GUWAHATI: Assam's State Anthem, "O Mur Apunar Desh" has been added to the Melodies of Freedom, an initiative taken by the Government of India in light of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.'
Celebrating the 76th Independence Day, the Government of India started an initiative, ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ which is to celebrate and commemorate 75 years of independence of India. One of the initiatives under Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav is ‘Melodies of Freedom’ where the state songs were represented to celebrate our rich and diverse nation, this section aims at highlighting the unique identity of each State through melody. Each song shines a spotlight on the myriad hues its homeland represents – from its rich heritage including tangible and intangible culture to the great personalities that were nurtured on its soil.
21 States and Union Territories of India have been represented in the Melodies of Freedom, including Assam. Other Northeastern States that were included in the list were Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Manipur and Meghalaya.
Assam’s State Song – ‘O Mur Apunar Desh’ was one of the songs that was represented. The song was written by Lakshminath Bezbarua and the tune was made by Kamala Prasad Agarwala. It was first published in 1909 in an Assamese magazine named ‘Bahi’ which means ‘flute’ and was officially adopted as Assam’s State song in 1927 at Asom Chatrô Sônmilôn (Assam Student Conference) held in Tezpur.
Lakshminath Bezbarua is one of the most celebrated Assamese authors of all time. He was a powerful representative of the creative and intellectual resurgence of modern India. His was the Assamese version of resurgence of emotions, thoughts and imagination that sprouted and bloomed in different parts of India during the nineteenth century. His works represented the contemporary modern Assamese mind through which streamed forth a reawakening of the language, literature, culture and society of Assam. ‘O Mur Apunar Dex’ is one of the finest works of Lakshminath Bezbarua and it is one of the most patriotic songs of Assam.