India is a land of many festivals. While the north celebrates Lohri, the south celebrates Pongal. Be it Navratri, Diwali, Ganeshotsav, or any other festival, each is celebrated in a different way in different parts of the country. But Republic Day and Independence Day are among the few occasions when the nation celebrates together. The cheer and enthusiasm collectively ring through the entire nation, and it is hard to miss the happiness on people’s faces in the run-up to these days. One of these days, Republic Day, is around the corner. Celebrated on January 26 every year, Republic Day honours the date on which the Constitution of India came into effect on 26 January 1950. And it won’t be long before you start hearing patriotic songs on radio, television and even the speakers in every street. From classics like ‘Mere Desh ki Dharti’ to more contemporary songs like ‘Kandhon se Milte hain Kandhe’, there are a large number of songs that will evoke the patriot in you. These songs are an ode to the sacrifices made by our freedom fighters.
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Republic Day is celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country. This was the day our country completed the transition of becoming an independent republic. School and colleges organise various events, including the sports day, cultural functions, skits and essay-writing competitions. On every 26th January, constitutional head of India, the President unfurls national flag at Rajpath in New Delhi. The President also delivers a speech to address the citizens of the nation. A grand Republic Day Parade is also organised at Rajpath and is the main attraction of India’s Republic Day celebrations, which last for 3 days. For the 69th Republic Day celebrations, the Modi government has invited ten heads of state from ASEAN for the Republic Day parade and all ten have agreed to come. So as the day draws closer, here are seven songs that you must have on your playlist. These songs are sure to ignite the fire of patriotism in you!
Seven songs you must have on your playlist this Republic Day:
Nanha Munna Rahi Hoon:
Nanha Munna Rahi Hoon is a song we have all grown up listening to. The innocence in the child’s voice and the determination on his face make this song a hit among people of all age-groups. The iconic song is from the 1962 film Son of India. It is directed by Mehboob Khan, and features Simi Garewal, Kamajith, Jayanth and Kumkum in the lead roles.
Yeh Desh hai Veer Jawano ka:
This song is from the film Naya Daur (1957) that has been directed by Baldev Raj Chopra. The film features Dilip Kumar, Vyajayantimala and Ajit in the lead roles. No Republic Day gathering can be complete without listening to this song at least once. The music of this film is given by OP Nayyar and this song has been sung by Rafi and Balbeer.
Maa Tujhe Salaam:
Maa Tujhe Salaam is one of the most viral songs of music maestro AR Rahman. It is the title song of 1997 studio album ‘Vande Mataram’ composed by Rahman. The passion for India reflects in every word of this song and leaves a deep impact everytime you listen to it.
Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo:
One of the most soulful patriotic songs, Aye mere watan ke logo is a tribute to Indian soldiers who died in the Sino-Indian war. It has been written by Kavi Pradeep, composed by C Ramchandra and sung by Lata Mangeshkar. The song was first performed by Lata Didi on January 27, 1963 at the National Stadium, New Delhi to celebrate Republic Day. This was just two months after the war and the event was attended by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
Rang De Basanti:
This is the title track of the 2006 movie Rang De Basanti and is a perfect patriotic song that you can groove to. It has been composed by AR Rahman and has been sung by Daler Mehandi and KS Chitra. The film starred Aamir Khan, Siddharth Narayan, Kunal Kapoor and Sharman Joshi in lead roles and showcased their preparation for the roles of Indian freedom fighters for a documentary film and how strong the impact it has on their life.
Suno Gaur Se Duniya Walo:
This energetic song became an instant hit thanks to its feet-tapping music. The song has been sung by Udit Narayan, Shankar Mahadevan, Dominique Cerejo and Mahalakshmi Iyer. The fast-paced song with catchy lyrics resonated with an India that was young and full of life.
Jai Ho:
Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle, was one of the most watched Indian films globally. The song has been sung by Sukhwinder Singh, Vijay Prakash and Mahalaxmi Iyer and won several awards including Grammy and the Academy Award.
January 26 is also a national holiday, so that people can not just watch the Republic Day parade, but also participate in the Republic Day celebrations organised in their schools, colleges or localities. Let us ensure that we do make use of the day to pay our gratitude to the freedom fighters of our nation. Also, while people proudly wear the flag on their clothes on Republic Day, the flag is often found lying on the roads the next day. It is the duty of every citizen to ensure that we do not allow the disrespect of the flag in any manner. Here’s wishing our readers a very Happy Republic Day. Happy Republic Day 2018: Best Wishes, SMS, Facebook Status, WhatsApp Messages And Greetings for Loved Ones