of India & Honourable Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
(Click here to view the video) - Choir Performance / Group Singing: “Vaishnavo Jana To”, “Raghupati Raghava”, “De Dil Hume Azaadi” by students of Manav Rachna International School, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Choir Performance / Group Singing: “Ode To Joy” / “Joyful, joyful” by Lorraine Music Academy & Friends
(Click here to view the video) - The Thinkers’ Forum Charcha with Sushri Radha Bhatt, Chairperson, Gandhi Peace Foundation and Shri Aubrey Aloysius
(Click here to view the video) - The Thinkers’ Forum Charcha with Smt. Neera Shastri, Daughter-in-law of LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI and Shri Aubrey Aloysius
(Click here to view the video) - Choir Performance / Group Singing: “Abide With Me”, “My Chains Are Gone”, “O Give Thanks” by Immaculate Conception Church, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Choir Performance / Group Singing: “Ao Bachchon” by students of Pathways World School, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Choir Performance / Group Singing: “Nanna Munna Rahi Hoon” by students of Paramlakshya World School, Alwar District, Rajasthan
(Click here to view the video) - Dance Performance: “Satyagraha” by students of CCA School, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Dance Performance: “Bandhe Mein Tha Dum”, “Raghupati Raghava” by students of G. D. Goenka University, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Dance Performance: “Bharat Anokha Raag Hai” by students of Rotary Public School, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Dance Performance: “Jai Jai Mataram” by students of Pathways World School, Gurgaon, Haryana
(Click here to view the video) - Dance Performance: “Kalbeliya – Rajasthani Folk Dance” by students of Paramlakshya World School, Alwar District, Rajasthan
(Click here to view the video)
The Musical Memorial included a brief workshop embedded in the concert to educate and encourage the audience to abide by the Constitution of India and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem. This included an explanation and training on the proper singing of the National Anthem as per the code as laid out in the Constitution – in the right rhythm, melody and timing.
This concert was arranged in aid of raising awareness, support and resources for the National Patriotic Project “Come India Sing Jana Gana Mana”. The Musical Memorial included patriotic and folk songs / dances depicting India’s cultural ethos of “Unity in Diversity”. The event had a full capacity audience singing our National Anthem with pride, passion, and precision. The National Patriotic Project “Come India Sing Jana Gana Mana” is a clarion call to 1.27 Billion Indians to stand together for one cause – the Unity of India, by singing one song – our National Anthem, in the correct code as laid out in the Constitution of India, which is around 52 seconds.
The event also marked the encouragement of a nation-wide drive to encourage proper singing of our National Anthem the right way as per the code laid out in the Constitution of India across schools and educational institutions. The initiative includes speaking at gatherings of students in schools and educational institutions, during assembly time, in offices and institutions, conducting workshops and training sessions, teaching the correct way of singing the Anthem, with passion, pride and precision, i.e.- in 52 seconds.
Article 51A of the Constitution of India states that “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India;…”.
This event forms a part of the ongoing National Patriotic Project “Come India Sing Jana Gana Mana” that was launched on 15th August 2013, our Independence Day.
Aubrey Aloysius, founder of the Lorraine Music Academy and the LAMP Trust, and Chairman of the National Patriotic Project, says “Music is food for the soul. Good food and good exercise gives you good physical stability. A good diet of the right kind of music gives you mental, emotional, intellectual and spiritual stability. Music helps the creative process and sparks the imagination and ideas. When this musical imagination and experience of singing our National Anthem is ignited in a group circumstance, we have the most extraordinary power to change young lives for positive living and nation-building.”
The “Come India Sing” Nation-wide Audition and Talent Contest for Music, Art & Culture is open to all. This includes a slogan contest for every Indian citizen to express what the National Anthem means to them. The contest also encourages the practising & the singing of Jana Gana Mana, Patriotic Songs, and Folk Songs among others.
Participation can be as an Individual, as a Family or as a Group of friends, a school, a college, classmates, office colleagues, communities, RWAs…. All one has to do is record on video one’s family or group or oneself singing the song, upload the video to YouTube, complete the registration form on our website, and be a part of the nation-building project. Age is no bar. This contest is open to all ages.
Select participants and winners of the above project will get opportunities to perform on stage before audiences at various venues in the National Capital Region of Delhi and across the country. Winners of the “Come India Sing” Nation-wide Talent Contest will earn the privilege of being invited to sing the National Anthem alongside the nation’s leaders and to receive their award. Individuals and groups whose performance stand out will also be invited to attend or to perform at an enormous annual cultural program depicting India’s cultural ethos of “Unity in Diversity”, in a large venue in the National Capital Region of Delhi. Thousands of the nation’s youth will together in one voice celebrate our great nation by singing “Jana Gana Mana”. This event will be broadcast nationally and internationally, giving participants exposure on a grand scale that will, at the very least, leave them with memories that will last for a lifetime and, at the very most, be the key elements in inspiring them realize their greater dreams.
Watch Recent Interviews on Lok Sabha Television:
So spread the word, and join in singing our National Anthem alongwith other songs – Patriotic Songs, Folk Songs, Festive Songs, Pop Songs, Rock Songs, Christmas Carols, Gospel Songs – which can follow as well.
To participate, one can log on to the following website: www.localhost/lma or email: contest@lorrainemusicacademy.com or sms 9910143344.
To participate in or contribute to the nation building project, one can log on to the following websites:
www.localhost/lma
www.Facebook.com/ComeIndiaSing
www.facebook.com/pages/Lorraine-Music-Academy/113247108756592?ref=br_rs
or email: contest@lorrainemusicacademy.com or Aubrey@LorraineMusicAcademy.com
or sms 9910143344.
Conceptualised & Initiated by:
- Lorraine Music Academy
in Aid of:
- LAMP Trust
