Wednesday 09 / July / 2025
Muscat: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has heaped praise on Omani singer Haitham Rafi for his rendition of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite song.
The PM had tweeted his admiration of Rafi’s forthcoming gesture. He also praised His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his wise leadership.
Modi was referring to Rafi singing Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajan (devotional song) as a tribute, ahead of Gandhi’s 150th anniversary, which was marked by the Indian community in Oman on October 2.
Rafi’s rendition of the song had been pre-recorded in a studio and the video featured him with some of Oman’s most popular landmarks in the background, including the grand mosque.
The video had been displayed at the Gandhi Jayanti.
“Popular Omani singer @haithamrafi pays tribute to Gandhi Ji by singing 'Vaishnava Jana To', shot at iconic places of Oman. Under the wise leadership of HM Sultan Qaboos, Oman has made a key contribution towards the promotion of global peace. #Gandhi150,” Modi tweeted.
Rafi, who is arguably the most recognised Omani in India, shot to fame when he won the Indian singing reality show, Dil Hai Hindustani in April, 2017. He had been showered with high praise by Bollywood bigwhigs like director Karan Johar, who had been on the panel judging Rafi and his competitors.
Haitham had quit his banking job to pursue a career in singing.
