This Republic Day, Nationalism?
I am sitting here at my home trying to absorb as much heat from the sunlight as possible. Its Republic Day. I didn't realise it consciously until in an ongoing whatsapp conversation I wished a friend, 'Happy Republic Day'. For me the day was going like another free-going time at home. But the message made me ask, what kind of 'Happiness' I see, in this day. A little later, some music from nearby school or a community center, reached my ears. The music was 'desh-bhakti' songs. Apparently, like most of us I have enjoyed and sung to these songs all my life. But at the moment, they brought a little disgust in me and along with it inspiration to share. As I sat to share, I started to explore and ended up listening to a lot of 'patriotic' songs and the expanse of my feelings increased to several different emotions.
Doing this, told me something about our country, India (also sometimes called भारत and हिंदुस्तान) and the very idea of 'Nation (राष्ट्र)' and 'Nationalism (राष्ट्रियता)'. I have deep respect for all the artists and leaders of the time, but this is an attempt to read between (and behind) the lines. Although, I might not be able to articulate and share all that I am feeling & thinking, but here's an attempt to tell it through the lyrics of the songs.
1. कर चले हम फ़िदा जानो तन साथियों (1964) Video LinkI could not find much on the backdrop and the making of this song and the film, Haqueeqat. But some information from Wikipedia came in handy, linked here. The song came in the aftermath of Sino-Indian War of (1962). The so-to-say military defeat on both eastern and western fronts, created a mass emotion of one-nation in Indians and films and songs reflected the feelings of the time and also added to it. Interestingly, the movie and the song had music by Madan Mohan, lyrics by Kafi Azmi and was sung by Mohammed Rafi; two of them muslims creating a song with some Hindu (religion) metaphors. Broadly speaking, I feel Land forms the main part of the idea of a Nation. Apparently, Chinese Government didn't (and still don't) accept McMohan Line, considering it an imperialist imposition of Britain. And Indian Government accepts it; and hence the dispute and military warfare.
कर चलें हम फ़िदा जानो तन साथयों अब तुम्हारे हवाले वतन साथियों
कट गए सर हमारे तो कुछ गम नहीं सर हिमालय का हमने न कटने दिया
Doing this, told me something about our country, India (also sometimes called भारत and हिंदुस्तान) and the very idea of 'Nation (राष्ट्र)' and 'Nationalism (राष्ट्रियता)'. I have deep respect for all the artists and leaders of the time, but this is an attempt to read between (and behind) the lines. Although, I might not be able to articulate and share all that I am feeling & thinking, but here's an attempt to tell it through the lyrics of the songs.
1. कर चले हम फ़िदा जानो तन साथियों (1964) Video LinkI could not find much on the backdrop and the making of this song and the film, Haqueeqat. But some information from Wikipedia came in handy, linked here. The song came in the aftermath of Sino-Indian War of (1962). The so-to-say military defeat on both eastern and western fronts, created a mass emotion of one-nation in Indians and films and songs reflected the feelings of the time and also added to it. Interestingly, the movie and the song had music by Madan Mohan, lyrics by Kafi Azmi and was sung by Mohammed Rafi; two of them muslims creating a song with some Hindu (religion) metaphors. Broadly speaking, I feel Land forms the main part of the idea of a Nation. Apparently, Chinese Government didn't (and still don't) accept McMohan Line, considering it an imperialist imposition of Britain. And Indian Government accepts it; and hence the dispute and military warfare.
कर चलें हम फ़िदा जानो तन साथयों अब तुम्हारे हवाले वतन साथियों
कट गए सर हमारे तो कुछ गम नहीं सर हिमालय का हमने न कटने दिया
[ Did fighting a war in Himalayas not lead to destruction of the ecology, wildlife, human habitation there? Doesn't that mean to take it literally- हिमालय का सर काटा गया था !; Secondly, taking it metaphorically, Himalaya represents the dignity of the identity of Indian Nationality. But, does Himalaya belong to Indian Government? And if at all, it does belong to someone, why not human habitants there. Recently, in a conversation with two fearless people from Ladakh, they told me that they didn't feel part of India, they called singing National Anthem in their schools as imposition on their culture. Wow! ]
..
खेच दो अपने खून से ज़मीन पे लकीर [ Is the idea of Nation begins predominantly with land territory? For me, land owns us, not the other way round. Land (Earth) has seen millions of species come and go and we are one of them (forget what technology tells us). When the universe/Earth says it, we will be gone in a flick. So what's the point of government and rulers (not the inhabitants of that land in this case, mind you) fighting for land? I see it a waste of our time here, of our consciousness. May be not. ]
इस तरफ आने पाये ना रावण कोई [Both sides see the other as raavan]
..
छु न पाये सीता का दामन कोई, [This interesting Hindu Mythology metaphor also reflects our society's male attitude: where the male cannot let anybody even see 'his' women but doesn't resist exploiting his own women inside the house (domestic rape is prevalent in most Indian marriages); and also the male doesn't resist from seeing (touching etc) other women.]
