New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly where he ended his speech quoting a song written by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.


Concluding his speech, PM Modi said: “I end my address with the words of Nobel Laureate Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. Shubha karmopathe dharo nirbhai gaan. Shab durbal sangshai hok aboshaan”.


“Meaning, proceed on the path of your good work in a fearless manner. All doubts and hurdles shall end. In today’s world, this message is pertinent to the United Nations as well as all responsible nations. I am confident that our endeavours will lead to furthering peace and amity in the world. It will make the world healthy, secure and prosperous,” PM Modi added.



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Syama Prasad Mukherjee Connection


The lines quoted by the Prime Minister broadly translate to: “On all good missions sing your fearless song. Let all doubt and confusion be gone”.


According to Geetabitan, a website dedicated to Rabindranath Tagore’s songs, Shubha karmopathe dharo nirbhai gaan was written on January 24, 1937.


The song is also said to have a connection with the former union minister, celebrated academician, and founder of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh Syama Prasad Mukherjee.


The website credits Probhatkumar Mukhopadhyay’s biography 'Rabindra-jiboni' as informing that it was at the request of the then Vice-Chancellor of Kolkata University – Syama Prasad Mukhopadhyay, that the poet wrote a special song to be sung on February 27, 1937, observed as the foundation day of the University. 


“At first the song 'Shubho karmopathe dharo nirbhay gaan ...' was written followed by another song 'Chalo jaai chalo...'. The university authority had selected the second one. Rehearsal for this song continued for a few days at Shantiniketan. Students were seen to follow a queue while moving in and out of the temple where the practice sessions were held under the leadership of Dhirendra Mohan Sen, the head. However, this song did not have the popularity, but the other song 'Shubho karmopathe ...' was seen to have been sung on a few occasions. The students did sing the song on the foundation day of Kolkata University,” the anecdote on Geetabitan reads.


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PM Modi’s Advice To United Nations


Meanwhile, in his address, PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to start exporting COVID vaccines for those in need in other countries. He gave a clarion call to manufacturers to “Come, Make Vaccine in India”.






He also said that if the UN wants to remain relevant, it will need to improve its effectiveness and enhance its reliability, stressing the need to strengthen the world body to safeguard global order, laws and values.


“If the United Nations wants to remain relevant. It will need to improve its effectiveness and enhance its reliability,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.


“We have seen such questions being raised, related to the climate crisis and during the COVID-19 pandemic,” PM Modi stated.


He went on to say that: “The proxy war going on in many parts of the world, terrorism and the recent crisis in Afghanistan have further highlighted the seriousness of these questions”.


“With regard to the origin of COVID-19 and the ease of doing business rankings, institutions of global governance have damaged the credibility they had built after decades of hard work,” the Prime Minister added.


He emphasised that “it is essential that we constantly strengthen the UN, in order to safeguard global order, global laws and global values”.