Out of all my course mates, the most effervescent of the entire lot, was PR Chowdry. Since he was a police officer’s son, he was nicknamed Bobby and everyone called him that.
He and Sabera Chowdry were amongst the most gracious hosts that I have come across. I have spent many a delightful evening enjoying their hospitality. They were so hospitable that by the time they were seeing you off from one dinner at their residence, they were already inviting you for another. Regrettably, we lost Bobby (to cancer) in Oct 2007, a few months after he got his daughter Prianka was married. Bobby had no idea that when he was moving around spiritedly, deadly cancer was growing within him.
Bobby had been an endless source of mirth to all around him. No one ever won an argument with him, though many tried (Suffice it to say that Bobby had his inimitable ways of winning!)
This anecdote takes me back to the year 2000 when Bobby was in command of Godavari and Billoo (another course mate P Chauhan) was in command of the newly commissioned ship, Brahmaputra. I happened to be in Mumbai from Vizag, undergoing my PCT (Pre Commission or Command Training) to take over Jyoti (later changed to Aditya because a C-in-C didn’t like me). And that was the day of Brahmaputra’s Anniversary cocktails (she had finished one year of commision in the Navy).
Bobby and Sabi graciously offered to take me to the ship by their car. And there we had a beaming Billoo to greet us (we have spent 40 years together and I haven’t yet seen him when he is not beaming! He is like a lighthouse).
Even though Billoo offered good Scotch, Bobby somehow felt that the party was too dull. Also, because of the Fleet Commander, at that time Rear Admiral Sangram Singh Byce being on board as the chief-guest, Biloo himself was rather subdued (a rare phenomenon indeed).
Bobby, therefore, decided to liven up things. The first ‘sensible‘ step was to gulp down large quantities of Scotch. The next ‘sensible‘ step was to regale all the guests, especially ladies, with lurid though humorous anecdotes. And the last – I guess it became a concomitant or collateral step because of the first two – ‘not-so-sensible’ – step was to kiss everyone within range.
After the Fleet Commander departed, the livening up role that Bobby had embarked on became quite zealous. Somewhat similar to how hard core holi revellers don’t leave anyone in vicinity uncoloured, Bobby had not left anyone on the helo-deck (the party-deck) of Brahmaputra unkissed.
Billoo, the perfect host that he always is, couldn’t wind up the party as long as guests like Bobby and others were around. But finally, there were only three guests left – looking from L to R – Bobby, Sabi and me. All the hosts, including ladies, had been kissed several times in acknowledgement of good quality of Scotch and some were visibly fidgeting because of lateness of hour.
Finally, their covert and not-so-covert looks had effect on Bobby’ s conscience and he decided to leave after a few more rounds of drinks and kissing.
He stepped on the brow and alighted on the Cruiser Wharf. Before getting into his car, he noticed the ship’s Master-at-Arms, standing there with a baton, looking smart and erect. Bobby was in a happy and gregarious mood. Even the sight of a provost (naval police) sailor didn’t mar his mood.
Bobby went to him, gave him a hug and kissed him on both his cheeks.
Ladies and gentlemen, if you ever visit Cruiser Wharf, in Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, you will find a memorial there honouring the gallant provost sailor who instantly died of mortification, that night! His children now tell stories about how their courageous dad withstood the wars: the 1965 and 71 wars with Pakistan. But, how, a kiss finally did him in. Years of reputation of being fierce and ferocious gone in a few seconds!
Married to a Catholic Christian I am familiar with Lazarus of Bethany who was witness to resurrection of Christ four days after he was crucified.
LtCdr Lazaro had a similar sounding name. He resurrected us when we were cadets on the cruiser INS Delhi and were ‘crucified‘ with the tough and listless routine on board; which including holy-stoning the wooden decks (rubbing the decks with wet sand and pumice stone in order to preserve the glean of the deck). He visited us to deliver a talk about the advent of missiles in the Gunnery world.
He was commanding one of the Osa class of missile boats, similar to the ones that took part in Operation Trident, on 4th Dec 1971 and devastated Karachi. With that the Indian Navy entered the missile age and since these guys had started with a stupendous success, they had the air of supreme confidence, swashbuckling approach and insouciant manner of speech.
We were totally bowled over by Lazaro and his talk. His carefree mannerism, Russian looking beard and lingo was the stuff we had imagined heroes of the sea to possess. When he called the Prime M Indira Gandhi as Indu aunty, we were tickled. He could have called God as “Jesus old chap” and would have gotten away with it. For a number of days after his talk we were moving around in a daze.