--
The idea of a nation and feeling of patriotism has come to so closely intertwine with wars (mostly with what we call, another nation). Is Nationalism just about land and patriotism about wars? That's the question I am asking this Republic Day.
2. ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगो जार आँख में भरलो पानी (1963) Video Link
This song too was written in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War and sung by Lataji just two months after it had ended in the presence of Nehruji. Interestingly, after listening to the song, Nehruji said "Those who don't feel inspired by 'Aye mere watan ke logo' don't deserve to be called a Hindustani" (and not Bhartiya/Indian). This song commemorates and with grief salutes the military soldiers who died in the warfare against Chinese military soldiers. But I feel really sad, that with such emotions we are enthusiastically taken onboard the caravan of hate and violence to kill fellow human beings (of Chinese nationality in this case) and be killed ourselves. And wreck havoc in ecology killing wildlife and living beings. And we know, An eye for an eye shall make the whole world blind. May be the people will anyways die of famines, poverty etc. So should we call those people who are perpetrating such menaces as soldiers or बलिदानी too? Or lets call wars just another event in natural scheme of things that balances life and not celebrate it?
संगीन पे धर कर माथा, सो गए अमर बलिदानी
..
जब देश में थी दिवाली, वो खेल रहे थे होली
जब हम बैठे थे घरो में, वो झेल रहे थे गोली
..
जय हिन्द की सेना!
----
In my further exploration of 'patriotic' songs, I found several others with the above emotion but some others with different ideas.
3. जब जीरो दिया मेरे भारत ने (पूरब पश्चिम -1970): Video LinkThis song and the movie explores a different line of thought. Of liberating Indian identity from the burden of colonial roots, in one sense and in the other stating the differences of Western (or colonial) and Eastern (Indian in this case) philosophies and saying that Indian culture is truly great. But in the process, the song seeks to bring forward the diversity, strengths, accomplishments of India. If you were to ask a question, How is it to be Indian? This song attempts to answer in some ways. Although, I can't say Indian was the first civilization and similar other claims but yes.
Gandhiji wrote in Hind Swaraj, History is nothing but a memoir of wars and conflicts. There is peace, love, care in between but when they are interrupted it goes on the records of history. I absolutely agree. You could pick up your history books from school or intensive historical accounts like India After Gandhi or Contemporary History of America to come to this conclusion. So this song brings out the other element of life. Of what gives meaning to life. And how it is present in India; (as it is present in any other civilization) Please do listen to it.
4. दिल दिया है जान भी देंगे ऐ वतन तेरे लिए (1986) Video LinkThis one deals with a tendency the civilized call 'terrorism'. And the so-to-say terrorist call, war for freedom. Anyways, songs like this are sung on both sides. We hear just our own side.
5. आओ बच्चों तुम्हे दिखाएँ झांकी हिंदुस्तान की (जागृति -1954) Video Link
Now the movie from which this song comes, is the one I am really really looking forward to watch. Its called 'Jagriti'. After the colonial rulers left and political freedom was achieved, the sense of oneness at the nation level that swept the country before and post independence, was expressed openly. And through that exploration of what India means geographically, culturally, metaphysically started. This movie (like this song) I am hoping will capture that exploration.
6. हम लाएं हैं तूफ़ान से किश्ती निकाल के इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के (जागृति -1954) Video Link
Another song from the movie.
7. मेरे देश की धरती (1967) Video Link
This song and movie, comes in the next year when Mrs. Indira Gandhi took central office for the first time. This also marked the intensification of Indira's coveted policy of bringing in 'modern' mechanical methods of agriculture, including HYD seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and mechanical irrigation methods. The productivity and production increased no doubt, but in the short-term. We are only beginning to see its impact now.
--
Like I said earlier all this in no way reduce my respect for all the artists involved in creating such great music.
I have come to believe all forms of media has two major responsibilities:
1. To sense the feelings of the masses both in minority and majority with all possible lenses and bring them to the fore.
2. To raise the consciousness of people by bringing in ideas that help them grow morally.
Since the mainstream media has been centered around government (and governance) for a long time and recently has been owned by centralized capital owners (corporates), I feel it has quite missed on its responsibilities as stated above. And their moral compass (which is evolving) has definitely been different from my own (which is evolving too).
Thanks for reading. All this is my perspective, and excerpts from songs are what I wanted to highlight, I invite you to listen on your own before making any opinion about it or the larger subject. Keenly looking forward to your thoughts/comments on whatever strikes you.
..
खेच दो अपने खून से ज़मीन पे लकीर [ Is the idea of Nation begins predominantly with land territory? For me, land owns us, not the other way round. Land (Earth) has seen millions of species come and go and we are one of them (forget what technology tells us). When the universe/Earth says it, we will be gone in a flick. So what's the point of government and rulers (not the inhabitants of that land in this case, mind you) fighting for land? I see it a waste of our time here, of our consciousness. May be not. ]
इस तरफ आने पाये ना रावण कोई [Both sides see the other as raavan]
..
