The changing face of patriotic music

August 16, 2009

Instep takes a look at how Pakistani patriotic music has evolved through the decades – from optimistic anthems celebrating the country to songs tinged with cynicism. The important thing is that the rhythms live on and continue to make strong statements …

By Saba Imtiaz

“D-d-d-dil dil dil…” That opening verse of the now iconic ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ by Vital Signs brings out a world of memories: one of the first patriotic songs of the ’80s-’90s pop movement in Pakistan, it has been associated with everything from national elections to political milestones to most memorably, cricketing wins.

Vital SignsIn the 63 years of Pakistan’s history, we have accumulated a veritable treasure chest of patriotic and nationalist songs, which have been passed on from generation to generation. And even though the past few years have been steeped in cynicism and an ever-growing sense of paranoia and depression at the tumultuous events in Pakistan, the T20 World Cup win brought out a sense of patriotism that hadn’t been seen since the early ’90s. The country was enveloped in an air of euphoria, street celebrations and people dancing their hearts out to the songs that we had seemingly forgotten about. The streets were alive with the sound of patriotic music by Vital Signs and Junoon, songs that had been relegated to overlooked folders on our computers and dusty cassettes.

Patriotic songs have had a paramount importance in Pakistan through the decades. The 1960s was one such time. With a military dictatorship in place, the country was also faced a war brewing on its frontier with India.

In enters the music: Shahnaz Begum’s soulful and incredibly melodic ‘Sohni Dharti’ – one of the best patriotic songs ever made – and a tragedy that this song spoke of a united Pakistan that was to tear apart within a few years in 1971.

The 1965 war between Pakistan and India brought out a slew of nationalist songs, aimed to inspire troops fighting on the border. With tensions running high between the two countries, the songs reflected a love for Pakistan as well as were a rallying cry.

NFAK‘Ae Watan Ke Sajeelay Jawanon’ was one of those songs that inspired nationalism and a fighting spirit. Another war classic by Madam Noorjehan is undoubtedly ‘Ae Puttar Hattan Te Nahi Vikde’. Unfortunately, one has only ever seen this video on state television that possesses a video of Noorjehan recording the song while sobbing. Its low rotation is perhaps the reason why this song has not become part of our musical history. This Punjabi song is truly heartrending; it roughly translates to ‘our boys are not for sale’. The lyrics combined with Noorjehan’s voice are a pure winner. Other war anthems include ‘Ae Rah e Haq Ke Shaheedon’ and ‘Jaag Utha Hai Saara Watan.’

Equally unforgettable are the Pakistani patriotic songs that have been recited ad nauseam in Independence Day ceremonies at schools (because of their chorus segments and sing-along factor!) and have been overplayed to death…yet they’re utter classics! Be it the cheerful ‘Jeevay Jeevay’, ‘Iss Parcham Ke Saaye Tale’, ‘Yeh Watan Hamara Hai’, ‘Hum Zinda Qaum Hain’ and the beautiful ‘Pakistan Pakistan’ by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with a chorus comprising of kids…they’re all songs that have been passed on from generation to generation (in a strange manner that one has been unable to decipher).

Shehzad RoyBut over the years this has changed. After decades of turmoil because of military dictatorships and entertainment being curtailed during the Zia era, the ’90s saw a proliferation of Pakistani patriotic songs. It’s true that several of them then became jingles for cola companies, but the point remains that these songs defined a generation who had chosen to put down roots in this country. From Vital Signs’ ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’, ‘Yehi Zameen’ and ‘In Fizaon Say Aagay’ to the crowning glory of ‘Maula’, Awaz’s incredibly catchy ‘Watan Kahani’ and ‘Ae Jawan’ and Junoon’s raging youth anthem ‘Jazba-e-Junoon’, the pop brigade firmly took charge of making Pakistani patriotic music cool.

But as the years have gone by, Pakistani patriotic music has seemingly evolved from its saccharine, nationalistic roots to becoming a more thoughtful, even cynical look at Pakistan. Junoon led the wave, first with the acerbic ‘Ehtesab’ (that was promptly banned) to reinventing poetry via ‘Khudi’. But while Junoon’s music came at a time when young people in Pakistan were either completely disinterested in or disillusioned with Pakistani politics, the post-Emergency era brought forward a new diaspora of music. And its odd, but these are the songs that people have identified with more closely as true reflections of their country.Laal The intense popularity that songs like Shehzad Roy’s ‘Laga Reh’ and Laal’s ‘Mainay Uss Se Yeh Kaha’ have had is proof that a much politicized Pakistani youth are not interested in the typical ‘we love our country’ tunes anymore. That’s not to say that Pakistanis still don’t love their country – it just is a more realistic approach to being patriotic along the lines of ‘we know it has its problems, but it’s still our country.’ And where patriotic anthems would blare on television screens to accompany historic milestones, occasions like the lawyers’ long march that saw the restoration of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry also saw the political moments of the day being accompanied to the soundtrack of Laal and Shehzad Roy’s ‘Qismat Apney Haat Mein’, the video for which debuted that same week. In the past few weeks, it is the songs that have emerged out of Coke Studio sessions that have become the pride and joy of Pakistanis who have been downloading the songs in droves and posting them online; and identified with the sound of traditional folk meeting contemporary pop.

And so whether it’s the war anthems that get you riled up, or childhood anthems that you sing along to or the new-age revolutionary music that has popped up in the past few years – Pakistan remains to be a musical nation like no other. As we – in the 63rd year of our independence – constantly question and defend our identity as Pakistanis, we should rest assured that our music will reflect those same questions. What is important though is that the music continues to get passed on. Whether it’s the happy chorus of ‘Jeevay Jeevay’ or the optimistic ‘Jazba-e-Junoon’, in twenty years or so, one hopes that Pakistani children will remember all the songs that have accompanied the years gone by. Pakistan Zindabad!

Source: INSTEP