Sunday, January 27, 2008

Republic Day... a new song!

Every Republic Day has been different from the previous ones for me. This year, too, I had a different one. First, I was celebrating it for the first time on a foreign soil surrounded by people who were related to me in only that they were co-patriots. Second, I had to sing a song which I hadn't heard of till that day(though the song was popular, I hadn't heard of it before), listened to once or twice and sung before the entire crowd. Third, it was the day when I fell, my coat and all, into mud due to some (mis)adventures in the snow. And fourth, it was the day when I missed my favorite vada paav. Since I don't want to expand on my feelings about the republic day(the song says it well) and since I have no intention of talking of my slide and fall and missed vada paav, I'm going to stick to the song. Here are the lyrics(they struck a chord somewhere):

Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani - 2
Aaj puraani zanjeeron ko tod chuke hain
Kya dekhe us manzil ko jo chhod chuke hain
Chaand ke dar pe jaa pahuncha hai aaj zamaana
Naye jagat se hum bhi naata jod chuke hain
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani -4
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani -2
Aao mehnat ko apna imaan banaaye
Apne haathon ko apna bhagwaan banaaye
Ram ki is dharti ko gautam ki bhoomi ko
Sapnon se bhi pyaara hindustan banaaye
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani - 4
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani-2
Har zarra hai moti, aankh uthaakar dekho
Maati mein sona hai, haath badhaakar dekho
Sone ki yeh ganga hai, chaandi ki yamuna
Chaaho to patthar pe dhaan ugaakar dekho
Naya khoon hai, nayi umangein, ab hai nayi jawaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani-2
Chhodo kal ki baatein, kal ki baat puraani
Naye daur mein likhenge milkar nayi kahaani
Hum hindustani, hum hindustani - 2

And the video on youtube that I used to practice once


There is one thing to be said about the Republic day! It shows us, that despite all the problems in India, there exists a democracy of such magnitude and power that it gives all Indians pride and a sense of belonging and the world a hope, the hope that non-violence and democracy are the way to go if peace is to be achieved in the world.

Happy Republic Day!!

3 comments:

Sudipta Chatterjee said...

Ahh, so you've sung on the Republic day! Good to know that you had such nice celebrations even in phoren land! Happy Republic day!

Arun said...

sweet!

Alpine Path said...

sudipta, yup! And the feeling is stronger here seeing people of all creeds and castes coming together under one banner, Indians. It gives a really proud feeling especially when we see that fellow Indians have been able to come to a different land and prosper and contribute meaningfully to the land where they live. Though I knew all this when I was in India, seeing it by myself and being a part of it(though a very little part) reemphasizes it more!

Arun, thanks :) I think so too :) It has been a really different experience.