Some 36 years later, I had taken over as Director of College of Naval Warfare, at Karanja Mumbai. One of the DSs suggested that since Lazaro was visiting Mumbai from US, we could invite him to deliver a talk. He said, he, Lazaro, was now a research scientist in a university there (I think University of Wisconsin) and he would speak to us on – say – Decision Making Under Conditions of Ambiguity.
I was really excited. Here was my boyhood hero and he was coming to talk to us. I was looking forward to the effect of his swashbuckling style on the students. I thought they would be floored just as I was 36 years back when I was a young cadet.
Lazaro arrived at the college. He looked scholarly and a far cry from my cadet time hero. He started his talk giving some complex equations. He ended it 90 mins later (it looked like eternity) with even more complex equations. In between, if you think he filled it up with absorbing anecdotes or nonchalant humour, you are sadly mistaken. He packed his speech with still more complex equations. His talk was, therefore, as interesting as former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh speaking on ‘The Exciting Moments of His Tenure as PM’. I noticed that the student officers were visiting the toilets more frequently than with any other speaker; a sure sign of weary apathy.
One of the student officers mentioned to me later that if Decision Making was so monotonous, Ambiguity wasn’t a bad bet at all.
The only person who benefited from his talk was me. I was planning, after retirement from Navy, to be doing research on Benefits of Meditation on Stressed Officers in Indian Navy. I have decided to drop the idea to my next to next life after I recover from the let-down of my gallant and rakish hero becoming a research scholar.
A few days after our 68th Independence Day, last year, I gave you a compendium of The Best Azaadi (Independence) Poems, together with their translations. A large number of people have messaged to me that it is the finest compendium available on the Internet.
Now, a few days after our 66th Republic Day, I give you – what I consider as – the best patriotic songs. Sometimes, we are filled with anxiety about our country; at others, we are downright cynical. I myself took a reality check four years back with How Proud Should We Be Of Indian Republic At 62? However, we do recognise the fact that it is better to be free, independent and a sovereign republic than to be under a foreign yoke. With all our problems, there won’t be too many of us who don’t love our country India, both as a geographical entity and as an idea or concept. These songs, therefore, not only reflect our history but how and why we love India, that is, Bharat.
The very first song that comes to mind is of course Vande Mataram. It translates into ‘I praise thee, Mother’; wherein Mother is Bharat Mata. The poem was penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his 1882 classic Anand Math, which was later (in 1952) made into a movie by the same name by Hemen Gupta who was private secretary to Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and who, in 1961, directed Kabuliwala based on a story by Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore. The music of the movie was given by my favourite singer and music director Hemant Kumar. Vande Mataram had many versions sung by many; the latest being on music composed by Oscar winner AR Rehman. However, my favourite is naturally the one sung by Hemant da, even though the movie itself had another version sung by Lata Mangeshkar, widely regarded as one of the best.
Lets now turn to Tarana-e-Hind (Anthem of the People of Hindostan) or the National Song of India: Saare Jahan Se Achha or Better Than The Whole World. It was penned by the Urdu poet Muhammad Iqbal and was published in the weekly journal Ittehad on 16th Aug 1904. It was the leading poem/song of our opposition to the British rule. In the 1950s, the Sitar Maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar composed the music of the national song and Melody Queen Lata Mangeshkar sang it. It also became the marching tune of the Indian Armed Forces. India’s astronaut, in 1984, in an interview with the Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in answer to a question by her as to how India appeared from the outer space promptly replied (and gladdened the hearts of millions of Indians): “Saare jahan se achchha”!
Please enjoy our national song Saare Jahan Se Achchha sung by Lata Mangeshkar on the music of Pandit Ravi Shankar:
saare jahaa.N se achchhaa, hindostaa.n hamaaraa
ham bulabule hai.n isakii, vo gulasitaa.n hamaaraa
gurabat me.n ho.n agar ham, rahataa hai dil vatan me.n
samajho vahii.n hame.n bhii, dil ho jahaa.N hamaaraa, saare …
parvat ho sabase uu.Nchaa, hamasaayaa aasamaa.N kaa
vo sa.ntarii hamaaraa, vo paasavaa.n hamaaraa, saare …
godii me.n khelatii hai.n, jisakii hazaaro.n nadiyaa.n
gulashan hai jisake dam se, rashk-e-jinaa.n hamaaraa
saare …
ai aab-e-rau.nd-e-ga.ngaa! vo din hai yaad tujhako
utaraa tere kinaare, jab kaaravaa.n hamaaraa, saare …
majahab nahii.n sikhaataa, aapas me.n bair rakhanaa
hindii hai.n ham vatan hai.n, hindostaa.n hamaaraa, saare …
yuunaan, misr, romaa.n, sab miT gae jahaa.N se
ab tak magar hai baakii, naam-o-nishaa.n hamaaraa,
saare …
kuchh baat hai kii hastii, miTatii nahii.n hamaarii
sadiyo.n rahaa hai dushman, daur-e-jahaa.N hamaaraa, saare …
Kadam kadam badhaye jaa was the regimental quick march of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Written by Pt. Vanshidhar Shukla. Composed by Ram Singh Thakur who served in Netaji’s Indian National Army and was of Nepali origin. The song is also currently the regimental quickmarch of the Indian Army.
