PREM DHAWAN'S NATIONALISM - MY NATIONALISM

    PREM DHAWAN’S   NATIONALISM-  MY   NATIONALISM

Prem Dhawan the famous lyricist of hindi cinema  wrote this song  for Bimal Roy production movie  -‘Kabuliwala’ :

Aye  mere  Pyare  watan                    1

Aye  mere  bichre  chaman

Tujhpe    dil  kurban.

Tuhi  meri  Aarzoo

Tuhi  meri  Aabroo

Tuhi   meri  jaan  .

Tere    daaman  se jo  aaye  un  hawaon  ko  salaam           2

Chuum    loon mein   us zubaan ko  jis    pea aye  tera  naam

Subse  pyari  subah  teri  , subse  rangi  teri shaam

Tujhpe  dil kurbaan…

Maan   ka  dil  banke  kabhi  sine  se lag  jata  hai  tu         3          

Aur   kabhi  nanhi  si beti ban ke  yaad  aata hai  tu

Jitna  yaad   aata hai mujhko  utna  tadpa  ta hai tu

Tujhpe  dil  kurbaan.

Chod  kar  teri  zammeen  ko  dur   aa   pahunche  hai  hum   4    

Phir  bhi  hai  yehi  tamanna   tere  zarroon  ki  kasam

Hum  jahan  paida  huein  hainn  uus  jagah  pe  nikle  dum

Tujhpe  pe  dil kurbaan.

 Aye  mere pyare watan…..

The  film is based on the famous story of Gurudev Ravindra Nath Tagore by the same name. It explores life of a Pathan ( played  commendably  by  Balraj Sahni  ) who leaves Afganistan ( Kabul)  for work  in  Kolkata. He misses his young daughter very much. During the course of his money lending business as he roams the streets he comes close to a young girl who reminds him of his daughter . He develops an emotional bond with her and she too is fond of him. There is drama and anxious moments as he is jailed as a result of physical scuffle with one of the lenders. On his  return from jail he is able to meet the young girl as she is about to be married. This song is sung by one of his mates in the lodge where the Pathans  reside.

The song roughly translates in English as below:

O’  my beloved country          1

O’ my estranged Flower garden

I sacrifice my heart for you..

You  are  my  hope

You  are  my  honour

You  are  my Life.

I  salute  the  wind  which  flows  from  You              2

I shall kiss  that person  who  mentions  your  very  name

Sweetest are  your  mornings

Most  colourful  are your  evenings

O’  my  beloved  country 

I  sacrifice my heart for you.

It  is  you that  I  embrace   when  I  remember my mother    3        

And  sometimes  you are remembered   as  my  little  daughter

The  more  I  remember you  the more  I suffer

And  my  heart  longs  for  you..

Leaving  you  behind  we  have  come  to  distant  land        4          

Then  too  there  this  desire,  I swear  by  you

That  I  shall  breathe  my  last   on  the   land  of  my  birth

O’  my beloved  country  my heart  longs  for  you…

The  song is in four  stanzas. It reflects  deep yearning of the protagonist  for his Mother land/ country/place of birth . In the film it is the Kabuliwala from Kabul - A Pathan.  Here he compares his country to a flower garden   and misses her very much- Nature, fragrance, beauty. He is ever ready to sacrifice his heart for her. His  land, his country is his hope and his honour. He is so proud of it.

He remembers the cool winds of his land. Looks at the direction from where it emanates. He is keen to kiss that person who utters the name of his land. He longs for it so much.

He recollects the mornings and evenings. The natural beauty of his country. His country is synonymous  to his mother and  daughter. As he loves his mother so he loves his country. Finally  he desires to return to her wherever he was and die on the land of his birth.

Therefore  the  love  of  Nation  is manifested in varying ways- love for one’s Mother or daughter. The natural beauty. The famous poet Iqbal also highlights the natural beauty  of India- Gulistan, Himalyas, the rivers in his famous song ‘Sare jahan se achha…’

Nationalism is not limited to a few prescribed slogans or sermons. It flows from the heart of an individual and is manifested sometimes in simple and sometimes in complex manner.