छु न पाये सीता का दामन कोई, [This interesting Hindu Mythology metaphor also reflects our society's male attitude: where the male cannot let anybody even see 'his' women but doesn't resist exploiting his own women inside the house (domestic rape is prevalent in most Indian marriages); and also the male doesn't resist from seeing (touching etc) other women.]
--
The idea of a nation and feeling of patriotism has come to so closely intertwine with wars (mostly with what we call, another nation). Is Nationalism just about land and patriotism about wars? That's the question I am asking this Republic Day.
2. ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगो जार आँख में भरलो पानी (1963) Video Link
This song too was written in the aftermath of the Sino-Indian War and sung by Lataji just two months after it had ended in the presence of Nehruji. Interestingly, after listening to the song, Nehruji said "Those who don't feel inspired by 'Aye mere watan ke logo' don't deserve to be called a Hindustani" (and not Bhartiya/Indian). This song commemorates and with grief salutes the military soldiers who died in the warfare against Chinese military soldiers. But I feel really sad, that with such emotions we are enthusiastically taken onboard the caravan of hate and violence to kill fellow human beings (of Chinese nationality in this case) and be killed ourselves. And wreck havoc in ecology killing wildlife and living beings. And we know, An eye for an eye shall make the whole world blind. May be the people will anyways die of famines, poverty etc. So should we call those people who are perpetrating such menaces as soldiers or बलिदानी too? Or lets call wars just another event in natural scheme of things that balances life and not celebrate it?
संगीन पे धर कर माथा, सो गए अमर बलिदानी
..
जब देश में थी दिवाली, वो खेल रहे थे होली
जब हम बैठे थे घरो में, वो झेल रहे थे गोली
..
जय हिन्द की सेना!
----
In my further exploration of 'patriotic' songs, I found several others with the above emotion but some others with different ideas.
3. जब जीरो दिया मेरे भारत ने (पूरब पश्चिम -1970): Video LinkThis song and the movie explores a different line of thought. Of liberating Indian identity from the burden of colonial roots, in one sense and in the other stating the differences of Western (or colonial) and Eastern (Indian in this case) philosophies and saying that Indian culture is truly great. But in the process, the song seeks to bring forward the diversity, strengths, accomplishments of India. If you were to ask a question, How is it to be Indian? This song attempts to answer in some ways. Although, I can't say Indian was the first civilization and similar other claims but yes.
Gandhiji wrote in Hind Swaraj, History is nothing but a memoir of wars and conflicts. There is peace, love, care in between but when they are interrupted it goes on the records of history. I absolutely agree. You could pick up your history books from school or intensive historical accounts like India After Gandhi or Contemporary History of America to come to this conclusion. So this song brings out the other element of life. Of what gives meaning to life. And how it is present in India; (as it is present in any other civilization) Please do listen to it.
4. दिल दिया है जान भी देंगे ऐ वतन तेरे लिए (1986) Video LinkThis one deals with a tendency the civilized call 'terrorism'. And the so-to-say terrorist call, war for freedom. Anyways, songs like this are sung on both sides. We hear just our own side.
5. आओ बच्चों तुम्हे दिखाएँ झांकी हिंदुस्तान की (जागृति -1954) Video Link
Now the movie from which this song comes, is the one I am really really looking forward to watch. Its called 'Jagriti'. After the colonial rulers left and political freedom was achieved, the sense of oneness at the nation level that swept the country before and post independence, was expressed openly. And through that exploration of what India means geographically, culturally, metaphysically started. This movie (like this song) I am hoping will capture that exploration.
6. हम लाएं हैं तूफ़ान से किश्ती निकाल के इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के (जागृति -1954) Video Link
Another song from the movie.
7. मेरे देश की धरती (1967) Video Link
This song and movie, comes in the next year when Mrs. Indira Gandhi took central office for the first time. This also marked the intensification of Indira's coveted policy of bringing in 'modern' mechanical methods of agriculture, including HYD seeds, fertilizers and pesticides and mechanical irrigation methods. The productivity and production increased no doubt, but in the short-term. We are only beginning to see its impact now.
--
Like I said earlier all this in no way reduce my respect for all the artists involved in creating such great music.
I have come to believe all forms of media has two major responsibilities:
1. To sense the feelings of the masses both in minority and majority with all possible lenses and bring them to the fore.
2. To raise the consciousness of people by bringing in ideas that help them grow morally.
Since the mainstream media has been centered around government (and governance) for a long time and recently has been owned by centralized capital owners (corporates), I feel it has quite missed on its responsibilities as stated above. And their moral compass (which is evolving) has definitely been different from my own (which is evolving too).
Thanks for reading. All this is my perspective, and excerpts from songs are what I wanted to highlight, I invite you to listen on your own before making any opinion about it or the larger subject. Keenly looking forward to your thoughts/comments on whatever strikes you.
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