Anthem of Confidence

Six years since it was set up,the organisation has scripted several successful stories of empowerment,covering 21 villages in Haryana and touching the lives of over 25,000 people. “We would like each one of you to go back with a little bit of vishwas in you that together,we can make a difference; we can help children realise their full potential in an inclusive environment and ensure that those with special needs get equal opportunities,equal rights and,of course,a little more,” said Neelam Jolly,chairperson of Vishwas.

Kher’s multi-layered voice transformed the evocative lyrics of the anthem into an infectious ripple that ran across the auditorium. “When I heard the recording,I felt like crying,” confessed the Sufi singer. Joshi was emotional too. “Words came on their own when I heard about the effort the Vishwas team has been putting in for the cause of inclusive learning. I should thank them for giving me this opportunity,” he said. One of the guests,writer,journalist and former minister Arun Shourie,summed up the mood of the house as he quoted the Dalai Lama with a personal footnote: “ ‘If you want to be truly selfish,help someone’ — who cannot do anything for you in return.”

The evening found a resonating rhythm as a 90-minute-long enjoyable concert by Kher and his band,Kailasa,took over. Kher kept the guests enthralled with his witticisms as much as with the devotional passion that he brings to his art. The six-member outfit performed 16 tracks — from the peppy Tauba-tauba,Dhol wajda,Rang dini and Bam lahiri,to soppy and romantic numbers such as Ya rabba,Aao ji,and to his most popular tracks,Teri deewani,Saiyyan,Allah ke bande,and even the recent hit Rangeelay.

Among the guests were BJP leader L K Advani; political commentator and Britain’s Labour Party politician,Lord Meghnad Desai; MP Jyotiraditya Scindia,cardiologist Naresh Trehan with wife Madhu; UIDAI chairman Nandan Nilekani and singer Jasbir Jassi.