'Attempt To Erase Bapu's Legacy': Cong Slams Govt For Dropping Gandhi's Favourite Hymn From Beating Retreat Ceremony

The Congress on Saturday attacked the government over the dropping of one of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Christian hymns 'Abide With Me' from this year's Beating Retreat ceremony

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New Delhi: After the government decided to drop Mahatma Gandhi's favourite hymn from the Beating Retreat ceremony, Congress leaders took to Twitter and salmmed the centre for the move.

The Congress on Saturday attacked the government over the dropping of one of Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Christian hymns 'Abide With Me' from this year's Beating Retreat ceremony, alleging that it was another attempt to erase his legacy.

"Abide With Me", written by Scottish Anglican poet and hymnologist Henry Francis Lyte in 1847, has been part of the Beating Retreat ceremony since 1950.

Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymn, 'Abide with Me', which used to be played on the eve of Gandhi’s death anniversary on January 29, is a solemn and key part of the Beating Retreat ceremony. A hymn is synonymous with those killed in the Great Wars, of which Indians had such a key influence.

To mark the end of Republic Day festivities, the Beating Retreat ceremony, performed at Vijay Chowk in Delhi on the evening of January 29 every year. The hymn had been played every year during the Beating Retreat ceremony since 1950 but dropped in 2020 and reinstated last year after its exclusion created a furor.

In 2020, the hymn was initially dropped from the list of tunes but was subsequently restored to the final list after protests from a cross-section of the public on social media. 

Reacting to the development, Congress Spokesperson Shama Mohamed tweeted, "Mahatma Gandhi's favourite Hymn is dropped from the Republic Day Beating Retreat Ceremony. This is yet another attempt by this petty BJp govt to erase Bapu's legacy."

"No action was taken against @SadhviPragya_MP for her comments against Gandhiji. This is BJP's love for Godse!" she said in another tweet.

Another Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh said there was an "ideological war" going on between thoughts of Gandhi and the thoughts of his assassin Nathuram Godse.

"Currently, the government that is governing is a strong believer in the thoughts of Godse. They don't take any action on people who say bad words for Gandhi ji. Government has time and again showed that it is against Gandhi ji's ideas," he alleged, according to a PTI report. 

Congress leader Ajoy Kumar tweeted, "New India , No Amar Jyothi no Abide in Me during the Beating Retreat. Sicko's BJP."

Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also attacked the government over the issue and asked that to rewrite 'New India', is it important to let go of precious traditions.

"Amar Jawan Jyoti without the eternal flame. Beating Retreat ceremony without the Abide with Me tune. To rewrite new India, is it important to let go of precious traditions?" she said in a tweet.

"A confident nation does not need to wipe out remnants of the past. Anyway, here's to the end to another one," Chaturvedi added.

This year's ceremony will conclude with 'Sare Jahan Se Acha', the brochure stated. The Beating Retreat used to end with the "Abide With Me" hymn.

The brochure also listed 26 tunes that will be played at this year's ceremony at Vijay Chowk.

The government's decision comes after a day it 'shifted' the 'eternal flame' from Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate to the National War Memorial which also raised a huge controversy and did not go well with the opposition leaders.