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]
"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]
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.[3][4][5]
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.[3][4]
