On Mile Sur Mera Tumahara

On August 15 1988, a song played when Rajiv Gandhi finished his Independence Day’s speech instead of national anthem. Mile Sur Mera Tumahara - would come to define the theme of national integration for its reach and emotions it evoked in the media starved India of late 80’s and 90’s.

The 80’s had been tumultous decade for India coming to terms with middle age as a nation state. Operation Bluestar, Indira Gandhi’s killing, anti-sikh riots, Shah Bano Case and Babri Masjid Case had sparks of communalism. 80’s was also the time when India tried to break free of License Raj and embrace technology as a forward looking nation. The feeling of national integration was missing in the public imagination.

Piyush Pandey of Oglivy and Mather wrote the lyrics for song. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi composed it in Raag Bhairavi. This was the first state sponsored media that captured the diversity of India in short format.

The jingle started with Bhimsen Joshi in his signature husky voice singing behind the iconic Liril Falls of Kodaikanal. The translation of Mile Sur Mera Tumahara is sung in all languages mentioned in 8th Schedule of constitution. The regional diversity is captured through farming family of Punjab, mountains of Kashmir, elephants of Kerala, Chennai’s Marina Beach, a Kodava family, Kolkata Metro and Mario Miranda painting in Goa. The jingle ends with children marching down dressed in colours of Indian flag.

This jingle can be critiqued in a many ways. Primary among them would be that it has overwhelmingly large parts in Hindi and not enough regional representation. Due to credits must given to the creators for not having any religious undertones.

The 2011 attempt was a caricature of the original version. Recreating another Mile Sur Mera Tumahara for present day will require imagination to show rapidly changing India, regional diversity and an active negotiation with various identities. India needs a contemporary Piyush Pandey and Bhimsen Joshi to create the next Mile Sur Mera Tumahara.