That's the central message behind a rendition of the anthem that singer Isheeta Ganguly has recorded during the lockdown. It's a straight-up version of the song where she stays true to the original. But, there's a twist in the video. It consists entirely of frames where Mumbai is empty thanks to the lockdown call in the wake of the pandemic. And there's a further twist. Parliamentarian and author Shashi Tharoor recites an epochal Rabindranath Tagore poem, Let my Country Awake, to bring the musical curtains down.

Poll

Who will win the Punjab Elections?

BJP 32.76%

AAP 43.10%

INC 24.14%

Submit

View All In Poll

Tharoor renders it in the manner of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru delivering his Tryst with Destiny Speech. "It's a powerful message for the country when we are divided with the trepidation of the unknown," Ganguly tells us. The politician elaborates, "The verse embodies a vision of our nation's better self, of overcoming divisions by 'narrow domestic walls', of rising above 'dead habit', and of waking up to a better dawn. I thought these soaring aspirations embody a message of hope, not just that we will overcome the present crisis, but that we will awake to something better."

Log on to youtube.com

Catch up on all the latest Mumbai news, crime news, current affairs, and a complete guide from food to things to do and events across Mumbai. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates.

Mid-Day is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@middayinfomedialtd) and stay updated with the latest news