When India's patriotic song echoed in America's White House

Recently, the tune of India's popular patriotic song – Saare Jahan Se Achcha was played at the White House of America. Famous film writer Vinod Kumar is telling about the making of this patriotic song which is filling the spirit of patriotism in the minds of people even after years.

Thrilled to hear Saare Jahan Se accha Hindustan Hamara played at WHite House AANHPI heritage celebration hosted by President @JoeBiden with VP Harris @VP . Paanipuri and Khoya dish was also served .stronger US India relationship . @PMOIndia @narendramodi @DrSJaishankar @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/1M5lViwbF2

— Ajay Jain (@ajainb) May 14, 2024

During the Golden Era of cinema, many such songs were composed which became symbols of Indianness and nationalism. These songs played an important role in filling the spirit of patriotism in the minds of the countrymen. Not only this, these songs united people of different communities. Even after years, these songs resonate in every national function held in the country. Not only this, these songs also represent Indianness in foreign countries.

White House Marine Band Honors Indian Americans at AANHPI Event

There is one such song that was played in the White House recently. Not only this, that tune was played again at the request of Indians living in America. The White House Marine Band recently played this song in front of many Asian Americans. This event was held at the White House to celebrate the ‘Heritage Month’ of ‘Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander’ or AANHPI, in which President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris were also present. The tune of the patriotic song was played twice by the Marine Band at the request of Indian Americans. Indian Americans were invited to this annual event on behalf of the US President.

This is the second time in less than a year that India's popular patriotic song was played at the White House. The last time this was done was in June last year during the state visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Marine Band said it had practiced before the state visit.

This song was written by Mohammad Iqbal during India's freedom struggle. This song is known as Tarana -e- Hindi. Allama Muhammad Iqbal wrote it in Ghazal style which was first published in the weekly magazine Ittehad on August 16, 1904.

The following year, Iqbal recited it publicly at Government College, Lahore, and the song became an anthem of protest against the British. Later, it was published in the Urdu book Bang-e-Dara in 1924.

In this, Hindustan has been mentioned for the land which includes India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. 

This song has been very popular in India. Short sections of it are often sung and played as patriotic songs and marching songs of the Indian Armed Forces. 
The most popular music for this song was composed by sitar maestro Ravi Shankar. The tune composed by Ravi Shankar was adopted as the marching song of the Indian Armed Forces. 

The first Indian astronaut Rakesh Sharma used the first line of the song in 1984 to tell then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi how India looked from outer space.
Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh quoted this poem in his inaugural speech at his first press conference after becoming Prime Minister. Swara Kokila Lata Mangeshkar also sang this song in Parliament. 

The song has been popular in India for almost a century. It is said that when Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned in Pune's Yerwada jail in the 1930s, he sang it more than a hundred times.
In the 1930s and 1940s, it was sung in a slow tune. In 1945, while working in Mumbai with the Indian People's Theater Association (IPTA), sitarist Pandit Ravi Shankar was asked to compose music for KA Abbas's film Dharti Ke Lal and Chetan Anand's film Neecha Nagar. 

In a 2009 interview with Shekhar Gupta, Ravi Shankar stated that he felt the existing tune was too slow and tragic. To give it a more inspiring effect, he set it to a stronger tune which is the popular tune of this song today, which he later tried as a group song.

Later this song was sung by Mohammed Rafi, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, and Mahendra Kapoor in different tunes for different films. 

Asha Bhosle sang it for the film Bhai Behen released in 1969. The film, starring Daisy Irani, Baby Naaz, and Johnny Walker, was directed by GP Sippy. The music of this song was given by N Dutta. 

After this, this song was also included in the film Dharamputra released in the year 1961, which was sung by Mohammed Rafi with Asha Bhosle. The film, starring Ashok Kumar, Mala Sinha, and Shashi Kapoor in lead roles, was directed by Yash Chopra.

Dharamputra was produced by B.R. Chopra and directed by Yash Chopra, B.R. Chopra's younger brother. This was the second film to be directed by Yash Chopra. The film is based on the communal incidents arising out of the partition of India during the British Raj. In this film, Shashi Kapoor worked for the first time as an adult. 

The songs of this film, which give the message of communal unity and brotherhood, were written by poet Sahir Ludhianvi, and the music was given by N Dutta.

Although this film did not work, there was a song by Mohammed Rafi in it that played well – Woh Dilwar Mujh Par Khafa Na Ho, Kahin Teri Bhi Kuch Khata Na Ho. This heart went crazy. 
Two years before the release of this film, BR Chopra had made another film giving the message of humanity and brotherhood – Dhool Ka Phool. Yash Chopra was given the responsibility of directing this film. The film Dhool Ka Phool featured Rajendra Kumar, Mala Sinha, Nanda, Ashok Kumar, and Manmohan Krishna. The music of the film was composed by composer N Dutta and its songs were written by poet Sahir Ludhianvi.

There is a song in this film giving the message of brotherhood – Insaan Ki Aulad Hai Insaan Banega. Mohammed Rafi gave voice to this song. Although this song was just a song in the film, outside the film this song became a symbol of mutual brotherhood. 

Like the song Insaan Ki Aulad Hai Insaan Banega, the song Saare Jahan Se Achcha fills the feeling of brotherhood. The song Saare Jahan Se Achcha is popular as a patriotic song in schools in India, sung during morning assemblies. It is also played during public events and parades. Every year, this song is played by the mass band of the armed forces on the occasion of Indian Independence Day, Republic Day, and the conclusion of beating the Retreat. Today, whenever this song is played anywhere, every countryman's head rises with pride.
About the Author:

Vinod Kumar is a famous film writer and journalist who has written many books on many personalities in the cinema world. These books include 'Meri Awaaz Suno', '150 Stars of Cinema', and 'Rafi Ki Duniya', apart from biographies of Devanand, Dilip Kumar, and Raj Kapoor, etc.

 - Vinod Kumar

Read also:

• Jaya Prada returns to acting on the OTT screen as 'Fatima'
  
• Punjabi Sensation Shahat Gill Drops Latest Single 'OG'
• Adarsh Gourav's Musical Debut: Inspired by 90s Indie Rock
• Anjali Patil, Sharib Hashmi's film 'Malhar' Hits Theatres on May 31
• Sawan Ki Ghata (1966): Timeless Love and Loss Tale