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The national anthem occupies a significant place and plays a
dominant role in uplifting the morale of the masses. It not only reflects
the image and ideology of the country, but also reveals the real sense of
honour and dignity of the people. Much attention is paid by nations
towards writing of the text and formation of rhythmical notes for the
national anthem.
The Islamic Republic of Pakistan came into existence on
14th August, 1947. On that day, only the national flag, approved by the
Constituent Assembly of Pakistan three days earlier, was hoisted. To fill
the gap, a song, ‘Pakistan Zindabad, Azadi Paendabad’, was chosen to be
sung in lieu of the national anthem during the hoisting ceremony. The song
was represented with appropriate musical tune on an adhoc basis. The
government later formed a National Anthem Committee (NAC), under the
supervision of Shaikh Muhammad Ikram, the then Information Secretary and a
writer of repute. The committee included among others Sardar Abdur Rab
Nishtar, Pirzada Abdus Sattar, Z.A. Bokhari, A.D. Azhar, Kavi Jasimuddin
and Hafiz Jullandhri.
In the beginning of 1948, the government of Pakistan
received a letter from A.R. Ghani from Transvaal, South Africa, stating
that a sum of rupees five thousand each would be awarded to the poet and
composer of the anthem. The government made the announcement of the award
through a press note published in June 1948. All the noted poets and
composers were approached by the NAC but without any encouraging response.
In 1950, the Shah of Iran was
to pay a State visit to Pakistan on the special invitation of the
government and it was thought desirable to play the anthem on his arrival.
The government, therefore, persuaded the NAC to submit the anthem without
further delay. The then federal education minister, Fazlur Rahman, was
chairman of the committee. He immediately took up the matter and
personally requested several poets and composers to do the needful. A
number of anthems were written and presented but none was found up to the
mark. Meanwhile, lots of tunes were submitted by different composers. The
NAC examined them all, and the one presented by Ahmed G. Chagla was
selected and submitted to the Cabinet Division for formal approval. Since
the Shah’s arrival was nearing, it was decided to play Sindhi musician
Chagla’s tune without the text. The noted musician had a masterly
command over classical music of the subcontinent and had also studied
thoroughly the western way of music. He had been a student in Trinity
College of Music, England, and had the privilege of being a pupil of the
famous musician, Sir Henry Wood.
On the arrival of the Shah of
Iran in 1950 the national anthem was played but government scrutiny of
rhythmical notes continued and on January 5, 1954, formal approval was
given by the Cabinet in Karachi. Unfortunately, on this joyous occasion
Chagla was no longer alive. He had expired eleven months before.
The NAC managed to distribute gramophone records of Chagla’s composed tune
among prominent poets of the country for preparing the text. A number of
poets tried their luck. The NAC evaluated them all and ultimately okayed
one written by Abul Asar Hafiz Jullandhri, the author of Shahnama-e-Islam.
It was then submitted to the Central Government for final approval. On
August 16, 1954, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting officially
announced approval of the government vide its Press Note No.
U-148-Z/16-8-1954, Registered No. 1104(280), Karachi. Thus seven
years after the foundation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the
national anthem was played alongside the hoisting of the flag.
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