In certain Western cultures, yellow is a colour associated with age and aging, also cowardice. Not so in India! Here, we associate it with auspicious beginnings, with spring, with joy. We associate it with bravery and patriotism and valour of the highest order.
This morning when I went for a walk all I could see was bursts of yellow everywhere and I too felt like singing:
मेरा रंग दे बसंती चोला
मेरा रंग दे हाय
मेरा रंग दे बसंती चोला
माये रंग दे बसंती चोला
जिस चोले को पहन शिवाजी खेले अपनी जान पे
जिसे पहन झांसी की रानी मिट गयी अपनी आन पे
आज उसी को पहन के निकला, पहन के निकला
आज उसी को पहन के निकला हम मस्तों का टोला
मेरा रंग दे बसंती चोला
मेरा रंग दे
ओ मेरा रंग दे बसंती चोला
माये रंग दे बसंती चोला
दम निकले इस देश की खातिर बस इतना अरमान है
एक बार इस राह में मरना सौ जन्मों के समान है
देख के वीरों की कुरबानी अपना दिल भी बोला
It would be futile to attempt a translation of this rousing ballad which Bhagat Singh sang as he marched to the gallows... Suffice it to say that the singer asks his mother to dye his robe to the colour of spring. He invokes the valorous memory of Shivaji and Rani Lakshmibai (the Queen of Jhansi) who died fighting for their country. He says, inspired by the sacrifices made by patriots gone ahead, his only desire is to die for his country, for one such death equals a hundred lives....
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