Sarey Jahan Sey Atcha Bharat Mata Hamara

Are we to remember the Motherland and her sacrifices fleetingly…only on 26th January and 15th August? When the supremely blessed land of ‘Bharat’, the land that was specially chosen by the Supreme Divine for many of His Divine Incarnations, is celebrating her 67th Anniversary Of Independence, let ev ery Indian remember this and introspect… a poem by Sri Jullie Chaudhuri on the occasion of 68th National Independence Day…

Oh! Dearest Motherland,
Beloved Land of my birth…
Saarey Jahan Sey Atchcha…Bharat Mata Hamara…
…more beautiful than the entire Universe…
…are You, Oh! Precious Bharat Ma…
Oh! Mother India…
…with deep reverence i tenderly touch…
…and hold Thy precious earth,
Close to my heart…
…acutely aware of its priceless worth,
Such meaningful lessons,
So much gallantry… 
Your historic past does impart…
Oh! Bharat Ma…
You truly are….
Saarey Jahan Sey Atcha…

As i intently visit and revisit times of yore…
…breathtaking patriotism comes to the fore…
…along with other sterling virtues…
…forming a colossal reservoir…
…fathomless depths filled with heroic tales…
…that one can forever explore…
Where the adamant mettle…
…of Mother India’s valiant sons and daughters…
…that of fearless freedom fighters… 
…none can afford to ignore…
Times when optimism did on the wings of belief soar…
…and firm allegiance to resolve…
…and ethics of trust…
…did faith restore…
Where honour and dignity for the Motherland…
…brought forth a meteoric uproar…
Saarey Jahan Sey Atcha…Bharat Mata Hamara…
…encore…encore…encore…
May these lines perennially peal out a refreshing encore…

Oh! Innumerable lands have i journeyed to…
…indeed have savoured marvelous warmth…
…and wondrous hospitality too, 
However,
In spite, despite…myriad enchanting vistas…
…and many a fabulous view…
…nothing measures up to what You, 
…Beloved Mother India, do exude…
Thus, regardless of a global roam,
Howsoever distinct, leisurely or…
…random…curvaciously akin to a slalom…
…oft having tread varied loam,
With absolute conviction i state -
There is no other place that i can call ‘home’…
Saarey Jahan Sey Atcha…Bharat Mata Hamara…

Nothing can replace…
…what i intrinsically feel for You…
…for not a thing in the created world can compare…
…with the beauty that is You…
Forgive us our trespasses…
…of which there are many…
Regretful indeed -
That selfishness and insatiable greed…
…has made hostility breed…
Power and pretense…
…and deceptive arrogance have taken precedence…
…over kindred oneness…
…and communal harmony…
Excessive desires, indulgences…
…attachments, pride, anger and envy…
…if present even at a micro level…
…then are we, as individuals ever free…?
Rise, Divine Mother, rise…
Command filial obedience…
Come, remold, reform, reorient Your children…
…reconstitute, reestablish…help restore -
Values, Camaraderie, Amity, 
Ethics, Morality and Integrity…

Jana Gana Mana…
Adhinayak Jaya Hey…
…are the opening lines of the National Anthem,
Only You truly deserve to rule the minds of Your people…
Only You can reinstate a heartening rhythm…
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata,
Oh! Mother,

Only You have the required force,
…the power…
…for You represent Shakti…
…it is You who will eventually decide Your own destiny… 
…it is You who will dispense justice…
…for inherent spiritual strength spins Your essence…
…and defines Your core…Your sublime axis…
Saarey Jahan Sey Atchcha…Bharat Mata Hamara…

Some of Your courageous sons and daughters…
…set You free…
…from marauders and exploiters…
Yet, have we respected and valued their bravery…
Today, even as we gear up to celebrate the 67th anniversary…
…of that awesome ‘freedom at midnight’…
…it is time for all Your children…
…whoever or wherever they may be…
…to ponder deeply…earnestly…frankly…
Just…and justly…
How free are You…
…how free are we…?
How free have we allowed You to be…?

Oh! Indeed what a contrast…
So nonchalantly have we…
…bypassed the glories of the past…
…succumbing helplessly to the spell materialism has cast…
Have we no time to grasp and gain…
…from all that has been accumulated and amassed…?
Are we to remember the Motherland, 
And her sacrifices fleetingly…
…only on 26th January and 15th August?
Will we ever find time to win back Her trust…?
This is the land chosen by the Divine…
…for numerous Appearances…
…as well as the recent Advent…
…most illustriously exemplar,
Oh! Mother India…so blessed am i…
…to be born upon Your soil…
…to know and experience…
…the Magnificence of the Greatest Avatar…
Sathya Sai…Sathya Sai…Sathya Sai…
Oh! Beloved Motherland,
I pledge to Thee…
…with every breath…
…my gratitude, my service…
…my love and loyalty most wholeheartedly…
Even as my heart does salute Thee…
…and intone incessantly -
Ma Tujhe Salaam…Ma Tujhe Salaam…
Vande Mataram…
All glory unto Thee…
Blessed am i, Oh! Mother…
…to be embraced by Your loving aura…
…Your picturesque landscape, flora and amazing fauna…
Oh! Bharat Mata…most enchantingly beautiful…
You are…
…and will everlastingly remain through many an era…
Oh! Mother India, You truly are -
Saarey Jahan Sey Atcha…Sarey Jahan Sey Atcha…
Sarey jahan Sey Atcha Bharat Mata Hamara…!

II Samastha Lokah Sukhino Bhavantu II