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If ever an official laureate were to give for the greatest all-time patriotic anthem, this should be it. I rate the song Kar Chale Hum Fida from Haqeeqat (1964) - a film on the Indo-China War - as THE ultimate patriotic song ever composed. Go to the website dedicated to him - and see what active and well-informed discussions and facts are there.īut there are certain obvious things that are staring us in the face that we sometimes lose sight of. There is no value addition one can make to the extensive literature already out there. Covid cannot stop the passion of his fans, and Zoom and other video-conferencing platforms have stepped in.Įvery fan of Rafi knows his history, his songs, the godliness in his voice, his range and technique, his versatility in singing every genre with equal felicity and impact. Today, 40 years after his passing, hundreds of programs dedicated to him are being staged. And on July 31 and December 24, the media, especially the radio stations, would be all about him. But Rafi would still be heard in the roadside dhaba, or a remixed version of his songs would be playing in a nightclub, or music clubs would still be singing his songs. 50 years later many of the Bharat Ratna Awardees would be forgotten and only find a mention in the textbooks. It is not that the legacy of Rafi suffers - it is the credibility of the official recognition that gets adversely impacted and exhibits a huge disconnect between the governing and the governed. Adnan and Rafi in the same breath? Seriously? Sacrilegious! Rarely does a Colossus walk the earth who rules the minds and hearts of not one but several generations across a subcontinent with an immeasurable contribution by way of joy and upliftment, of inspiration and hope, of contentment and edification through his inimitable craft. This year, amongst others, Adnan Sami got it. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)Ĭonsider what he got – a Padmashri – the lowest tier of the civilian awards which four to five persons from the film industry annually get in the normal course. Rafi was way beyond an outstanding singer. But Rafi being kept out of the hallowed list is a riddle wrapped up in an enigma. But these awards are the prerogative of the government. If it were left to popular choice, Rafi would already have received it – perhaps even when he was alive. If Mohammed Rafi does not fit the bill, then that is the biggest disservice that the government, not the people, can do to him. Please note the qualifications required – “exceptional service/performance of the highest order”. Instituted on January 2, 1954, the award is conferred in recognition of exceptional service/performance of the highest order, without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex.
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The Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award of the Republic of India.