Daily Times

LAHORE: How can the nation forget the melody queen madam Noor Jehan on Golden Jubilee Defence Day whose patriotic songs encouraged the Pakistan Army and the nation to counter Indian Army’s aggression with full national spirit and vigour.

Talking to APP, a senior citizen of the provincial capital said that Pakistani singers played their pivotal role in the 1965 war.

They actively contributed and responded to the call of motherland. Singers of top calibre such as Noor Jehan, Mehdi Hassan, Alam Lohar, Saleem Raza and others played their part collectively to propel the nation forward and made the people realize that we Pakistanis were equipped with self-confidence and unwavering faith and that the Pakistani nation could not be defeated by the evil, ill-willed designs of the enemy.

Allah Rakha, Sa’adat Khan, Bashir Anwar, Siddiq Awan and some other senior citizen said that setting aside all others, Malika-e-Tarannum Noor Jehan was the lady singer who provided a new spirit and kindled powerful feelings of patriotism with her song “Aye watan ke sajelay jawano” penned by one of the great poets of Pakistan Jamiluddin Aali.

Some elders recalled that when this song was aired by Radio Pakistan, as dedicated to the Pak Armed Forces who were already bravely defending the borders of Pakistan, it used to send waves of patriotism and national fervour among Pakistanis.

Nematullah, Jan Muhammad, Hussain Maimon and Liaqat Mir said that at that time Noor Jahan united the nation with national songs which not only represented true sentiments of any nation but motivated the nation during peace time as well.

On Golden Jubilee Defence Day after 50 years, “Aey puttar hattan tey nai wikdey”, “Aey watan key sajeelay jawano” and Aey rah-e-haq key shaheedo” were also played at almost all the ceremonies in the country, which emotionalised the nation.

Every official and private TV channel played these national patriotic songs round the clock.