Please enjoy: Kadam kadam badhaye jaa, khushi ke geet gaaye jaa….
( kadam-kadam ba.Dhaaye jaa
Kushii ke giit gaaye jaa
ye zi.ndagii hai qaum kii
tuu qaum pe luTaaye jaa ) -2
( tuu sher-e-hind aage ba.Dh
marane se phir bhii tuu na Dar
u.Daa ke dushmano.n kaa sar
ju.D-e-watan ba.Dhaaye jaa ) -2
kadam-kadam ba.Dhaaye jaa
Kushii ke giit gaaye jaa
ye zi.ndagii hai qaum kii
tuu qaum pe luTaaye jaa
( chalo chale.n pukaar ke
Gam-e-nishaa.N sa.mbhaal ke
laa qile pe gaa.D ke
laharaaye jaa laharaaye jaa ) -2
( kadam-kadam ba.Dhaaye jaa
Kushii ke giit gaaye jaa
ye zi.ndagii hai qaum kii
tuu qaum pe luTaaye jaa ) -2
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bQcBNutX4GY%3F
This song sung by Lata Mangeshkar on a day after Republic Day in 1963, immediately after the Sino-Indian War of 1962, in Ramlila Maidan, New Delhi, brought the Indian Prime Minister Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to tears. In 2013 when the song turned its glorious 50 years, it was sung by Lata ji at Mahalaxmi Race Course in Mumbai whereat the Armed Forces personnel with gallantry medals were re-honoured.
The lyrics of the song were written by Kavi Pradeep, the national poet; and the music was composed by C Ramchandra.
Please enjoy: Aye mere watan ke logo….
ai mere vatan ke logo
tum khuub lagaa lo naaraa
ye shubh din hai ham sab kaa
laharaa lo tira.ngaa pyaaraa
par mat bhuulo siimaa par
viiro.n ne hai praaN ga.Nvaae
kuchh yaad unhe.n bhii kar lo -2
jo lauT ke ghar na aaye -2
ai mere vatan ke logo.n
zaraa aa.Nkh me.n bhar lo paanii
jo shahiid hue hai.n unakii
zaraa yaad karo qurabaanii
jab ghaayal huaa himaalay
khatare me.n pa.Dii aazaadii
jab tak thii saa.Ns la.De vo
phir apanii laash bichhaa dii
sa.ngiin pe dhar kar maathaa
so gaye amar balidaanii
jo shahiid…
jab desh me.n thii dIvaalii
vo khel rahe the holI
jab ham baiThe the gharo.n me.n
vo jhel rahe the golii
the dhanya javaan vo aapane
thii dhanya vo unakii javaanii
jo shahiid…
koii sikh koii jaaT maraaThaa
koii gurakhaa koii madaraasii
sarahad par maranevaalaa
har viir thaa bhaaratavaasii
jo khuun giraa pav.rat par
vo khuun thaa hi.ndustaanii
jo shahiid…
thii khuun se lath-path kaayaa
phir bhii banduuk uThaake
das-das ko ek ne maaraa
phir gir gaye hosh ga.Nvaa ke
jab ant-samay aayaa to
kah gaye ke ab marate hai.n
khush rahanaa desh ke pyaaro.n
ab ham to safar karate hai.n
kyaa log the vo dIvaane
kyaa log the vo abhimaanii
jo shahiid…
tum bhuul na jaao unako
is liye kahii ye kahaanii
jo shahiid…
jay hind… jay hind kii senaa -2
jay hind, jay hind, jay hind
After the success of 1957 Mother India, in 1962 Mehboob Khan made Son of India. As compared to the big cast of Mother India including Nargis, Khan took lesser known Simi Grewal, Kamaljith, Jayant and Kumkum in the lead roles. However, he retained the team of my favourite lyricist Shakeel Badayuni and music director Naushad Ali for the songs of the movie. For a young and newly independent nation, the voice of Shanti Mathur singing Nanha Munna Rahi Hoon was just what India wanted. It became a super-hit song instantly and is reflective of a resurgent India.
