National anthems, which emphasize concepts like responsibility and unity, assist in fostering patriotism and a sense of shared identity among people, and thus are an essential part of the national identity. Pakistan’s national anthem—qaumi tarana—symbolizes the people’s freedom and faith and is a significant component of the nation’s identity.
In 1947, Pakistan was founded as an independent nation for the Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. It was necessary to create national symbols, like an anthem. Pakistan’s national anthem upholds Pakistan’s integrity and addresses various facets of national life. It is recognized internationally that Pakistan’s national anthem is a masterfully composed musical arrangement.
History of the National Anthem of Pakistan
The anthem is a patriotic song that honors a nation’s history, customs, and victories and has a rich history. Pakistan established the National Anthem Committee (NAC) in December 1948. The committee, comprising people such as Ahmad Ghulam Ali Chagla and Hafeez Jalandhari, was led by Sheikh Muhammad Ikram. Initially, NAC faced difficulties in identifying suitable music and lyrics.
Pakistan faced an issue at the beginning of 1950 when Indonesian President Sukarno visited on 30 January 1950 and there was no national anthem to be played. The impending visit of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi in March of the same year made this matter urgent. The government pressured the NAC to complete the anthem as soon as possible.
On August 21, 1950, the committee selected a melody presented by Composer Ahmad Chagla after considering several submissions. Hafeez Jalandhari’s lyrics were chosen in 1952 out of numerous submissions and finally, the official anthem was played on Radio Pakistan for the first time on 13 August 1954.
The anthem became increasingly popular in the following years. The band Junoon gave the song a rock edge in 1996 by using an electric guitar. Jehangir Aziz Hayat composed a well-known instrumental rendition in 2009. At the National Stadium in Karachi in 2011, 5,857 people joined together to sing the national anthem, setting a new global record.
Meanings and Symbolism within the Lyrics
The Qaumi Tarana is a three-stanza composition with a tune derived from Eastern music, adjusted so that foreign bands may easily play it. It is a melodic and harmonious rendition.
“Pak Sar Zameen Shaad Baad,” which means “Blessed be the sacred land,” begins the first stanza and is followed with “Kishwar-e-Haseen Shaad Baad,” which means “Happy be the beautiful country”. The first stanza concludes with “Markaz-e-Yaqeen Shaad Baad,” which means “Be Blessed O Citadel of Faith!”
The anthem commends the structure of the country in the second stanza with the phrase “Pak Sar Zameen ka Nizaam,” which references “Nation, country, and state,” highlighting the strength in the unity of its people. The word “ka” is the only word in Urdu, the country’s official language, and the remaining anthem is written in Persian. A longing for “everlasting glory” closes the stanza, highlighting the value of aspiration with the line “Paainda Ta Binda Baad, Shaad Baad Manzil-e-Murad.”
The anthem’s final stanza signifies the line “Parcham-e-Sitara-O-Hilaal,” which is a reference to the star and crescent of the national flag. Subsequently, the song encourages everyone to follow the flag in the direction of flawless development. It continues to add that the flag stands for our great past, our current accomplishments, and the promising future for greater development. “Saya-e-Khuda-e-Zul Jalaal,” the last line, expresses heartfelt thankfulness to God for the magnificent country and asks for His everlasting protection.
What Role Does the Official National Anthem Play in Forming the National Identity?
The best and most concise expression of a country’s identity comes from its national anthem. The tone of the anthem is powerful as it praises Pakistan as a center of freedom and faith, a place blessed with strength and beauty from its people. People from different origins are brought together by the national anthem to share a sense of belonging. Pakistan’s anthem inspires the country towards nation-building by evoking emotions of patriotism and a sense of responsibility. It is an affirmation of the reality that Pakistan, being an Islamic state, is a multicultural nation where people coexist peacefully under one name and one flag.
It promotes a sense of pride and unity in the country and is an essential component of formal festivities, such as military parades and Independence Day celebrations, and also an expression of the nation’s presence and ideals at international events like sports competitions and diplomatic gatherings. In addition, the anthem serves as a reminder of the nation’s hard-won freedoms and sacrifices.
Controversies Surrounding the Anthem
For the first time in 2004, an Indian journalist made the initial assertion that Muhammad Ali Jinnah personally asked Hindu poet Jagan Nath Azad of Isakhel in Mianwali to write Pakistan’s national song. According to the allegations, on August 11, 1947, Jinnah requested that Azad create the national song, and four days later, on August 15, Jinnah declared it to be the official anthem for the next year.
However, the claim is controversial, challenged, and historically unfounded. Several historians, like Safdar Mahmood and Aqeel Abbas Jafri, also reject this claim. In their opinion, Jagan Nath Azad never had a meeting with Jinnah and never wrote Pakistan’s first national anthem. Despite the controversy surrounding this claim, the national anthem remained largely unchanged and Pakistan still uses the national anthem as a symbol of unity.
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Sayba Sagheer is an M. Phil International Relations student at Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore. Her areas of interest include defense and strategic studies, geopolitics, and foreign policy analysis of major powers.