कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
तू शेर-ए-हिन्द आगे बढ़
मरने से तू कभी न डर
उड़ा के दुश्मनों का सर
जोश-ए-वतन बढ़ाये जा
कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
हिम्मत तेरी बढ़ती रहे
खुदा तेरी सुनता रहे
जो सामने तेरे खड़े
तू खाक में मिलाये जा
कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
चलो दिल्ली पुकार के
ग़म-ए-निशाँ संभाल के
लाल क़िले पे गाड़ के
लहराये जा लहराये जा
कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja... was the regimental quick march of the Indian National Army. Composed by Ram Singh Thakur, the song has since became an extremely patriotic song in India, and is also currently the Regimental quickmarch of the Indian Army. Listening to this tune has always filled my heart with compassion for my countrymen, and it continues to thrill me. When I see the Republic of India today, which turns 62 tomorrow, I feel a sense of pride and satisfaction, of belonging to a nation which has risen from the slumbers of doom to a land of oppurtunity.Not even the great Father of India nor his legendary son, Pandit Nehru, the man who dreamt of a modern and secular India, would have imagined that in mere 62 years of becoming a Republic, India would be striving for a stake in global governance.Contrary to the doom predicted by most political pandits, the seeds of democracy have only deepened further and India has retained it's secular and pluralistic character,inspite of an increasingly hostile and polarised neighbourhood.Our enterprises have not only arrived at the world stage, but look poised to redefine the trade balances across the globe.Indians have been voted as the most happiest people on the planet,and the freedoms we enjoy under the Indian constitution have allowed the citizen to challange the might of the state.We are the youngest country in the world with over 500 million people in the working agegroup.We have the largest pool of scientists,engineers and doctors in the world and are moving at a tremendous pace towards making significant contributions to research and development.I can think of a thousand reasons for feeling very upbeat about the prospects of this young Republic.
Yet, India at 62 is not all about Gandhi or Nehru.We still have the largest number of poor in the world.Our literacy rates are deplorable compared to the developed countries.The effects of governance deficits have taken the shape of separatist movements, be it Kashmir or the Maoist movement.A large section of the population has never enjoyed the privileges as offered by our constitution and power is still weilded by few in the name of democracy.Values,ethics and accountability are at a all time low in public life, be it our political leaders,bureaucrats or business leaders.The evil of corruption has become a part of the system and is looking to conquer one and all.Regional biases have started to overtake national identity,as is evident from the Telangana and the Naga movements.Collusion of big businesses with all major political parties,as is evident from the 2G scam, is a threatening move to the very basics of a democratic Republic.Environment is being seen as a roadblock for development, and is being destroyed at a pace that can only result in doom.The notion of Inclusive Growth finds place only in political speeches,and is forgotten thereafter. Public spending in Publice Health, Higher Education, Sanitation, Drinking Water, Infrastructure, are far below the benchmarks of a modern and developed Republic. Judiciary, which is supposed to the protector of the rights of the public, is itself struggling to keep the faith of the people in it and looks to avoid being accountable to them.
Indian Republic, at 62, looks so much like India.Chaotic,brutal,raw, yet hopeful, of a bright future.India at 62 stands as the youngest and largest Republic of the world in terms of population, and it is these young men and women, with dreams in their eyes and strengths in their hearts, which hold the power to transform this great country to a land of dreams, one which is free for all, which values individual liberty, faith, and one which provides oppurtunities to unlock the potential hidden inside an individual.India @62, can look to be bold, courageous and assertive in redeeming it's founding principles.It can look towards people like you and me to turn all the challenges it faces into oppurtunities and contribute to the ever growing legend of this humble civilisation.
India, the Republic@62, is perhaps entering the most challenging time in it's entire history. Only time will tell how it fared and where it will reach, but I will play my part in taking it from here to only greater and greater heights. India @ 62 reminds me to sign off with a song that goes like this:
हम लाये हैं तूफ़ान से किश्ती निकाल के
पासे सभी उलट गए दुश्मन की चाल के
अक्षर सभी पलट गए भारत के भाल के
मंजिल पे आया मुल्क हर बला को टाल के
सदियों के बाद फ़िर उड़े बादल गुलाल के
हम लाये हैं तूफ़ान से किश्ती निकाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
तुम ही भविष्य हो मेरे भारत विशाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
देखो कहीं बरबाद न होवे ये बगीचा
इसको हृदय के खून से बापू ने है सींचा
रक्खा है ये चिराग़ शहीदों ने बाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
दुनियाँ के दांव पेंच से रखना न वास्ता
मंजिल तुम्हारी दूर है लंबा है रास्ता
भटका न दे कोई तुम्हें धोखे में डाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
एटम बमों के जोर पे ऐंठी है ये दुनियाँ
बारूद के इक ढेर पे बैठी है ये दुनियाँ
तुम हर कदम उठाना जरा देखभाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
आराम की तुम भूल-भुलैया में न भूलो
सपनों के हिंडोलों में मगन हो के न झूलो
अब वक़्त आ गया मेरे हंसते हुए फूलों
उठो छलांग मार के आकाश को छू लो
तुम गाड़ दो गगन में तिरंगा उछाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
तू शेर-ए-हिन्द आगे बढ़
