Atul’s Song A Day- A choice collection of Hindi Film & Non-Film Songs

This article is written by Sudhir, a fellow enthusiast of Hindi movie music and a contributor to this blog. This article is meant to be posted in atulsongaday.me. If this article appears in sites like lyricstrans.com and ibollywoodsongs.com etc then it is piracy of the copyright content of atulsongaday.me and is a punishable offence under the existing laws.

Just like so many more human endeavors, wherein the concepts and philosophical models of ‘-isms’ are all so correct and convincing, and their practical implications and implementations are so faulty and distorted that the discussions about the defects and flaws, also sounds very convincing in the hindsight.

Take Communism for example. The writings of Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels and Vladimir Illych Lenin – as they write about the class struggle between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’, and lucidly present their ideas on how to address this social divide, for the betterment of humanity – are so very a convincing, palpable and substantial, that it is easy to be convinced about the failings and deficiencies of the capitalist / imperialistic model of the world order, which should be replaced everywhere with the model of Communist social order. When Marx passed away in 1883, the debate on this subject was quite vigorous both amongst the elite and the working class in the countries of Europe.

Not long thereafter, the revolution of the working class came about in 1917, in Russia, under the leadership of Lenin. A new model of state and governance, and a new social order was established. The history is replete with the narrative of violence and misery that accompanied this change, but the Communist movement had come on to stay. Over the next three decades, this model of a new social order spread to other neighboring states – towards the west of the erstwhile USSR, which formed the countries in eastern European bloc and towards the South East, i.e. China.

For all the populism and the PR that was a big budget activity in the USSR, the model did not quite stick for very long. Within our own lifetimes, we have witnessed the downfall of Communism in 1980s – the so called perestroika or restructuring of the social order and government in the USSR, now Russia. The theories of the great philosophers of the late 19^th century, did not quite hold on together when implemented and the rubber met the road. Although China still holds out with their powerful Communist Party supported by their strong army, the Communistic form of social order did last, albeit just for about seven decades.

A similar pageant has played out and is playing out, in India. The ‘-ism’ that is associated with Mahatma Gandhi, that Munna Bhai so endearingly likes to call ‘Gandhi-giri’ (‘Lagey Raho Munna Bhai’, 2006), has seen its prime during the early decades of the twentieth century, and its subsequent devaluation in the closing decades of the same twentieth century. I remember – in the 1980s and 90s, around the time of his birth anniversary (2^nd October) every year, one was treated to editorials and articles in newspapers, and panel discussions on Doordarshan, with titles that were variations on “The Relevance of Gandhi Today”. Even then, my mind used to react that as a society, we have apparently lost Gandhi and his ideals, if now that the intelligentsia is beginning to discuss the relevance. Just so strongly underscores the fact that the question of relevance comes to fore, when the storm of doubts and disbelief is surging strong in the society. That discussion still continues.

Where and what are the fault lines? I had read his autobiography – ‘The Story of My Experiments with Truth’ way back when I was in college. I was, and honestly I still am, deeply impressed, influenced, overwhelmed by honesty and simplicity with which he has laid bare his persona and his internal turmoils, his candid admissions of his faults, expressions of his ideals and idealistic resolutions, and the strength of character to personally follow and implement those ideals in practical life. It is a frightening tale of development of a human mind from the basic animalistic existence to literally a sainthood. It goes to establish that Gandhi was no ordinary soul, and such souls appear on this planet quite rarely. Albert Einstein has so beautifully summed it up in his tribute – “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth”

A time was, at the turn of the century, when the nation was seeking a simple philosophy in leadership. Here was a teacher, who did not just teach. In fact he refused to teach or direct others, for things that he himself had not practiced and not lived through himself. A hallmark of a true saint, whose existence within his own mind, and as seen by those around him, is starkly the same. My readings about the Tolstoy Farm that he established in South Africa in 1910, are such an impactful influence. And also a conviction that this soul is an honest and truthful spiritual leader, who will not lead his flock astray for personal or ideological gains.

For all his goodness and his saintly leadership of the people, his words and his teachings stand at crossroads today. The retinue of his followers diminishing over time, and bevy of protesters calling out their criticisms and insults – their tribe is incessantly increasing. Where is the fallacy? Is there an aberration that we see on the radar of history?

A lot has been written and continues to be written about him. But I really wonder how many of us are actually, really reading him. He has written extensively, and not just one book. His complete works including his articles and speeches, will form a complete section of a good size library. Many years ago, maybe more than three decades ago, I read the following in one of his articles printed in 1927 in the journal ‘Young India’. Countering all that I had read till then, and had been hearing about his philosophy of ahimsa (non-violence), here was a paragraph that stunned me with its clarity of thought and perfection of logic.