Please enjoy: Nanha munna raahi hoon…
nanhaa munnaa raahii huu.N, desh kaa sipaahii huu.N
bolo mere sa.ng, jay hi.nd, jay hi.nd, jay hi.nd …
raste pe chaluu.ngaa na Dar-Dar ke
chaahe mujhe jiinaa pa.De mar-mar ke
ma.nzil se pahale naa luu.ngaa kahii.n dam
aage hii aage ba.Dhaau.ngaa kadam
daahine baae.n daahine baae.n, tham! nanhaa …
dhuup me.n pasiinaa bahaau.ngaa jahaa.N
hare-bhare khet laharaae.nge vahaa.N
dharatii pe faake na paae.nge janam
aage hii aage …
nayaa hai zamaanaa merii na_ii hai Dagar
desh ko banaau.ngaa mashiino.n kaa nagar
bhaarat kisii se na rahegaa kam
aage hii aage …
ba.Daa ho ke desh kaa sitaaraa banuu.ngaa
duniyaa kii aa.Nkho.n kaa taaraa banuu.ngaa
rakhuu.Ngaa uu.nchaa tira.ngaa haradam
aage hii aage …
shaa.nti ki nagarii hai meraa ye vatan
sabako sikhaauu.ngaa pyaar kaa chalan
duniyaa me.n girane na duu.ngaa kahii.n bam
aage hii aage …
This song from the 1965 movie Shaheed on the lives and sacrifices of Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev still makes my hair stand on end. The lyricist was Prem Dhawan and music was also composed by him. It was sung by Mohammad Rafi. The version that gives you goose pimples is when Bhagat Singh’s mother visits him in the jail before he and his two friends are taken to the gallows. There is promise in the song that ‘O, mother, your son will not die even after he is hanged and is fortunate to be wedded to the nation’.
Please enjoy: Ai watan, ai watan hamako teri kasam….
tuu nA ronA, ke tU hai bhagat si.nh kii maa.N
mar ke bhI laal terA maregaa nahii.n
Dolii cha.Dhake to laate hai dulhan sabhii
ha.Nsake har koI phaa.Nsii cha.Dhegaa nahii.n
jalate bhii gaye kahate bhii gaye
aazaadii ke paravaane
jiinaa to usiikaa jiinaa hai
jo maranaa desh par jaane
jab shahiido.n kii Dolii uThe dhuum se
deshavaalo.n tum aa.Nsuu bahaanaa nahii.n
par manaao jab aazaad bhaarat kA din
us gha.Dii tum hame.n bhuul jaanaa nahii.n
ai vatan ai vatan hamako terii qasam
terii rAho.n mai.n jaa.n tak luTaa jaaye.nge
phuul kyaa chiiz hai tere kadamo.n pe ham
bhe.nT apane saro.n kii cha.Dhaa jaaye.nge
ai vatan ai vatan
koii pa.njaab se, koii mahaarAshhTr se
koii yuu pii se hai, koii ba.ngaal se
terii puujaa kii thaalii me.n laaye hai.n ham
phuul har ra.ng ke, aaj har Daal se
naam kuchh bhii sahii par lagan ek hai
jot se jot dil kii jagaa jaaye.nge
ai vatan ai vatan …
terii jaanib uThii jo kahar kii nazar
us nazar ko jhukaa ke hii dam le.nge ham
terii dharatii pe hai jo kadam Gair kaa
us kadam kaa nishaa.N tak miTaa de.nge ham
jo bhii diivaar aayegii ab saamane
Thokaro.n se use ham giraa jaaye.nge
When it comes to a patriotic song that still gives you goose pimples, there is nothing to beat this one from Chetan Anand’s 1964 movie Haqeeqat (Reality) that sought to recreate the reality of 1962 Sino Indian War. The movie starred Dharmendra and Priya Rajvansh besides Balraj Sajni, Vijay Anand, Jayant and Sanjay Khan.
This song was penned by Kaifi Azmi who had mastered the art of writing simple words powerfully. Music was composed by Madan Mohan and the song was sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Kar chale hum fida jaano tan saathiyo….
