It has been a little over two months since I released my documentary ‘Gandhi’s Song’ my YouTube channel. As of this morning it has been watched by over 1600 people, 30 of whom have commented and 86 have liked it. There is not a single dislike yet.
What is particularly heartening for me is that for a big majority of viewers the documentary has done precisely what I set out to accomplish, namely rescue ‘Vaishnav Jan To’ from Gandhi’s looming shadow and introduce its creator, the great 15th century Gujarati poet-philosopher Narsinh Mehta. That was summed up in a tweet this morning by a viewer named Natasha Bardia who said, “Must confess that I've not given the origin of "Vaishnava Jan" so much thought, but it's likely that I would have sided by the one who said #Gandhi composed it! Thanks @MayankChhaya for this telling film!”
It is remarkable that so far there is not a single dislike or even a gratuitously insulting comment on it which I suppose represents the essence of Narsinh Mehta’s gentle prescription for a righteous life as written in the song. I do not presume for a moment that things will remain as upbeat and positive. In fact, I had not even remotely expected people to watch it, let alone like it.
If I add up all the numbers of those who watched it before I released it in the public domain, the total could easily come to in excess of 30,000 plus. I concede at a time when even some of the tritest and and the silliest of videos, including reaction videos, notch up millions of views easily, my numbers are embarrassingly low but it is my hope that at least the essence of the song will spread by word of mouth from those who have bothered to watch it.
It is refreshing to note that young viewers have warmed up to the documentary which is always a good sign. That a poet speaks to him some six centuries after his passing is highly encouraging.
The purpose of this short post is to thank all those who have watched it and done so with obvious attention. I am grateful.