“My creed of non-violence is an extremely active force. It has no room for cowardice or even weakness. There is hope for a violent man to be someday non-violent, but there is none for a coward. I have therefore said more than once in these pages that if we do not know how to defend ourselves, our women and our places of worship by the force of suffering, i.e., nonviolence, we must, if we are men, be at least able to defend all these by fighting.”

All his life, he incessantly tried to differentiate for his followers, the distinction he made between non-violence and cowardice. In the same journal, in another article, even earlier in 1920, he writes,

“I do believe that, where there is only a choice between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence…. But I believe that non-violence is infinitely superior to violence, forgiveness is more manly than punishment. Forgiveness adorns a soldier. But abstinence is forgiveness only when there is the power to punish; it is meaningless when it pretend to proceed from a helpless creature.”

At another place, his words on this same theme are

“Where choice is set between cowardice and violence, I would advise violence. . . I prefer to use arms in defense of honor rather than remain the vile witness of dishonor. . .”

Are we, in this age and these circumstances, aware of this strong advocacy of the above distinction he makes between the oh so terribly misunderstood themes of non-violence vs cowardice? And are we teaching, nay even projecting the correct understanding of all that this great soul stood for all his life?

The generation that had spent time with him, that had experienced his influence and his aura first hand, is already relegated to history. Well, almost. The survivors of that generation are very few. In another few years, maybe a decade or so, we shall not be hearing of a Gandhian anymore. For the newer crop of followers that we see, Gandhi is more of a political crutch, and face to be put on the currency notes, nothing much more than that.

Where lies the answer to the ‘WHY’ connected with this scenario? I do not know. There are many an ill of the human tendencies and human traits that we can expound to explain. But probably the answer lies deeper – deeper inside the very constitution of this existence itself. A simple axiom that makes up the destiny of everything that we can observe. Simply put – everything decays. Ensconced in these two simple words is the terrible and profound truth that applies to everything in this universe, and to the universe itself. I will posit it from two different directions that I am aware of.

One – our scriptures. It is written in our scriptures, in the sections where the creation of this universe is described, that when He created this universe, it was perfect, in every possible way that can be thought of. But this perfection lasted for just that first instant of creation. This perfect universe started to decay in the very next instant. It is stated so, in our books. And this decay encompasses everything that is material and even non-material in existence. That is the progression of the ‘yugas’ (eras) that we are so familiar with in our scheme of the universe and its passage through time. The good shall diminish and the things will always be progressively worse.

Two – from the perspective the study of the physical nature of this universe as a subject – Physics. There is a branch of this study called Thermodynamics, which deals with the energy within a system, and all aspects related to it. This branch of physics was formalized as a subject through the research work, both physical and philosophical, of scientists in the 18^th and 19^th centuries – names like Count Rumford, Sadi Carnot, William Thomson, Gibbs, James Maxwell etc. Based on their works, this branch now has a set of laws called the Laws of Thermodynamics, which are time tested and form the foundations of a huge segment of physical sciences. The second of these laws has a very simple, very interesting statement, and a very profound implication for the entire universe itself. The law states that –

“The total entropy of an isolated system can never decrease over time.”

The key element to understand in this statement is ‘entropy’. Simply defined, entropy is the measure of the state of disorderliness in a physical system. Going by this law, a deduction that can be inferred immediately is that in any physical system, the disorderliness will always increase with time. To put it even more simply, and bluntly, every system will always and only, decay with time. That brings us back to a concurrence with the assertions contained in our scriptures.

And so, as with everything, the social systems will also decay with time. I am sure I do not need to explain this statement further. People with awareness of history, and also, the awareness of the experiences of a lifetime, will concur.

Truth, however, remains unchanged. In all the rigmarole of the eras and human evolution, and the transitions of history that we are aware of, the only thing that remains unchanged is the Truth. In Hindi, the word is ‘सत्य’ which comes from the root ‘सत्’. If I may draw an analogous word from the English language, it would be ‘stat’ or ‘static’, which also means – un-moving, at rest, unchanging. Truth, in this creation, and as a conceptual idea, remains static unchanged, in this tumultuous ocean of creation that is eternally in a chaos of constant change and decay.

The concept of this unchanging Truth is discussed and described quite at length in our scriptures. A basic characteristic of this Truth is that not just that it is unchanging, but it is also inert and passive. It does not DO anything. It just IS.

