There's one thing I must admit. Independence Day is dearer to me than Republic Day. Maybe it appeals to the idealist in me, I can try and visualise what all must be going through people's minds at that time, . nerves, joy, trepidation, terror. after all, this was something they had been fighting for, hoping for, for almost a hundred years.
I remember how when I used to ask my paternal grandparents(Dadaji and Biji) about what all happened, they used to tell me stories of how they had come from Pakistan, amidst the riots, yet there was a hope in their hearts "Desh Azaad Hai". I still remember, growing up, whenever I would crib as to what I dont like in this country, and compare it to UK or US, my Dadaji would admonish me and say "A country's fate depends on Her people. if you find things lacking here, remember that somewhere, we as people have failed our country."
So, whenever 15th of August approaches, as kites cloud the sky, as kids start selling small Tricolors on traffic lights, I find myself humming some song or the other. Coz, even though I am a cynical soul, I love my country maybe due to what my grandparents taught me. This one is for you, Dadaji, Beeji. love you!
Aye Watan, Aye Watan, hum ko teri kasam
teri raahon pe jaan tak lutaa jaayenge
phool kya cheez hai, tere kadmon pe hum,
bhent apne saron ki chadha jaayenge
sung by Mohd. Rafi, from movie Shaheed, this song never fails to raise goose bumps. Apne watan ke liye dil-o-jaan luta dene ka jazbaa is se behtar koi kya bayaan karega.
~
Kar Chale hum fida, jaan-o-tan saathiyon
Ab tumhare havaale vatan saathiyon
from Haqeeqat has been sung by Rafi Saab again, but I think this song owes a lot to lyrics by Kaifi Saab. Its a true tribute to the motherland by a dying soldier, who wont let the Tricolor fall till his last breath.
Saans thamti gayi, nabz jamti gayi.
phir bhi badhte kadam ko na rukne diya
kar gaye sar hamare to kuch gham nahi,
sar himalay ka humne na jhukne diya
marte marte raha baankpan saathiyon, an tumhare.
I listen to this song, and my heart goes out to all the soldiers who defend our country from enemies, both within, and outside.
~
I thought I would not mention this song. but friends, forgive me. I am repeating myself. Kabuliwala, who left his country to sell his wares, to earn a living for his family back home, yearns to go back to his country, to his family, just like most of us do, when we are away.
Tere daaman se jo aaye un havaaon ko salaam
choom loon main us zubaan ko jis pe aaye tera naam
sabse pyaari subah teri, sabse rangiin teri shaam,
tujh pe dil qurbaan.
Maa ka dil banke kabhi seene se lag jaata hai tu
aur kabhi nanhi si beti ban ke yaad aata hai tu
jitnaa yaad aata hai mujhko, utnaa tadpaata hai tu
tujh pe dil qurbaan.
~
Who can forget this song, which was a tribute to the Indian army which faught in 1962 Indo-Chinese war, despite all odds, to the last man. Penned by Kavi Pradeep, and sung by Lataji, this song brought tears to the eyes of then Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru.
Ae mere watan ke logon, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani,
jo shaheed huye hain unki, zara yaad karo qurbaani.
Jab ghaayal hua himaalay, khatare mein padi aazaadi,
jab tak thi saans lade wo, phir apni laash bichaa di
sangiin pe dhar kar maatha, so gaye amar balidaani,
jo shaheed.
~
Dulhan chali, o pehen chali, teen rang ki choli
baahon mein lehraaye ganga jamuna, dekh ke duniya doli.
sung by Mahendra Kapoor, from the film Purab Aur Paschim. is as rousing as they come. who can forget Manoj Kumar, with a dhafli in his hand, singing to the village, making a point to Saira Banu.awesome!
~
Talking about Purab and Paschim, how can I not sing:
Jab zero diya mere Bharat ne, Bharat ne mere Bharat ne
duniya ko tab ginti aayi,
taaron ki bhaasha Bharat ne duniya ko pehle sikhlaayi
detaa na dashamlav Bharat to yuun chand pe jaana mushkil tha
dharti aur chaand ki duri ka andaaza lagana mushkil tha
sabhyata jahan pehle aayi, pehela janmi hai jahaan pe kala
apana Bharat jo Bharat hai, jiske peeche sansaar chala
sansaar chala aur aage badha, jyuun aage badha hi gaya
Bhagwaan kare ye aur badhe, badhta hi rahe aur phoole phale
hai preet jahan ki reet sadaa, main geet vahan ke gaata hoon
Bharat ka rehne wala hoon, Bharat ki baat sunata hoon.
This song still has the power of stopping any India baiter in his tracks.
~
In the same vein as above, Mukesh sang.
Honthon pe sachchai rehti hai, jahan dil mein safai rehti hai
hum us desh ke vaasi hain, hum us desh ke vaasi hain
jis desh mein ganga behti hai
Bhola bhala raju bahut pate ki baat keh gaya ji!
~
And how can any compilation be complete without this Anthem?
Vande Mataram
sujalaam
suphalaam
malayaja sheethalam
shashya shyamalaam
Maataram, vande maataram
Shubhra jothsana pulakitha yaminim
Phulla kusumitat drumah dala shobhinim
Suhasinim, Sumadhura bhAshinim
sukhadaam varadhaam, maataram
Vande mataraam.*
written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, sung by Lata Mangeshkar and Hemant Kumar in Anand Math symbolises not only the independence struggle, but also the Indian refusal to sing "God save the queen".
"Vande Mataram! These are the magic words which will open the door of his iron safe, break through the walls of his strong room, and confound the hearts of those who are disloyal to its call to say Vande Mataram."(Rabindranath Tagore in Glorious Thoughts of Tagore)(source Wikipedia)
~
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera.tujhe hai pukaara
ye wo bandhan hai jokabhi chooth nahi sakta
Mitti ki jo khushboo, tu kaise bhoolaayega
Tu chaahe kahin jaaye, tu laut ke aayega
Nayi nayi raahon mein, dabi dabi aahon mein
Khoye khoye dilse tere, koyi ye kahega
Ye jo des hai tera, swades hai tera, tujhe hai pukaara
Ye woh bandhan hai jo kabhi toot nahin sakta
Rahman
has poured his soul into this song, which adequately portrays the
dilemna, both moral and emotional of a man who has chosen his path,
away from his country, and yet he feels the pull of his mitti(pls
forgive the mix of languages, I couldnt think of a word in English
which would denote desh ki mitti.pls suggest).
