Friends, I do not wear my patriotism on my sleeve, but every year when the Republic Day and Independence Day come around, I am unable to suppress my deep respect for the millions who gave their lives unhesitatingly to the cause of free India, both before and after independence. Having been born to a father who served the Indian Air Force diligently for over 35 years, an uncle who served in the Army Medical Core and another who served the Indian Navy aboard INS Vikrant, INS Delhi and INS Mysore, patriotism was something no one talked about or celebrated. It was just there. My grandfather fought for the British Army during World War I, as a young 18 year old soldier, going on to Adan, learning Arabic and teaching warfare Army recruits there. My respect for men in uniform is therefore natural. Equally natural is my hatred and scorn for those who loot the nation and its people, and amass ill-gotten wealth. Or those who fan narrow, parochial fires on grounds of religion, caste, region, language and what have you. Let us all resolve on this, the 66th Republic Day, to forever respect those who have served the country honestly and at great cost to personal lives. Let us resolve to eradicate the scourge of corruption, communalism and criminality from our polity and society. Here is the song that encapsulates perfectly my sentiments on this day. Kudos to the poet, musician and singer who spoke as one for the nation, then and now. ऐ मेरे वतन् के लोगो! ऐ मेरे वतन् के लोगो! तुम खूब लगा लो नारा ! ये शुभदिन है हम सबका! लहरा लो तिरंगा प्यारा पर मत भूलो सीमा पर! वीरों ने है प्राण गँवाए! कुछ याद उन्हें भी कर लो -२! जो लौट के घर न आए -२ ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगो! ज़रा आँख में भरलो पानी! जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी! ज़रा याद करो क़ुरबानी |प| जब घायल हुआ हिमालय! खतरे में पड़ी आज़ादी! जब तक थी साँस लड़े वो! फिर अपनी लाश बिछादी संगीन पे धर कर माथा! सो गये अमर बलिदानी! जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी! ज़रा याद करो क़ुरबानी |१| जब देश में थी दीवाली! वो खेल रहे थे होली! जब हम बैठे थे घरों में! वो झेल रहे थे गोली थे धन्य जवान वो अपने! थी धन्य वो उनकी जवानी! जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी! ज़रा याद करो क़ुरबानी |२| कोई सिख कोई जाट मराठा -२! कोई गुरखा कोई मदरासी -२! सरहद पे मरनेवाला! हर वीर था भारतवासी जो ख़ून गिरा पर्वत पर! वो ख़ून था हिंदुस्तानी! जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी! ज़रा याद करो क़ुरबानी |३| थी खून से लथपथ काया! फिर भी बन्दूक उठाके! दस-दस को एक ने मारा! फिर गिर गये होश गँवा के जब अन्त समय आया तो! कह गये के अब मरते हैं! ख़ुश रहना देश के प्यारो -२! अब हम तो सफ़र करते हैं -२ क्या लोग थे वो दीवाने! क्या लोग थे वो अभिमानी! जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी! ज़रा याद करो क़ुरबानी |४| तुम भूल न जाओ उनको! इसलिये कही ये कहानी! जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी! ज़रा याद करो क़ुरबानी जय हिन्द। जय हिन्द की सेना -२! जय हिन्द, जय हिन्द, जय हिन्द||[3] Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo (ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगों; O! the people of my country!) is an Indian patriotic song written in Hindi by Kavi Pradeep and composed by C. Ramchandra commemorating Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War in 1962. It was famously performed live by Lata Mangeshkar in the presence of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the Ramlila grounds in New Delhi on Republic Day, 26 January, 1963, several months after the end of the war. A copy of the soundtrack spool was also gifted to Nehru on the occasion. According to popular legend, Nehru was moved to tears by the song. The lyrics of the song not only reflected Kavi Pradeeps sentiments but his nationalistic thinking of the country at large. With singer Lata Mangeshkar and composer C Ramchandra he brought tears to every eye including Nehrus. None of the artists and technicians involved with the song — including singers, musicians, music director, lyricist, recording studio, sound recordist — charged for the song, and later, lyricist Kavi Pradeep pledged the royalty of the song to the War Widows Fund . Jai Hind! Pramod Joshi Jan 26, 2015 PS. Attended the Flag Hoisting Ceremony at the Resort in Mussoorie where I am staying for a few days.
Posted on: Mon, 26 Jan 2015 04:51:23 +0000
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