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First Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
From ‘Vande Mataram' to ‘Saare Jahaan Se Achha', how songs inspired India's freedom movement
'Vande Mataram', also known as India's national song, was penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the 1880s. 'Saare Jahan se Accha', also known as 'Tarana-e-Hind', was composed by Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Let's take a closer look at these anthems that inspired India's freedom struggle The Indian national flag is a symbol of the country's freedom from 200 years of British oppression. Representational image India is set to celebrate its 79th Independence Day this year. Much has been written about the heroes, both men and women, of the Independence movement. But did you know that music also played a key part in the struggle to win India's freedom? It was with good reason that 'Vande Mataram' was sung before Jawaharlal Nehru's famed 'Tryst with Destiny' speech in August 1947. Let's take a closer look at how music and poetry inspired the freedom movement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Vande Mataram' Every Indian knows the song 'Vande Mataram' – also known as India's national song. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee penned this song using Sanskrit and Bengali words sometime in the 1880s. It was first published in his 1882 novel Anandamath, which was set during the events of Sannyasi rebellion. At the time, the British were trying to instil 'God Save our Queen' as the national anthem of British India – which naturally didn't go down well. It gained prominence after Rabindranath Tagore recited it at the Indian National Congress' convention in Calcutta in 1896. A stirring ode to the motherland, it goes thus. 'Vande Mataram! Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam, Shasyashyamalam, Mataram! Vande Mataram!' Bankim Chandra Chatterjee first published this song in his 1882 novel Anandamath, which was set during the events of Sannyasi rebellion. Aurobindo Ghose, a revolutionary leader, translated the novel into English sometime between 1909 and 1910. His version of the poem reads thus, 'Mother, I bow to thee! Rich with thy hurrying streams, Bright with thy orchard gleams, Cool with the winds of delight, Dark fields waving, Mother of might, Mother free!' The song became a rallying cry for many and a protest anthem against the British – who outlawed it. The song was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India in 1950. It was Rajendra Prasad, India's first president, who gave it the status of India's national song in 1950. Prasad at the time said it had played a major role in India's freedom struggle and should be honoured on equal footing alongside 'Jana Gana Mana'. 'Saare Jahan se Achha' 'Saare Jahan se Accha' is a legendary song that stirred hearts across the land since its inception. Known also as 'Tarana-e-Hind' or Anthem of the People of Hindustan', this Urdu verse was composed by Allama Muhammad Iqbal. Iqbal, a poet, philosopher and politician, was born in in 1877 in Sialkot in undivided India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The song was originally published in 1904 in the weekly journal titled 'Ittehad'. Iqbal at the time was a lecturer in Lahore's Government Law College. Iqbal, when invited to give a speech by student Lala Har Dayal, instead sang this song. It was also published in the Urdu book 'Bang-i-Dara' in 1924. Allama Muhammad Iqbal, a poet, philosopher and politician, was born in in 1877 in Sialkot in undivided India. The song quickly caught on as a favourite of the Indian freedom movement. It was said to be particularly loved by Gandhiji, who sang it over 100 times when he was in Pune's Yerawada Jail in Pune during 1930s. Though Iqbal's legacy in India is controversial, the song itself remains immensely popular with people of all ages. 'Vishwa Tiranga Pyara' 'Vishwa Tiranga Pyara', also known as Jhanda Geet, was written by Shyamlal Gupta 'Parshad'. Gupta was born on September 9, 1896 in Kanpur's Narwal. Gupta was a nationalist, social worker and freedom fighter. He penned this song in March 1924 as an ode to the National Flag and the resolute determination of those fighting for independence . 'Vijayi ishwa tiranga pyara, jhanda ooncha rahe hamara' ('Victorious be our beloved tricolor in the world, may our flag always fly high). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It was publicly sung for the first time at an event organised by Nehru on April 12, 1924 – the fifth anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Shyamlal Gupta 'Parshad was a nationalist, social worker and freedom fighter. The Congress during a 1938 session adopted the song as its own. It was thus sung at every Congress event as part of its flag salutation ceremony. Gupta passed away in 1977 after receiving the Padma Shri – India's fourth highest honour. 'Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna' 'Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna' became a literal war cry for revolutionaries during the freedom movement. The song was written by Bismil Azimabadi, an Urdu poet from Bihar. Bismil was born Syed Shah Mohammad Hasan in 1901. It goes thus, 'Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai, Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai' (The desire for revolution is in our hearts, Let us see what strength there is in the arms of our executioner). It was composed in 1920 – a year after the Jalliawala Bagh massacre – and recited at the Congress' Calcutta session. It was published in the journal 'Saba' in Delhi in 1921. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Sarfaroshi ki Tamanna' was written by Bismil Azimabadi, an Urdu poet from Bihar. However, it was Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil who popularised this song among the masses. Ironically, Pandit Bismil was himself a writer and bard. Pandit Bismil penned verses in both Urdu and Hindu under psuedonyms Ram, Agyat and Bismil. He also founded the Hindustan Republican Association (later the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association) to which Bhagat Singh and Chandrashekhar Azad belonged. Pandit Bismil recited this poem before he was hanged – which is why perhaps why the confusion about its authorship persists to this day. 'Kadham Kadham Badhaye Ja' 'Kadham Kadham Badhaye Ja' is associated with Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA). It was penned by poet and lyricist Vanshidhar Shukla. Shukla, born in 1904 in Uttar Pradesh, was a Hindi and Avadhi poet and freedom fighter. It goes thus, 'Kadam kadam badaye ja. Khushi ke geeth gaaye ja Yeh zindagi he quam ke Tu quam pe lootaye ja' (March, March on forward, Singing songs of happiness as you go, This life belongs to our motherlan, Lay it down for the motherland). Bose, who favoured a more dynamic approach towards India's freedom over Gandhiji's non-violent means, formed the INA to overthrow the British in India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Kadham Kadham Badhaye Ja' is associated with Subhas Chandra Bose and the Indian National Army (INA). Wikimedia Commons Bose tasked Captain Ram Singh, who had been taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese and had been trained in various instruments, to compose a marching song for the INA. Shukla is believed to have penned this song sometime around 1942. It was Singh who set these lyrics to music and made it the marching song of the INA. This song was banned as seditious by the British during World War II – which was lifted after Indian independence. It remains massively popular today and is continued to be played at Indian Army events.
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- New Straits Times
'CEO Batu' claims trial to indecent exposure involving teen
KUALA LUMPUR: A social media influencer known as "CEO Batu" was charged at the Ampang Sessions Court today with exposing his genitals to a 14-year-old girl two months ago. The accused, Muhammad Iqbal Muhamad, 22, pleaded not guilty when the charge was read before Judge Norshila Kamarudin. According to the charge sheet, Muhammad Iqbal allegedly committed non-physical sexual abuse by exposing his genitals to the teenager near Sunway Batu Caves at 1.16am on May 16. He was charged under Section 15(a)(1) of the Sexual Offences Against Children Act 2017, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both, upon conviction. Deputy public prosecutor Nadiah Malek Fauzie requested bail to be set at RM10,000 with one surety, citing the accused's public profile and the virality of the case. However, defence lawyer Mohd Anih Rafih appealed for a reduced bail of RM6,000, arguing that his client was currently unemployed and that his social media accounts had been suspended by the authorities. "The accused is also caring for his grandfather, who suffers from a heart condition and requires monthly treatment at the National Heart Institute. "He is willing to comply with additional bail conditions, including reporting to the police and surrendering his passport. "Furthermore, he will not interfere with prosecution witnesses, as his mobile phone has been seized and he no longer has access to his social media platforms," said the lawyer. The court set bail at RM6,000 with one surety and imposed further conditions prohibiting contact with the victim and requiring the accused to report to the police once a month until the conclusion of the case. The court set Aug 14 for case mention. It was earlier reported that the influencer had been arrested for allegedly sending obscene messages to a 14-year-old girl. He was initially remanded on May 23. The arrest followed public backlash after fellow influencer and singer Caprice exposed screenshots of messages allegedly sent by Muhammad Iqbal to the teenager. Caprice claimed he was contacted by the girl's mother, who sought his help after her daughter was allegedly sexually harassed by the influencer. Among the screenshots shared on social media were explicit messages and an indecent image allegedly sent by the accused, purportedly to show a surgical scar. The influencer was also said to have sent a follow-up message apologising to the girl's mother and requesting a meeting to resolve the matter.
Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
No references to Pakistan, Iqbal or Manusmriti in syllabi, Delhi University's Philosophy dept told
Faculty members of Delhi University's Department of Philosophy have been instructed to ensure that no references to Pakistan, philosopher and poet Muhammad Iqbal, or Manusmriti should be included in any undergraduate or postgraduate syllabi. The directive was issued in an email sent earlier this week, following instructions from the Dean of Academics, and the department has been asked to complete this review by June 16, it is learnt. The email states: 'There is an official instruction from the Dean of Academics (on June 12) to check that our UG Syllabi Semester 1-8 (NEP) as well as our PG Syllabi (NEP) Semesters 1 and 2 do not have any of the following items – either in the list of readings or in any of the unit contents: any reading of Manu, any reading of Muhammad Iqbal, any mention or content related to Pakistan.' Faculty members were asked to cross-check the content of each course and confirm by June 16 that none of the above items were included. 'To ensure full accuracy and responsibility… the course designers should be asked to ensure this with reference to each course,' the email further stated. 'The Dean of Academics has instructed us to do this within 3-4 days,' it added. Calls and messages to Dean of Academics K Ratnabali went unanswered. The Head of Department, Philosophy, Enakshi Ray Mitra, declined to comment. A university official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, 'This was verbally communicated many times by the Vice-Chancellor himself — that anything that divides society will not be taught at Delhi University. Two years ago, readings about poet Iqbal were removed. Despite reiterating this, several departments are still introducing these topics into their syllabus proposals.' This is not the first time these texts and figures have come under scrutiny at the university. In 2023, the Academic Council (AC) approved the removal of a unit on Muhammad Iqbal from the BA (Hons) Political Science course titled 'Modern Indian Political Thought'. Iqbal, who authored Saare Jahan Se Achha, was later designated as the national poet of Pakistan. That same meeting saw the introduction of a new elective on Vinayak Damodar Savarkar for students pursuing the BA Programme with Political Science as a major. Last month, the Standing Committee on Academic Affairs recommended the removal of references to politically sensitive topics such as the Kashmir conflict and the Israel-Palestine issue from the Psychology syllabi, describing them as 'divisive' and lacking psychological relevance. The committee instead suggested greater focus on Indian thought, including the teachings of Buddha and Gandhi, as part of efforts to rebalance what it termed the 'over-representation of Western thinkers.' On June 12, V-C Yogesh Singh reiterated that Manusmriti would not be taught 'in any form' at DU after the text appeared in the reading list of a new Sanskrit undergraduate course. 'This direction has been issued even earlier by the Vice-Chancellor's office, and departments should adhere to it,' Singh had told The Indian Express. A similar proposal to include Manusmriti in the undergraduate History (Honours) syllabus was withdrawn in 2024 following protests. In the Philosophy department, The Indian Express has also learnt that a proposed Discipline Specific Elective course titled 'Bio Politics' has been dropped. The course had earlier been placed before the AC, with suggestions from the Standing Committee to revise its title. Eventually, the course was removed by the administration. A faculty member from the department said, 'The reason that was communicated to us was that this was more of a Political Science subject than a Philosophy subject. We first changed the name, but were later informed by the administration that this paper has been dropped.' 'Even though many professors in our department do not believe that this is a political paper. We thought it was important to retain it in the 7th semester, but there is no time to fight for it now,' the faculty member added. The Bio Politics course was designed to examine 'life as a site of both technological production and economic manipulation.' According to the official syllabus, it aimed to explore the relationship between life and politics through the writings of Michel Foucault, Giorgio Agamben, Antonio Negri, and Jacques Ranciere, situating these texts within 'the ideological context of liberalism and fascism'.
