One of my colleagues came to me in the office today and asked if I had the songs of Roja. I obviously didn’t have them as I never thought those songs would be great. I told him that I can download it for him. When I saw the list of songs in that movie, I was shocked to see that those were few of my favorite songs and I never knew they were from this movie. So, when I gave the songs to him, I made sure that I also copy them in my pen drive so that when I go home, the first thing I do is to listen to those lovely songs. The 1st song in the list was a patriotic one, which I must have surely heard almost hundreds of times while in school, either on the Independence Day or the Republic Day celebrations. {Those were the only 2 days in the year when we used to listen to patriotic songs and speeches about love for the “Maatrabhoomi” (motherland)}. But when I heard this song today, its meaning seemed to be so different. Though this was written in early 1990’s, its message sounded so contemporary. So, I thought I should try to understand each and every line of this lovely song and see how relevant it is in today’s India. Here’s what I felt about this song.
“Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyaara Hai, Sabse Nyaara Gulistaan Hamaara Hai”
I believe this feeling should be there in every Indian’s heart. But, unfortunately, this is not the case. I personally know a few people who consider some Middle East nation better than India, leave alone India’s comparison with the developed western world. Practically speaking, India is the “Sabse Nyaara Gulistaan” in the world. It has people following so many religions, customs and beliefs, that it’s like a “garden with many flowers”, which is the literal meaning of “Gulistaan”.
“Sadiyon se Bharat Bhoomi Duniya Ki Shaan Hai, Bharatmaa Ki Raksha Mein Jeevan Qurbaan Hai, Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyaara Hai...”
India has made a lot of contribution in the progress of the world. Even though I’m not very good at history, I know that the first university in the world – “Takshila” was established in India, it was an Indian who discovered “0”, the value of pi was calculated here in this country, till 1896, India was the only source of diamonds to the world, and the most recent example, India has been a leader in pulling the world out of recession. This is why, “Sadiyon se Bharat Bhoomi Duniya ki shaan hai”. Many brave men and women have laid down their lives to protect this nation. Even today, so many youngsters dream of getting into the army. Though I didn’t go to the army, I salute those, who are serving the nation, with great respect.
“Ujde Nahin Apna Chaman Toote Nahi Apna Watan, Gumraah Na Kar De Koi, Barbaad Na Kar De Koi. Mandir Yahaan Masjid Yahaan Hindu Yahaan Muslim Yahaan, Milte Rahe Hum Pyaar Se. Jaago...”
This verse has been sung with great vigor and passion in the song, as if asking the whole nation to react to what’s happening around. And this is the first time during the song when one realizes that these words were written specially for this era, year 2009-10, as if the lyricist knew what would happen in the time to come. States are being divided forcefully, people are being misled to believe that the city belongs only to the natives and not their countrymen, country is being divided into pieces for petty politics, people being commented upon on the basis of their castes (SRK being asked to consider going to Pak), and what not. Is this the India for whose independence our ancestors sacrificed everything? The last word of the verse says: Jaago… Wake up.. Or else, yeh chaman ujad jayega or yeh watan toot jayega.
“Hindustani Naam Hamaara Hai, Sabse Pyaara Desh Hamaara Hai;
Janmabhoomi Hai Hamaari Shaanse Kahenge Hum, Sab Hi To Bhai Bhai Pyaar Se Rahenge Hum; Hindustani Naam Hamaara Hai,Bharat Humko Jaan Se Pyaara Hai...” Yes, we’re first Indians and then northees or southees, Gujaratis or Punjabis, Sindhis or Marwadis. We were born in India, and not in a particular state or town. We should take pride in saying that we’re Indians, rather than saying we’re Bihari or Marathi. We all are brothers, born to the same mother: India. We should not fall to the divisive strategies of some self-interested men, and prefer being called Hindustani, rather than by any other noun.
“Assam se Gujarat Tak Bengal se Maharashtra Tak, Jaati Kai Dhun Ek Hai Bhaasha Kai Sur Ek Hai; Kashmir se Madras Tak Keh Do Sabhi Hum Ek Hain, Aawaz Do Hum Ek Hain Jaago...”
28 states and 7 union territories. An area spread over more than 3 million square kilometers. A haven to about 1/6th of the world’s population. A country of such large diversity. Still, there’s love and compassion for each other. But, in current scenario, this statement doesn’t seem to be true. People are fighting everywhere in the country, some on the basis of religion, others on the basis of region. I’ve witnessed both the types of fights in my short life of 21 years. There were riots in my hometown between Hindus and Muslims. And I’ve witnessed the unrest among citizens on the basis of region. We are now divided on the basis of our religions and our language. Nowadays, a Madrasi is afraid of going to Kashmir and a Bihari is being beaten up in Mumbai.
I would again ask, is this the India our forefathers dreamt of? It’s high time we woke up. We should come together and stand united. This is the same country where the names of Ram and Rahim are taken in the same breath. This is the land where Krishna and Moinuddin Chisti had lived. This is the nation where a great saint lived in Shirdi, who never knew his own religion and served all men, irrespective of their caste, creed or color. Let’s wake up and not discriminate among ourselves. Let’s be Indians, rather than being called as a “bhaiya” or “manoos”. We need to understand that if a political party believes that when it comes to the army, they are “Indians” but when it comes to the aam aadmi, they should be divided on the basis of their states, then this party is just indulging into vote bank politics and nothing else .
If we all believe that this is true, then let’s sing together:
“Hindustani Naam Hamaara Hai, Sabse Pyaara Desh Hamaara Hai”