That thread now brings us back to the Mahatma again. Here is one person who realized quite early in life, the nature of this Truth, as is evident from the title of his autobiography – ‘The Story of My Experiments with Truth’. Understanding the passive and inactive nature of Truth, he set out on a journey to experiment with it, to understand it better. That realization, and his unflinching endeavor to pursue and investigate it, is what makes him stand out as a giant amongst men. He belongs to that list of a handful people in the history of the human civilization who have raised this query within themselves, and have encountered the answer. For that, he is a Mahatma – the extraordinary soul, and a notch above the Atma – the ordinary souls, who can be counted in millions.

The song being presented today, belongs to the 1978 film ‘Nasbandi. The period of history covered in this film is that of June 1975 to January 1977, during which Emergency was proclaimed in our country. I am not going into the politics behind this episode. Enough to say that in 1977, when the elections were held, the powers that proclaimed and benefitted from this state of emergency, lost, and a new political equation was written into history of India. The film deals with the topic of forced sterilization of menfolk, one of the key ingredients of the political battle in 1977.

The film is produced by Johar Films, and is directed by IS Johar. The name is sufficient to give an idea of what kind of a comical spoof this film is. Especially when we have IS Johar and Rajendranath playing the lead roles.

Geet Kosh lists seven songs for this film, written by Indeewar, Rajendra Krishan and Hullad Muradabaadi. This particular song is written by Indeevar and the music is composed by Kalyanji Anandji. This is a background song in the film, rendered by Kishore Kumar.

The song is a regretful complaint about the state of the nation, and a supplication to the Mahatma – as to the social and political conditions prevailing. That the dream of a disciplined and amiable social edifice that the Mahatama had envisioned, was in shambles. The instances of regrets are many, and the passing years and decades, have only added to them. None of them have been is taken away.

And that brings us back to the thread of the continuous decay, everywhere.

The philosophies and the visions of great men are like beacons of light in the thick fog of chaos and uncertainty that this universe, this existence is. And that existence is steadily moving towards more chaos, more uncertainty. That is the nature of existence itself. These great men – Nanak, Buddha, Abraham, Moses Prophet Mohammed, Christ, Socrates, Gandhi, Zoroaster, Kabeer, and many more – have been the extraordinary souls that have realized the Truth of this existence. Their messages to the humankind are an effort to make more of us ordinary souls understand this path, and its goal. But this world is what it is. Despite that so many extraordinary souls have visited and tried to spread this message. Or maybe, we can say that this world is what it is today, because of these enlightened souls – it would have been even a worse present, had these men not visited this earth.

O Gandhi, the vision of society that you shared with us, lies unread in books no one reads anymore, in libraries that no one visits any more.

And thieves have stolen the ‘बकरी’ (goat) whose milk had nourished your soul.

Audio

Song – Gandhi Tere Desh Mein Ye Kaisa Atyachaar  (Nasbandi) (1978) Singers – Kishore Kumar, Lyrics – Indeewar, MD – Kalyanji Anand ji
Chorus
Kishore Kumar + Chorus

Lyrics

janta ki awaaz hai ye
sun le o bapu gandhi
ye kaisa hahaakaar desh mein
ye kaisi aag ki aandhi

kahaan gayi wo teri ahinsa. . .
kahaan gayi wo teri ahinsa
kahaan gaya wo pyaar
gandhi tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar
bapu tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar
ek bharat mein ban gaye
jalianwaale baagh hazaar
gandhi tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar
bapu tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar

tu ne jab awaaz lagaai..ee..ee
saara hindustan utha
saara hindustan utha
angrezon ke dil bhi dehle..ea..ea
aisa ik toofaan utha
aisa ik toofaan utha
khushi khushi tere kehne par
bharatwaasi jail gaye
seene par goli jhel gaye
apne praanon par khel gaye
apne praanon par khel gaye
naam pe tere par laakhon jawaan
duniya ke sab sukh bhool gaye
dulhan ka ghunghat bin khole hi
phaansi par jhool gaye
phaansi pe wo jhool gaye
tu swaraaj le aaya. . .
tu swaraaj le aaya
hum to phir bhi rahe lachaar
gandhi tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar
bapu tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar

azaadi ki jung ladaa tha
isi liye kya hindostan
isi liye kya hindostan
arey nyaye maangne nyayaalay mein
ja na sakey koi insaan
ja na sakey koi insaan
kitne hi nirdosh yahaan
misa ke andar band huye
andhe kuen mein kitne hi
azaad samandar band huye
azaad samandar band huye
ismat loota karte hain jo
ban kar raaj ke pehredaar
apni satta rakhne ko jo
chheene janta ke adhikar
chheene janta ke adhikar
gandhi tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar
bapu tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar

