Pak’s 1st anthem, penned by a Hindu.
A lively debate over Pakistan’s founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah commissioning an Urdu-knowing Hindu to write the country’s first national anthem has erupted both in the real and virtual world after a write-up on the issue in a daily.
Long before Hafeez Jullundhri’s lyrics were adopted as the national anthem in 1950s, Pakistan had an anthem written by Jagannath Azad, son of Lahore-based poet Tilok Chand Mahroom. Azad was commissioned by Jinnah to write the anthem three days before the creation of Pakistan in 1947.
Azad’s lyrics — “Ae sarzameene paak/Zarray teray haen aaj sitaaron se taabnaak/ Roshan hai kehkashaan se kaheen aaj teri khaak/Ae sarzameene paak” (Oh land of Pakistan, the stars themselves illuminate each particle of yours/rainbows brighten your very dust) — were replaced six months after Jinnah’s death in September 1948. The National Anthem Committee chose Hafeez Jullundhri’s poem from among 723 submissions.
In an article for the Dawn, writer-activist Beena Sarwar wrote, “In all these deviations from Mr Jinnah’s vision, perhaps discarding Azad’s poem appears minuscule. But it is important for its symbolism. It must be restored and given a place of honour, at least as a national song our kids learn. After all, Indian kids learn Iqbal’s “Saarey jahan se accha.”
Adil Najam, a well-known blogger, posted speeches by Azad on his blog. “I asked my friends why Jinnah Sahab wanted me to write the anthem. They said the Quaid wanted the anthem to be written by an Urdu-knowing Hindu.
“Through this, I believe Jinnah Sahab wanted to sow the roots of secularism in Pakistan,” read a post that quoted Azad. The debate comes at a time when Pakistanis are having a fresh look at the role played by Jinnah in the partition, thanks to a new biography of the country’s founder penned by former BJP leader Jaswant Singh.
yes good information indeed
Living for a better tomorrow
Very good info......thanks for sharing.
Aana free, jaana free,
Pakde gaye tho khana free.
nop 1 can't change history don't mean postin nonsense!
i am not plannin to post abt largest slum in india even though its a fact!
Pay peanuts & you get Monkeys
Ppl growup. whats wrong with the thread and its the History, cant change the facts and moreover i honestly dont understand why should this offend anyone. so read with right sense and not just the title alone to get aggressive. Mr. Khan, mind your language.
EXACTLY ................................................I agree with Arien, this is a public forum ,mind ur LANGUAGE
Khan - pls mind your language, thsi is a public forum my friend.
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- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -
The thread , content and the response shows wht the world is.. no wonder people kill each other in the name of religion.
Say NO to religion.. Let humanity take over. world would be peaceful.
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- Listen to Many...Speak to a Few -
your statements are very vague. You believe Pakistan is half hindu??????? What is the basis of this belief?
Nothing about Pakistan islamic????? How many times have you been to Pakistan & what prompted you to come to this decision?
I think you are just trying to start a mud slinging match between Pakistanis and hindustanis.
nothing about Pak is islamic
Qatar's anthem is glorious
Swearing by God who erected the sky
Swearing by God who spread the light
Qatar will always be free
from pak but i do not understand why this thread shoud be banned. Am i missing something here?
Why do you wish to remove a thread that speaks of mutual tolerance and respect between peoples and religions? How is this inflammatory or racist? The beautiful words on the Statue of Liberty - "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send them, your homeless, tempest-tosst to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door." This was written by a poor Jewish immigrant to the US many years ago.
Mandi
MOD
now the racist MODS will sleep
TO TAME WHO ARE LET LOOSE
dont shout..
1) views are different from person to person..
2) what is that u r going to make with this thread..
gonna become famous ? uh ?
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
Boycott this thread
ok mod will do sure
I DONT UNDERSTAND THE APPEAL TO REMOVE. READ IT CAREFULLY IT SHOWS HOW LEADERS OF THE TWO GREAT NATIONS WANTED THESE TO REMAIN SECULAR. AND IT ALSO SHOWS THAT THE LITERARY COMPETITION CAN BE WON BY ANYONE WITHOUT BIAS.
DO NOT NARROW DOWN YOUR THOUGHTS
pls remove it as we dont want to creat a war zone here again as these ppl trying to make it war area ..
again one more sensitive thread..
y dont u put some useful thread ?
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.
MOD.. remove this please