National Anthem of Pakistan- History and facts

The National Anthem of Pakistan is a patriotic song by Urdu poet Hafeez Jalandhari in 1952. It was officially adopted as the national anthem of Pakistan on August 13, 1954, just a few years after the country gained independence from British rule.

The music for the anthem was composed by Ahmed G. Chagla, a well-known musician and composer of the time. Chagla combined Eastern and Western music elements to create a unique sound that reflected the diverse cultural heritage of Pakistan.

The anthem lyrics are written in Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, and celebrate the country’s history, culture, and identity. The anthem has three stanzas, but the first is played on most official occasions.

The National Anthem of Pakistan is remarkable for the country’s people. It is played at important national events, such as Independence Day and Republic Day, as well as at sporting events and other public gatherings.

Interestingly, the anthem was originally composed in a different tune, but it was later changed to the current version by the National Anthem Committee in 1954. The new version was based on a theme that was already popular among the people of Pakistan at the time, and it quickly gained widespread acceptance.

Impact of Lyrics on the Nation

Its harmonious composition is based on three stanzas based on eastern music. But foreign bands can easily play it. The national anthem of Pakistan has a unique poetic composition that evokes the spirit of the nation’s ambitions of progress and brevity. It describes Pakistan’s foundation, ideology, ethos, aspiration, and integrity. The national anthem has lyrical exultation for faith and freedom and intrinsic strength for the quintessence of Pakistan.

Literary and poetic translations of the national anthem of Pakistan are available for a song. The anthem symbolizes the struggle to get a separate homeland and has inspired future goals. In addition, the national anthem song evokes the spirit of patriotism. Lyrics of the national anthem inculcate feelings of pride and invokes the will to serve the beloved country.

national-anthem-of-pakistan
national-anthem-of-pakistan

Facts about National Anthem of Pakistan

  • The national anthem is written in classical Urdu; however, it has Persian influence; the word ‘ka ‘is the only word taken from the Urdu language.
  • Almost eleven singers recorded the national anthem song in the year when it was officially adopted.
  • Twenty-one musical instruments were used in a song of the national anthem of Pakistan.
  •  Thirty-eight different tones were used in the music of the national anthem song.
  • The national anthem of Pakistan, written by Hafeez Jalandhar, was selected from the competition of 723 songs.
  • It was awarded Rs10,000 prize money.
  • The song playtime duration is 80 minutes.
  • The song was released for the first time on 13 August 1954.
  • The colored video, for the first time, with the flag and anthem, was produced on 19 January 1955.

History of National Anthem of Pakistan

The Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s government formed the National Anthem of Pakistan Committee (N.A.C.) committee in 1948. The committee arranged the competition of the national anthem of Pakistan lyrics and its musical composition. Sheikh Muhammad Ikram was the chairperson of the N.A.C. Several poets were members of the N.A.C. Information secretaries, politicians, and musicians were also included in N.A.C. The committee’s main aim was to finalize the anthem, whose core purpose was to illustrate the struggle and sacrifices of the people to get a separate homeland.

In 1950 the President of Indonesia visited Pakistan. However, at that time, Pakistani officials still needed to finalize the lyrics and tune of the national anthem, which could present their homeland’s theme and ideology. This incident was the motivation to complete the national anthem of Pakistan. So on the occasion of Shah Iran’s visit to Pakistan, N.A.C. was expected to present the finalized anthem.

Among hundreds of competitors, the composition of Ahmad Chagla was completed and officially accepted by the government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 21 August 1950.  Historically, the national anthem was broadcast for the first time on the radio on 13 August 1953.

After many years, the rock band Junoon made a new composition with electric guitar in 1996. After that, a great musician, Jahangir Aziz, produced an instrumental rendition in 2009. As a result, a national anthem was sung by 5,857 people collectively at the national Karachi stadium, making a new world record in 2011.

Read More: Pakistan Monument Islamabad

Melodious Music of National Anthem of Pakistan

The National Anthem of Pakistan, also known as “Pak Sarzamin,” is beautiful and melodic music that evokes patriotism and national pride among Pakistanis.

Composed by Ahmad G. Chagla in 1949, Hafeez Jalandhari wrote the anthem’s lyrics in 1952. The anthem is written in Urdu and comprises three stanzas, each highlighting aspects of Pakistan’s history, culture, and geography.

The music of the national anthem is composed in such a way that it creates a sense of unity and harmony among the listeners. The use of various musical instruments, including the harmonium, tabla, and sitar, along with the powerful and soul-stirring vocals of the singer, make the anthem a memorable and emotional experience for all who hear it.