dekhi kahin kalam-bandi
dekhi kahin zubaan-bandi
dekhi kahin zubaan-bandi
darr ki hukumat har dil par bhi
saara hindostan bandi
saara hindostan bandi
nasbandi ke naam pe zulm huye
wo dukhion deenon par
lagta tha latka ho jaise
prajatantr sangeenon par
prajatantr sangeenon par
prajatantr sangeenon par
turkmaan wo gate aasmaan
toota jahaan zameenon par
chala diye bulldozer jab
bebas logon ke seenon par
bebas logon ke seenon par
bebas logon ke seenon par
apnon ke haathon hi..ee..ee..ee
apnon ke haathon apnon pe
goli ki bauchhaar
gandhi tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar
bapu tere desh mein
ye kaisa atyaachaar

saare desh par zulmon sitam ke
ghor andhere jab chhaaye
ghor andhere jab chhaaye
tab prakash ki kirnen le kar
jai prakash aage aaye
jai prakash aage aaye
gandhi tere naam ki
ab hogi jai jaikaar
gandhi tere name ki
ab hogi jai jaikaar
arey jo bhi hukumat zulm karegi
uski hogi haar
jo bhi hukumat zulm karegi
uski hogi haar

———————————————————
Hindi script lyrics (Provided by Sudhir)
———————————————————

जनता की आवाज़ है ये
सुन ले ओ बापू गांधी
ये कैसा हाहाकार देश में
ये कैसी आग की आँधी
कहाँ गई वो तेरी अहिंसा॰ ॰ ॰
कहाँ गई वो तेरी अहिंसा
कहाँ गया वो प्यार
गांधी तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार
बापू तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार
एक भारत में बन गए
जालियाँवाले बाग हज़ार
गांधी तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार
बापू तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार

तूने जब आवाज़ लगाई
सारा हिन्दोस्तान उठा
सारा हिन्दोस्तान उठा
अंग्रेजों के दिल भी दहले
ऐसा एक तूफान उठा
ऐसा एक तूफान उठा
खुशी खुशी तेरे कहने पर
भारतवासी जेल गए
सीने पे गोली झेल गए
अपने प्राणों पर खेल गए
अपने प्राणों पर खेल गए
नाम पे तेरे लाखों जवाँ
दुनिया के सब दुख भूल गए
दुल्हन का घूँघट बिन खोले ही
फांसी पर झूल गए
फांसी पे वो झूल गए
तू स्वराज ले आया॰ ॰ ॰
तू स्वराज ले आया
हम तो फिर भी रहे लाचार
गांधी तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार
बापू तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार

आज़ादी की जंग लड़ा था
इसीलिए क्या हिन्दोस्तान
इसीलिए क्या हिन्दोस्तान
अरे न्याय मांगने न्यायालय में
जा ना सके कोई इंसान
जा ना सके कोई इंसान
कितने ही निर्दोष यहाँ
मीसा के अंदर बंद हुये
अंधे कूंए में कितने ही
आज़ाद समंदर बंद हुये
आज़ाद समंदर बंद हुये
इस्मत लूटा करते हैं जो
बन कर राज के पहरेदार
अपनी सत्ता रखने को जो
छीनें जनता के अधिकार
छीनें जनता के अधिकार
गांधी तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार
बापू तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार

देखी कहीं कलम-बंदी
देखी कहीं ज़ुबान बंदी
देखी कहीं ज़ुबान बंदी
डर की हुकूमत हर दी पर भी
सारा हिन्दोस्तान बंदी
सारा हिन्दोस्तान बंदी
नसबंदी के नाम पे ज़ुल्म हुए
वो दुखिओं-दीनों पर
लगता था लटका हो जैसे
प्रजातंत्र संगीनों पर
प्रजातंत्र संगीनों पर
तुर्कमान वो गेट आसमान
टूटा जहां ज़मीनों पर
चला दिये बुलडोज़र जब
बेबस लोगों के सीनों पर
बेबस लोगों के सीनों पर
बेबस लोगों के सीनों पर
अपनों के हाथों ही॰॰ई॰॰ई॰॰ई
अपनों के हाथों अपनों पे
गोली की बौछार
गांधी तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार
बापू तेरे देश में
ये कैसा अत्याचार

सारे देश पे ज़ुल्म ओ सितम के
घोर अंधेरे जब छाए
घोर अंधेरे जब छाए
तब प्रकाश की किरणें ले कर
जयप्रकाश आगे आए
जयप्रकाश आगे आए
गांधी तेरे नाम की
अब होगी जय जयकार
गांधी तेरे नाम की
अब होगी जय जयकार
अरे जो भी हुकूमत ज़ुल्म करेगी
उसकी होगी हार
जो भी हुकूमत ज़ुल्म करेगी
उसकी होगी हार