मरने से तू कभी न डर
उड़ा के दुश्मनों का सर
जोश-ए-वतन बढ़ाये जा
कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
हिम्मत तेरी बढ़ती रहे
खुदा तेरी सुनता रहे
जो सामने तेरे खड़े
तू खाक में मिलाये जा
कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
चलो दिल्ली पुकार के
ग़म-ए-निशाँ संभाल के
लाल क़िले पे गाड़ के
लहराये जा लहराये जा
कदम कदम बढ़ाये जा
खुशी के गीत गाये जा
ये जिंदगी है क़ौम की
तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा
Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja... was the regimental quick march of the Indian National Army. Composed by Ram Singh Thakur, the song has since became an extremely patriotic song in India, and is also currently the Regimental quickmarch of the Indian Army. Listening to this tune has always filled my heart with compassion for my countrymen, and it continues to thrill me. When I see the Republic of India today, which turns 62 tomorrow, I feel a sense of pride and satisfaction, of belonging to a nation which has risen from the slumbers of doom to a land of oppurtunity.Not even the great Father of India nor his legendary son, Pandit Nehru, the man who dreamt of a modern and secular India, would have imagined that in mere 62 years of becoming a Republic, India would be striving for a stake in global governance.Contrary to the doom predicted by most political pandits, the seeds of democracy have only deepened further and India has retained it's secular and pluralistic character,inspite of an increasingly hostile and polarised neighbourhood.Our enterprises have not only arrived at the world stage, but look poised to redefine the trade balances across the globe.Indians have been voted as the most happiest people on the planet,and the freedoms we enjoy under the Indian constitution have allowed the citizen to challange the might of the state.We are the youngest country in the world with over 500 million people in the working agegroup.We have the largest pool of scientists,engineers and doctors in the world and are moving at a tremendous pace towards making significant contributions to research and development.I can think of a thousand reasons for feeling very upbeat about the prospects of this young Republic.
Yet, India at 62 is not all about Gandhi or Nehru.We still have the largest number of poor in the world.Our literacy rates are deplorable compared to the developed countries.The effects of governance deficits have taken the shape of separatist movements, be it Kashmir or the Maoist movement.A large section of the population has never enjoyed the privileges as offered by our constitution and power is still weilded by few in the name of democracy.Values,ethics and accountability are at a all time low in public life, be it our political leaders,bureaucrats or business leaders.The evil of corruption has become a part of the system and is looking to conquer one and all.Regional biases have started to overtake national identity,as is evident from the Telangana and the Naga movements.Collusion of big businesses with all major political parties,as is evident from the 2G scam, is a threatening move to the very basics of a democratic Republic.Environment is being seen as a roadblock for development, and is being destroyed at a pace that can only result in doom.The notion of Inclusive Growth finds place only in political speeches,and is forgotten thereafter. Public spending in Publice Health, Higher Education, Sanitation, Drinking Water, Infrastructure, are far below the benchmarks of a modern and developed Republic. Judiciary, which is supposed to the protector of the rights of the public, is itself struggling to keep the faith of the people in it and looks to avoid being accountable to them.
Indian Republic, at 62, looks so much like India.Chaotic,brutal,raw, yet hopeful, of a bright future.India at 62 stands as the youngest and largest Republic of the world in terms of population, and it is these young men and women, with dreams in their eyes and strengths in their hearts, which hold the power to transform this great country to a land of dreams, one which is free for all, which values individual liberty, faith, and one which provides oppurtunities to unlock the potential hidden inside an individual.India @62, can look to be bold, courageous and assertive in redeeming it's founding principles.It can look towards people like you and me to turn all the challenges it faces into oppurtunities and contribute to the ever growing legend of this humble civilisation.
India, the Republic@62, is perhaps entering the most challenging time in it's entire history. Only time will tell how it fared and where it will reach, but I will play my part in taking it from here to only greater and greater heights. India @ 62 reminds me to sign off with a song that goes like this:
हम लाये हैं तूफ़ान से किश्ती निकाल के
पासे सभी उलट गए दुश्मन की चाल के
अक्षर सभी पलट गए भारत के भाल के
मंजिल पे आया मुल्क हर बला को टाल के
सदियों के बाद फ़िर उड़े बादल गुलाल के
हम लाये हैं तूफ़ान से किश्ती निकाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
तुम ही भविष्य हो मेरे भारत विशाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
देखो कहीं बरबाद न होवे ये बगीचा
इसको हृदय के खून से बापू ने है सींचा
रक्खा है ये चिराग़ शहीदों ने बाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
दुनियाँ के दांव पेंच से रखना न वास्ता
मंजिल तुम्हारी दूर है लंबा है रास्ता
भटका न दे कोई तुम्हें धोखे में डाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
एटम बमों के जोर पे ऐंठी है ये दुनियाँ
बारूद के इक ढेर पे बैठी है ये दुनियाँ
तुम हर कदम उठाना जरा देखभाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
आराम की तुम भूल-भुलैया में न भूलो
सपनों के हिंडोलों में मगन हो के न झूलो
अब वक़्त आ गया मेरे हंसते हुए फूलों
उठो छलांग मार के आकाश को छू लो
तुम गाड़ दो गगन में तिरंगा उछाल के
इस देश को रखना मेरे बच्चों संभाल के
