New Delhi: While releasing his new patriotic song ‘Ek Akela Hindustani, Do Mile To Hindustan’ on World Music Day, lyricist Gulzar said following a conversation with composers Sourendro-Soumyojit, he realised India didn’t have any new patriotic anthem in about seven decades.
Gulzar wrote the song, which he said defines what it means to be Indian.
Before reciting the song, the poet pointed out how a majority of the anthems that we sing today were written over a century ago. Recalling his youth, Gulzar said he used to sing ‘Vande Mataram‘ and later Allama Iqbal’s ‘Saare Jahan Se Achha’ with great fervour when it first gained prominence. Then came ‘Door Hato Ae Duniyawalo’ in 1943. After Independence, Gulzar said India adopted Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as the national anthem, adding that these songs have become an integral part of our culture.
“As we move towards a century of Independence, the voice of the present is missing, which should have been there now. My hair has turned white waiting for one such voice to come forth,” Gulzar said.
He went on to quote Iqbal’s verse, “Mazhab nahin sikhata, aapas mein bair rakhna. Hindi hain ham, vatan hai, hindostan hamara (Religion does not teach us to harbour enmity. We are Hindi, our country is Hindustan),” before adding, “Hindi Muslim Sikh Isai appas main hai bhai, bhai (Hindu Muslim, Sikh and Christians, together we are all brothers).”
Gulzar added that despite such sentiments, there was Partition. “But it is time to let it all go. That is all the past. In front of us is one nation; let us focus on that. I invite all the youth of today to come and share their voice. So that their voice is included. It is time.”
He went on to say that his “karambhoomi, dharambhoomi and janambhoomi” are all India. “I am also one with India. I consider myself a part of this country, and I see it present here with all of you.”
Following this, Gulzar recited the verses for his new patriotic anthem, which states that India is not one person or individual but a group, from its 100 cultures to the three seas that kiss the country’s shores to its tricolour flag.
The band soon starts playing the song, before several voices from the Hindi-film industry, as the composers join in, while waving the Indian flag.