(kar chale ham fidaa jaan-o-tan saathiyo.n
ab tumhaare havaale vatan saathiyo.n ) – (2)
saa.Ns thamatii ga_ii nabz jamatii ga_ii
phir bhii ba.Dhate kadam ko na rukane diyaa
kaT gaye sar hamaare to kuchh Gam nahii.n
sar himaalay kaa hamane na jhukane diyaa
marate marate rahaa baa.Nkaapan saathiyo.n, ab tumhaare …
zi.ndaa rahane ke mausam bahut hai.n magar
jaan dene kii rut roz aatii nahii.n
husn aur ishq dono.n ko rusavaa kare
vo javaanii jo khuu.N me.n nahaatii nahii.n
baa.Ndh lo apane sar par kafan saathiyo.n, ab tumhaare …
raah qurbaaniyo.n kii na viiraan ho
tum sajaate hii rahanaa naye qaafile
fatah kaa jashn is jashn ke baad hai
zi.ndagii maut se mil rahii hai gale
aaj dharatii banii hai dulhan saathiyo.n, ab tumhaare …
khii.nch do apane khuu.N se zamii.n par lakiir
is taraf aane paaye na raavaN koii
to.D do haath agar haath uThane lage
chhuune paaye na siitaa kaa daaman koii
raam bhii tum tumhii.n lakshmaN saathiyo.n, ab tumhaare …
Lets turn to a little more modern movie and little more modern song. I love this song for its pathos and quiet resolve in the face of unequal war perpetrated on India by the terrorists from across the border. It brought national acclaim to two people: the story-writer and director of the movie Mani Ratnam and its music director AR Rehman. The 1992 movie Roja was first made in Tamil starring Arvind Swamy and Madhoo who nearly received the National Best Actress Award until she was beaten by Dimple Kapadia. The music got the Best Movie on National Integration Award and Best Music Director award for AR Rehman in his debut movie. The soundtrack of the movie by Rehman was declared by Time magazine in 2005 as one of the ten best sound tracks.
The song has the lyrics by PK Mishra and sung by Hariharan.
Please enjoy: Bharat hamako jaan se pyaara hai….
Bhaarat hamako jaan se pyaaraa hai
sabase nyaaraa gulistaa.n hamaaraa hai
sadiyo.n se bhaarat bhuumi duniyaa kii shaan hai
bhaarat maa.n kii rakshaa me.n jiivan qurbaan hai
bhaarat hamako jaan se …
uja.De nahii.n apanaa chaman, TUTe nahii.n apanaa vatan
duniyaa dhar dharatii korI, barabaad naa karade koii
mandir yahaa.N, masjid vahaa.N, hinduu yahaa.N muslim vahaa.N
milate rahe ham pyaar se
jaago …
hindustaanii naam hamaaraa hai, sabase pyaaraa desh hamaaraa hai
janmabhuumi hai hamaarii shaan se kahe.nge ham
sabhii to bhaaI-bhaaI pyaar se rahe.nge ham
hindustaanii naam hamaaraa hai
aasaam se gujaraat tak, ba.ngaal se mahaaraashhTr tak
jhanakii sahii gun ek hai, bhaashhaa alag sur ek hai
kashmiir se madraas tak, kah do sabhii ham ek hai.n
aavaaz do ham ek hai.n
jAgo …
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Wqb4HIcZ-Gc%3F
Talking about AR Rehman, one can never forget his Maa Tujhe Salaam that has been sung by him on his own music. Its lyrics are by Mehboob. AR Rehman has a way of reaching to the hearts of our countrymen with his music and this song really assumed iconic proportions.
Please enjoy: Maa tujhe salaam….
maa.N
(mother)
va.nde maataram
(I pray to you, o mother)
yahaa.N-vahaa.N saaraa jahaa.N dekh liyaa hai
(here and there, i have seen the entire world)
kahii.n bhii tere jaisaa ko_ii nahii.n hai
(but, there is no one anywhere like you)
assii nahii.n sau din duniyaa ghuumaa huu.N
(I have travelled across the world, not for eighty, but for a hundred days)
nahii.n kahii.n tere jaisaa ko_ii nahii.n hai
(no one anywhere, like you no one is there)
mai.n gayaa jahaa.N bhii bas terii yaad thii
(wherever i went, only your memories were there)
jo mere saath thii mujh ko ta.Dapaatii-rulaatii
(that had accompanied me, torturing me, making me weep)
sab se pyaarii terii suurat pyaar hai bas teraa pyaar hii
(your face is the loveliest of them all, your affection is the only love)
maa.N tujhe salaam
(oh mother! i salute to you)
ammaa tujhe salaam
jahaa.N tuu hai vahaa.N mai.n teraa huu.N divaanaa mai.n
(wherever you are, i am there, i am mad after you)
jhuumuu.N naachu.n gaa_uu.N tere pyaar kaa taraanaa mai.n
( i swing, i dance, i sing, the song of your love)
cha.ndaa nahii.n suuraj nahii.n duiyaa kii daulat nahii.n
(i don’t want the moon, nor the sun, nor the wealth of this world)
bas luuTuu.Ngaa tere pyaar kaa khazaanaa
(i will only loot the treasure of your love)
ek nazar jab terii
(one glance of yours)
hotii hai pyaar kii
(you cast on me, filled with love)
duniyaa tab to merii chamake damake mahake re
(then my world shines, glitters, smells)
teraa cheharaa suuraj jaisaa chaa.Nd sii ThaND hai pyaar me.n
(you face is like the sun, the coolness of the moon is in your love)
tere paas hii mai.n aa rahaa huu.N apanii baa.Nhe.n khol de
(i am going to come near you, you please spread your arms)
jor se mujhako gale lagaa le mujhako phir vo pyaar de
(and hug me enthusiatically, grant me again that love of yours)
tuu hii zi.ndagii hai tuu hii merii mohabbat hai
(only your are the life, only you are my love)
tere hii pairo.n me.n jannat hai tuu hii dil tuu jaa.N maa.N
(the paradise lies only in your feet, you are my heart, you are my life, oh mother!)
