Ambar tak yahi naara gunjega sang Kailash Kher to an emotionally charged audience gathered at the Ram Lila Grounds in Delhi to support Anna Hazare, a song he wrote when Anna first went on fast in April. He was joined by other musicians, actors and eminent personalities including Sonu Nigam, Aamir Khan, Om Puri, Swami Agnivesh, besides Arjun Kejriwal and Kiran Bedi to name a few.
Inspired by Anna’s protest which has snow-balled into a mass movement, many well known musicians and others have penned songs to support his anti-corruption movement. The enthusiastic response of the crowds to the Anna songs bears witness to the fact that songs play a key role in rallying people together. With a powerful message a song can truly be a mantra for change.
Poetry and songs have always gone hand in hand with mass movements. Historically song has proved to be the most potent and popular way to rally people together and to propagate a movement’s ideals and objectives. It produces amazing results as seen throughout human history. It is also the reason why our history is peppered with innumerable instances of bards and poets being persecuted by states and rulers as they felt threatened by the influence they could weild over the populace.
In our own independence struggle the cry of Vande Mataram was on every Indian’s lips, likewise the black American slaves’ struggle for freedom against the white man, generated hundreds of songs which went a long way in alleviating some of the pain and in keeping them together through the years of persecution; and from these songs originated the blues. Anna Hazare too has struck a chord in the hearts and minds of the Indian people and Anna songs have become central to giving his movement its impetus.
Singer, music director Remo, who has often spoken out about social and political issues through his songs, is another musician who has released a song called India Against Corruption along with Shyam Banerjee and pop group Microwave Papadums, in support of Anna Hazare. Pop group Band of Boys released a special music video Je Jaan Se with music composed by Amar Haldipur. There are many more but what is pertinent is the power of the song as an instrument of change.
August 2011 will always be remembered for the victory of Anna Hazare’s movement against corruption in public office and a strong Lokpal Bill. No movement, since the struggle for Independence, has seen the mass rallying of Indians at every level, as Anna’s fight against corruption. But to be realistic, its not just about people in public office, its about every Indian who contributes to the spread of this demeaning disease, or have we become so callous and that we couldn’t care less? What we need maybe is a huge song to make it really happen.
- Savio D’Souza