The six-minute clip has been sung in 13 different languages, and is part of the initiatives being undertaken by the ministry of railways to celebrate the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence-Azaadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav- and showcase Indian Railways’ achievements, developments and integration on a pan-India basis. The song starts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying a country would gain speed as well as progress through the railways, followed by videos of various railway stations and the picturesque locations most trains cover. Pandit Bhimsen Joshi’s iconic 1988 song Mile Sur Mera Tumhara has been recreated by the Indian Railways dedicated to all its employees.
The song does evoke a sense of nostalgia because of its larger-than-life tribute to Indian diversity and its original theme of national integration, yet in a different style this time. This month, a brand new version of the Mile Sur Mera Tumhara song has been doing the rounds on the internet. The originals will always remain embedded in our hearts as golden memories, but the revival of songs enables the new generation to associate with faces of today.