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jDn2bn7_YSM%3F
Lets now turn to a song that has been filmed in the National Defence Academy at Khadakvasala, near Pune (Maharashtra). It is from the 1970 film Aadmi Aur Insaan. Lyrics of this vivacious song were penned by Sahir Ludhianvi and music composed by Ravi. The song was sung by Mahendra Kapoor, S Balbir and Joginder.
Please enjoy: Yaara dildaara mera dil karta…..
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
aisa kuch kar paye yado me bas jaye
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
ho sadiyo jahan me ho charcha hamara
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
jalti mashale leke milni ki raato me
milni ki rato me
aage aage hum chale yaro ki baraato me
yaro ki baraato me
fanse koi bholi bhali apni bhi baato me
apni bhi baato me
kisi ki kalaayi aaye apne bhi haatho me
apne bhi haatho me
ho sadiyo jahan me ho charcha hamara
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
aisa kuch kar paye yado me bas jaye
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
nit naye dhundhe mujhe nit naye mile ho
nit naye mile ho
pariyo me ghire rahe kabhi na akele ho
kabhi na akele ho
gum ki ghataaye ho ki khushiyo ke rele ho
khushiyo ke rele ho
dono se nibhaane wale hum albele ho
hum albele ho
ho sadiyo jahan me ho charcha hamara
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
aisa kuch kar paye yado me bas jaye
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
humsa jiyala koi mile na hajaro me
mile na hajaro me
mare chahe jiye rahe agli kataro me
agli kataro me
jhalke hamara lahu kal ki baharo me
kal ki baharo me
ashqo ka tauhafa hoke bant jaye yaaro me
bant jaye yaaro me
ho sadiyo jahan me ho charcha hamara
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
aisa kuch kar paye yado me bas jaye
dil karta o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
o yara dildara mera dil karta
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3adU-Pg7g-o%3F
Lets get back to 1954 movie Jagriti (Awakening) directed by Satyen Bose. It won the Filmfare Best Movie Award and brought for its lead actor Abhi Bhattacharya the Best Supporting Actor Award. This songs lyrics, once again, are by Kavi Pradeep who has excelled in writing patriotic songs. Music is by Hemant Kumar and the song has been sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Ham laayen hain toofaan se kishati nikaal ke….
paase sabhii ulaT gae dushman kii chaal ke
akshar sabhii palaT gae bhaarat ke bhaal ke
ma.nzil pe aayaa mulk har balaa ko Taal ke
sadiyo.n ke baad phir u.De bAdal gulaal ke
ham laae hai.n tuufaan se kashtii nikaal ke
is desh ko rakhanaa mere bachcho.n sambhaal ke
tum hii bhavishhy ho mere bhaarat vishaal ke
is desh ko rakhanaa mere bachcho.n sambhaal ke
dekho kahii.n barabaad nA hoe ye bagiichaa
isako hR^iday ke khuun se baapuu ne hai sii.nchaa
rakkhaa hai ye chiraaG shahiido.n ne baal ke, is desh ko…
duniyaa ke daa.nv pe.nch se rakhanaa nA vaastaa
ma.nzil tumhaarii dUr hai lambaa hai raastaa
bhaTakaa nA de koii tumhe.n dhokhe me.n Daal ke, is desh ko…
aiTam bamo.n ke jor pe ai.nThii hai ye duniyaa
baaruud ke ik Dher pe baiThii hai ye duniyaa
tum har kadam uThaanaa zaraa dekha bhaal ke, is desh ko…
aaraam kii tum bhuul bhulayyaa me.n nA bhuulo
sapano.n ke hi.nDolo.n pe magan hoke nA jhuulo
ab vaqt aa gayaa hai mere ha.Nsate hue phuulo.n
uTho chhalaa.Ng maar ke aakaash ko chhuu lo
tum gaa.D do gagan pe tira.ngaa uchhaal ke, is desh ko…
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ddrx8288qwA%3F
What can you say about this song? You can only marvel at its lyrics that represents how India was known for the nation with Sone Ki Chidhiya. Rajinder Krishan, its lyricist needs to be congratulated for the words that became immortal, a cherished dream in later years. Music is by Hansraj Behl who has not only given music for several Punjabi movies but also for Hindi movies. It has been sung by Mohammad Rafi. The song is from the 1965 movie Sikander-e-Azam.
