Grandes Maestros.UNAM Gandhi Katha

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En voz de la Academia: Grandes Maestros.UNAM
Gandhi Katha
Narayan Desai (Valsad, Gujarat, 1924 - Vedachhi, 2015). Educator, activist and
writer. His father, Mahadev Desai, social freedom fighter of India, was personal
secretary of the Mahatma. During the first 24 years of his life, Narayan lived with
his father attending him in several tasks and coexisted with Gandhi. He quit formal
education at age 12 and began working closely with Gandhi in Sabarmati Ashram. In
Sevagram Ashram he began his teachings and later founded a school in the
province of Gujarat. In 1952 he joined the Bhoodan movement, which aimed to
convince landowners to voluntarily donate a percentage of their properties to the
needy and over several years walked to obtain 3000 acres in donation of arable land in Gujarat. Along with
Jayaprakash Narayan, he proposed to the UN the creation of international peacekeepers without weapons.
Narayan Desai founded and participated in non-violent movements and organizations in India and abroad.
He authored more than 50 books in Gujarati, Hindi and English, among which can be highlighted a biography
of Gandhi. In addition, he wrote hundreds of articles in magazines and newspapers. He was recognized with
international awards such as the UNESCO-Madanjeet Singh Prize for the promotion of tolerance and
Nonviolence*. From 2007 to 2015 he was Chancellor of the Gujarat Vidyapith, university founded by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1920.
The term "katha" is Sanskrit for "history" and in India refers to the oral story, an ancient communication
means which reproduced feats of mythological heroes. In the "Gandhi Katha" reproduced below, Narayan
Desai, weaves memories and lessons that describe the life history of Bapu, as people used to call Gandhi,
along with music tracks that talk about peace and love values. From his experience, and in order to keep his
message alive, Narayan Desai shares this exercise of reflection, giving place to many stories that forged the
will of a leader who raised the precept of Nonviolence.
Music credits: Narsi Mehta is the author of the song titled Vaishnav Jan To and Narayan Desai is the author
of the other pieces. Gandhi Katha live music performed by Juan Pablo Rivera Sierra (vocal), Carlos Orozco
(sitar) and Gabriel Morfin (table). “Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram” and “Que florezca la luz” performed by
Macuilxochitl Ponce Boone. Recorded songs performed by Bhadraben Savai, Narendra Shastri and choir.
Shri Narayan Desai proclaimed the "Gandhi Katha" program within the Grandes Maestros.UNAM, December
2-6, 2011, in the auditorium of the Museo Universitario Arte Contemporáneo of the UNAM, where the
recording presented here was performed. The Spanish version is the voice of Juan Stack and the original
version is available here.
This course was made possible by the support of the OraWorldMandala Research/Action for Nonviolence of
Gujarat Vidyapith (University founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1920).
*The neologism Nonviolence is used to express the meaning of the Sanskrit Word Ahimsa, etymologically formed by A: "absence"; and
Himsa: violence. Ahimsa means "absence of violence". The word Nonviolence derives from this conceptualization.
The original songs played in the Gandhi Katha can be heard here:
Session 1
o Vaishnav Jan To
Session 2
o Dhoon Ahimsa Badi
Shakti He
o Yah Satya Ka Pathik
o Abhinav Jivan Karle
Session 3
Session 4
Session 5
o Dhoon Rog Ko Mitvo
o Dhoon Lok Jagran
o Jiski Buniyad Me Ho
Vrat Nistha
o Muzko Re, Muzko
Re
o Que florezca la luz
o Kaho Kisne Tha Bhay
Ko Bhagaya
o Jag Nari Re
o Dhoon Shubh Mangala
o Satyagrahi
o Kisise Hum Darte Na
o Raghupati Raghav Raja
Ram
o Jod Di Hamne Preet
o Satyagraha Jivan
o Man Re, Man Karle
Vajra Si Chhati Re
o Rah Le Lo Sidhi Rah Le
Lo
o Dev Ke Darshan
o Mera Dil Humdardi Jane
o Durbhagi Thi Voh Gandhi