[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The Sikh National Anthem[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Every nation has it own national anthem. What is a national anthem? A national anthem is an expression of the feelings of love, commitment and faithfulness of its people towards the country. It is a statement of patriotism and unity of its people. It is, sometimes, summing up of the national history, polity and manifesto.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Perhaps no body knows the origin of the first national anthem of the world, however, the British national anthem (God save the king/queen) seems to be one of the oldest. The Germans have "Deutschland uber alles...", the Australians have "Advance Australia fair...", and the Canadians have "O Canada...". The Europeans have their common national anthem also: "Ode to Joy" (written by Schiller). The Hindus consider "Bande maatram..." as their national anthem where as the Indian constitution has accepted "Jan gan man..." (which was written by Tagore to welcome the British emperor's visit to India) as its national anthem.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In some Sikh congregations, "Deh shiva bar mohe..." had been sung as national anthem. When I heard it for the first time, I found that this does not look like a national anthem, it may be a great manifesto. The wording of this religious song does not fulfil the ingredients of a national anthem. It is a prayer and not an anthem. I went through a lot of literature to find if I was wrong. I could not find its background beyond 1950s. Per chance I saw an LP record with an old man. It was the national anthem of Patiala State. The wording of this anthem was:[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Degh o tegh o fateh o nusrat bedirang[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zaafat az Nanak - Guru Gobind Singh[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Raj karega Khalsa aaki rahe na koe[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Khuar hoe sabh milenge bache sharn jo hoey[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]This person told me that this national anthem had been sung in all the Sikh States until 1948. Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha, too, has mentioned it in his magnum opus Mahan Kosh (at page 1165 of the 1999 edition).[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Now a question arises as to how did "deh shiva bar mohe..." came to be sung in some Sikh gatherings. I found that this had been sung in the congregations of the Rashtrya Swayam Sewak Sangh (R.S.S.) since 1950s. Some ignorant Sikh might have selected it because of its fine meanings. It is possible that it might be some associate of the R.S.S. who convinced some ignorant Sikh leader to accept it as an anthem.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The original Sikh national anthem "degh o tegh..." fulfils all the conditions of a national anthem as it refers to the Sikh polity, Sikh patriotism and even a manifesto of the nation.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]As far as "deh shiva bar..." is concerned it is a good religious prayer, it has a good manifesto for each and every person. It is a Sikh song and it should be sung or recited by every Sikh but as far as national anthem is concerned, "degh o tegh..." was rightly chosen by the Sikhs as their national anthem. Had it been the duty of the Brahmin ministers of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the Sikh national anthem might have been a different one even since that time.[/FONT]
Dr. Harjinder Singh Dilgeer
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