Please enjoy: Jahan daal daal par sone ki chidhiyan karti hain basera….
jahaa.N Daal-Daal par
sone kii chi.Diyaa.n karatii hai baseraa
vo bhaarat desh hai meraa
jahaa.N satya, ahi.nsaa aur dharm kaa
pag-pag lagataa Deraa
vo bhaarat desh hai meraa
ye dharatii vo jahaa.N R^ishhi muni
japate prabhu naam kii maalaa
jahaa.N har baalak ek mohan hai
aur raadhaa har ek baalaa
jahaa.N suuraj sabase pahale aa kar
Daale apanaa pheraa
vo bhaarat desh hai meraa
alabelo.n kii is dharatii ke
tyohaar bhii hai alabele
kahii.n diivaalii kii jagamag hai
kahii.n hai.n holii ke mele
jahaa.N raag ra.ng aur ha.Nsii khushii kaa
chaaro aur hai gheraa
vo bhaarat desh hai meraa
jahaa.N aasamaan se baate karate
ma.ndir aur shivaale
jahaa.N kisii nagar me kisii dvaar par
koii na taalaa Daale
prem kii ba.nsii jahaa.N bajaataa
hai ye shaam saveraa
vo bhaarat desh hai meraa …
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-0kPkqkrHPk%3F
Lastly, I give you a song from Manoj Kumar’s 1967 movie Upkaar in which for the first time the villain Pran shifted to good roles. Manoj Kumar was an artificial stereo-typed actor but he excelled in making movies on patriotic themes. The movie Upkaar was also known for Kalyanji Anandji’s music and Indeevar’s lyrics. This very popular song has been sung in the silk-smooth voice of Mahendra Kapoor.
Please enjoy: Mere desh ki dharti…..
mere desh kii dharatii sonaa ugale, ugale hiire motii
mere desh kii dharatii …
bailo.n ke gale me.n jab ghu.ngharuu jiivan kaa raag sunaate hai.n
Gam kos duur ho jaataa hai khushiyo.n ke ka.nval muskaate hai.n
sunake rahaT kii aavaaze.n yuu.N lage kahii.n shahanaaI baje
aate hii mast bahaaro.n ke dulhan kii tarah har khet saje,
mere desh …
jab chalate hai.n is dharatii pe hal mamataa a.nga.Daaiyaa.N letii hai
kyuu.N naa puuje is maaTii ko jo jiivan kaa sukh detii hai
is dharatii pe jisane janam liyaa, usane hii paayaa pyaar teraa
yahaa.N apanaa paraayaa koI nahii.n hai sab pe hai maa.N upakaar teraa,
mere desh …
ye baaG hai gautam naanak kaa khilate hai.n chaman ke phuul yahaa.N
gaa.ndhii, subhaashh, Taigor, tilak, aise hai.n aman ke phuul yahaa.N
ra.ng haraa harii si.nh nalave se ra.ng laal hai laal bahaadur se
ra.ng banaa basa.ntii bhagat si.nh ra.ng aman kaa viir javaahar se,
mere desh …
Before we say Jai Hind, lets recall the 1910 poem of Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore and pray that India takes its rightful place in the great nations of the world:
Where The Mind Is Without Fear
by Rabindranath Tagore
Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high
Where knowledge is free
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments
By narrow domestic walls
Where words come out from the depth of truth
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way
Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit
Where the mind is led forward by thee
Into ever-widening thought and action
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.
It has been less than two years since I put up in this blog ‘Best Of ‘Make Your Own Quotes’ ‘. In these 21 months since the post and 23 months since I started with the Facebook Page called ‘Make Your Own Quotes’, a lot has happened. One, from a membership of just 30 or so, the Page has a membership of nearly 500 now. Two, a number of (nearly 300) new Quotes have been started.
Why did I start with the page? As I mentioned in the introduction of the first post, “I noticed that on the Facebook and elsewhere, there is a great penchant about putting up Quotes. These range from quotes about Love, Friendship, Politics, Life; indeed about each and every subject. Whilst reading these quotes I was stuck by the realisation that somehow we have this feeling that the sages, saints and wise-people of the past had abundance of sane-advice on all kinds of subjects; but, by a curious quirk of fate, we ourselves and fellow citizens have nothing great to offer in terms of such advice. When I started analysing this, I reached the conclusion that there is nothing simpler than giving sane advice; the answer is really blowing in the wind; it is everywhere. We only have to gather these pearls around us and weave them in a garland”. That’s how I started this Facebook page called ‘Make Your Own Quotes’ with an introduction: “There is nothing simpler than giving sane advice; you don’t have to follow great teachers. Make your own quotes and let others follow you.”