The national anthem of Pakistan is an integral part of the country’s culture and heritage, and it is played on many national and international occasions. Whether at the start of a cricket match or during a flag-raising ceremony, the anthem reminds us of the values and ideals Pakistanis hold dear.

national-anthem-of-pakistan
national-anthem-of-pakistan

Meaningful Lyrics of National Anthem of Pakistan

The National Anthem of Pakistan, written by Hafeez Jalandhari, is a patriotic composition that celebrates the Pakistani people’s history, culture, and identity. Here are the meaningful lyrics of the anthem in English:

Blessed be the sacred land
Happy be the bounteous realm
Symbol of high resolve
Land of Pakistan
Heavenly be thou, citadel of faith

The order of this sacred land
Is the might of the brotherhood of the people
May the nation, the country, and the state
Shine in glory everlasting
Blessed be the goal of our ambition

This flag of the Crescent and Star
Leads the way to progress and perfection
Interpreter of our past, the glory of our present
Inspiration for our future
Symbol of Almighty’s protection

These meaningful lyrics evoke a sense of pride and unity among the people of Pakistan as they celebrate their shared history and culture. The anthem calls on the citizens of Pakistan to uphold the values of faith, brotherhood, and progress and to work towards a bright and prosperous future for their country.

Urdu lyricsTransliterationTranslation
پاک سَرزَمِین شاد باد

 

كِشوَرِ حَسِين شاد باد

تُو نِشانِ عَزمِ عالی شان

!اَرضِ پاکِستان

مَرکَزِ یَقِین شاد باد

pāk sarzamīn šād bād

 

kišwar-ē ḥasīn šād bād

tū nišān-ē ʿazm-ē ʿālī šān

arⱬ-ē Pākistān!

markaz-ē yaqīn šād bād

Blessed be the sacred land

 

Happy be the bounteous realm

Thou symbol of high resolve

O Land of Pakistan!

Blessed be the citadel of faith

پاک سَرزَمِین کا نِظام

 

قُوَّتِ اُخُوَّتِ عَوام

قَوم، مُلک، سَلطَنَت

!پایِندَه تابِندَه باد

شاد باد مَنزِلِ مُراد

pāk sarzamīn kā niẓām

 

quwwat-ē uxuwwat-ē ʿawām

qaum, mulk, salṭanat

pāyindah tābindah bād!

šād bād manzil-ē murād

The order of this sacred land

 

Is the might of the brotherhood of the people

May the nation, the country, and the state

Shine in glory everlasting!

Blessed be the goal of our ambition

پَرچَمِ سِتَارَه و ہِلال

 

رَہبَرِ تَرَقّی و کَمال

تَرجُمانِ ماضی، شانِ حال

!جانِ اِستِقبال

سایۂ خُدائے ذوالجَلال

parčam-ē sitāra(h) ō-hilāl

 

rehbar-ē taraqqī ō-kamāl

tarjumān-ē māⱬī, šān-ē ḥāl

jān-ē istiqbāl!

sāya(h)-ē Xudā-ē ẕu-l-jalāl

The flag of the crescent and star

 

Leads the way to progress and perfection

Interpreter of our past, glory of our present

Inspiration for our future!

Shadow of God, the Glorious and Mighty

Unilever Pakistan arranged a team to sing the anthem through masks. Shehzad Roy performed with an accompanying choir. Shehzad Roy led the vocals of the anthem with a singers group; all were wearing masks. The sound of the anthem becomes slightly muffled through covers; however, the sound is emotionally charged and brings us alive.

Zeeshan Parwez directed this performance, and Ali Rez composed it. The primary purpose of the anthem was to convey the sense of the personal responsibilities of the nation of Pakistan to fight against COVID-19.

Chairman and C.E.O. of Unilever Pakistan described that his company Unilever is committed to protecting the lives and livelihoods of the Pakistani nation during this pandemic. This national anthem performance, the primary purpose was to evoke attention to the safe behaviors of the country.

It reminds us of the collective responsibility of the people of Pakistan to protect themselves from Covid threats. W.H.O. recommended wearing masks, caring for hand hygiene, and maintaining physical distance, which reduces the chances of spreading the virus. Shehzad Roy’s performance is mainly aimed at the nation of Pakistan to take care of precautions against the Covid -19.

The government of Pakistan has assigned the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) a task to use the world-class orchestra to rearrange the musical rendition of the national anthem to express cultural diversity to symbolize the art, culture, and heritage of Pakistan.

Conclusion

The anthem’s lyrics evoke a sense of unity, faith, and discipline among the people of Pakistan, calling on them to work towards a brighter future for their country. Its stirring melody, combining Eastern and Western music elements, has become an essential part of national events and public gatherings, bringing people together to celebrate their shared heritage and values.

Despite controversies over its lyrics and musical composition, the National Anthem of Pakistan remains a cherished symbol of the country’s resilience, determination, and spirit. It is a reminder that, despite the challenges and obstacles that Pakistan has faced throughout its history, its people remain steadfast in their commitment to building a better future for themselves and their country.

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