ABC News
12-06-2025
- ABC News
Father and son takes on Ironman Australia in Cairns after surviving cycling crash
Six years ago, Brayden and his father Travis McKenzie took his new bike out for its first spin. The pair took their usual 10-kilometre route around West Beach in Adelaide's western suburbs, but their ride took a tragic turn when an out-of-control van headed towards them. The driver of the van had experienced a medical episode, causing him to lose control. The van hit a pedestrian first, 44-year-old Muhammad Iqbal, who later died from the impact. Moments later, the van swerved to the other side of the road and collided with Brayden and his father, whose quick thinking saved his life. Travis also recalled the moment his fatherly instincts took over to care for his son, despite multiple broken bones in his body. "It all sort of happened in slowmo, so I can still see it as clear as day," Travis said. "Just heard the thud of the other pedestrian getting hit and the van coming towards us. "Then that thud of it hitting it and then sort of trying to pull yourself up to see what's going on and where Brayden was and getting myself across to him and evaluating sort of your own injuries, but I couldn't feel anything until I knew the sort of care for him." While they survived the crash, they sustained serious injuries. Brayden took six months off school with a fractured pelvis, concussion and extensive abrasions on the right side of his body. Travis took the brunt of the impact, requiring him to take 12 months off work. He underwent four operations on his back and his leg which was broken in four places. Brayden is grateful for his father's protection. "It changes your perspective, even just sitting in the car as you drive, riding on the road now six years on, it still crosses your mind." The accident marked the start of a journey of sorts for the pair. On the day they were both released from separate hospitals, Travis and Brayden made a secret pact — as soon as Brayden was old enough, they would take on the mammoth challenge of a full Ironman triathlon. "It's a commitment we made together to see through to the end," Travis said. "It gave us steps and challenges that we needed to get us where we need to. "It's given us a good six years to get to where we are, I guess to get through the trauma, the emotion, and just the physical strength to get to that start line together." Six years on from the accident and just 30 days after his 18th birthday, Brayden is now eligible to compete, making him the youngest participant for this weekend's Ironman Australia Triathlon in Cairns. The pair feel confident they can take on the challenge consisting of a 3.8 kilometre swim, 180km bike course and a complete 42.2km marathon. Travis had previously competed in eight Ironman events, but this will be his first since the accident. Preparations for the competition have intertwined with their recovery to overcome significant emotional and physical trauma, a process Brayden said has brought him closer to his dad. "Our relationship is really close, but this will definitely bring us even closer, the solid blocks of training we've put in together, long hours together has definitely brought us even closer," he said. Becoming Ironmen has been no small feat, with the extent of their injuries and the emotional toll taking 12 months before Brayden got back on the saddle and for Travis 18. For the father and son, it was never a question of if but when they would get back on the bike. "It's a passion of mine, it's a passion of dad's. I live and breathe it now. So it means the world to me," Brayden said. But it didn't come without its challenges. The pair hope their story will inspire others and spread a strong message on road safety. Brayden will take a week off school to travel to Cairns with his dad and their family, marking a very special milestone for a long road to recovery. "This is a goal in the distance that we've finally made it to so, it's nothing is too far on the horizon it's just taking it one day at a time and embracing the journey we're on," Brayden said. Travis agrees: "Anything is possible if you put your mind to it."
Hindustan Times
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi University panel suggests more syllabi tweaks
Delhi University's (DU) standing committee for academic affairs on Thursday recommended replacing Islamic poet-philosopher Muhammad Iqbal with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and medieval traveller Ibn Battuta with Mughal prince Dara Shukoh in the History department's eighth semester syllabus. According to a committee member, the changes were proposed in a general elective paper, 'Life Narrative and History', which includes key political figures. Originally, the course featured Harsha, Battuta, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Iqbal. This was the third and final meeting of the committee reviewing seventh and eighth semester syllabi ahead of the first graduating batch under the four-year undergraduate programme. Committee members said the revisions align with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework. Other changes reportedly include dropping the elective paper 'Cultural Transactions between India and the World', and adding Dr BR Ambedkar alongside Karl Marx in the paper 'History of Labour in Colonial and Postcolonial India'. In political science, 'Hind Swaraj' was suggested as a new reading, while the topic of sexual division of labour and unpaid work may be removed from the paper 'Feminism: Theory and Practice', according to the committee member. The commerce department may see the removal of topics like social media marketing, rural development, and personal financial planning. Some faculty expressed concern over the scope of these revisions. 'The standing committee is meant to review—not restructure—department syllabi,' said Rajesh Jha, former executive council member. The final decision will rest with the academic council, which meets Saturday.