This venture started on the 25th of Feb 2013 and very soon it would be two years old. I have received tremendous interest from friends in these Quotes and I am told that around the world these Quotes are being circulated in all kinds of garbs. I have nothing against these since I shall never be making this into a commercial activity.
I like all quotes on Facebook; these provide quick and easy solutions to life’s seemingly complex problems. I believe life is as simple as Facebook; what you get is dependant upon your “settings”.
I started off by giving tips to people on how to make their own quotes, eg,:
Great Quotes Tip #1: Compare Life, Love, Relationships etc to something mundane and infer “great” sounding advice out of it.Here is an (original example): “Friends should be like electricity wires; opposite poles, running parallel and lighting up lives by meeting”. For effect, inscribe this on a totally unrelated picture of, say, a Frog in a Pond. Wanna try your hand at it; go ahead….nothing is simpler! Try comparing Life to Beans!! Go ahead, now that you have joined this site, you will eventually follow your own quotes!!!
Here is therefore the second tranche of Best of ‘Make Your Own Quotes’.
Going into historical background of things has been a favourite subject with me. We have documented some of our history whereas most of the important one is in the form of gospel, ie, passed down from one to other without being written. However, one important aspect of the history is the history of not just the events but history of our emotions. This is important since it has been asserted that God is beyond emotions. So, how then did the first man or woman get these emotions?
Now this is totally tongue in cheek and about my life in the armed forces which are largely hierarchal and authoritarian:
The subjects of God and Religion are close to my heart; both being the inventions of Man to keep sanity. I have written a number of articles about this in this blog. The most comprehensive is the one that tracks the origin of God and Religion, viz, Whose God Is It Anyway? I have argued that whilst we do need God, but Religion has to move away from being community activity to something personal. Here is a Quote about God:
I continue to indulge in Alternate Definitions of words, as in the previous edition. Here is one on Secretariat:
Rains always bring out the romantic spirit in me. Here is one about the rains:
Here is another:
As we move into a world where we are in crowds and yet alone and lonely, I have frequently given quotes on this subject. Here is the first one:
Here is another:
And yet another (though all these appeared at different times):
And a penultimate one on the same subject:
Finally, if we have ever examined sadness, we would have probably reached the same conclusion as me:
I frequently bring out the comparisons between Faith and Science; and, my way of looking at it is that both are the same except that the differences are more entrenched in our minds than similarities. Taste the following:
Whilst on this subject, I am often amused at the prevalent distinction between God-made and Man-made; it is as if the latter really have equal powers to make things as God!
I also frequently indulge in the witty, humorous and the light-hearted. For that, I have a running series called ‘My Moments Of Madness’. Here is one such post:
Here is another:
And another:
Here is one in which I have even expressed ‘Hope’ after Life!:
Here is another funny one, addressed to God:
Another running series is Alternate Definitions. Some of these are merely punning on words; but, these would make you feel. Taste the first one about my specialisation or field of interest: Maritime (I spent 37 years in the Indian Navy and am retired now):
Every one of us have heard the word Anglicised. Here is my definition of it:
Lets take a few about the attributes of the Indians. First of all, we are really very filthy people and litter everywhere with abandon. Here is a take on that:
Our traffic conditions are amongst the most chaotic in the world. Indeed, we kill more people on the roads than during wars. Here is a take on that:
And the third is the Indian Politics. But then, when I put it up, foreigners told me that it is the same in their country too:
As I told you, I spent nearly 37 years in the Navy and hence sea is in my veins. There are several Quotes on this theme; the most popular of these was:
Here is another one about the same romance of the seas:
Here is one about the sea itself and how it changed my life:
The four lettered word Life is a favourite topic with me. I give you a few quotes about this subject. Here is the first one:
Here is another:
And another since Life is such a vast subject:
And yet another:
This one about Life should make you think:
And a last one about Life:
Let me now give you three at random before finishing with this edition of Best of Make Your Own Quotes. There are, of course, many more and you can await the next edition. This one is about the limitation of Reason and Reasoning:
This one is being happy about what the sages and saints say; that is, Life is a Myth:
And to end this edition, here is a quote about my ability to make you look at God’s world differently:
I am sure by now I have convinced you to subscribe to ‘Make Your Own Quotes’. What do you have to pay for the subscription? Nothing; not a cent, pence or paisa. It is totally free. All that you have to do is to like the Page and these Quotes would be delivered to your timeline automatically. You can, on the page, make your own Quotes and share these too with others too. Dozens of subscribers have done it already.