India Poised

India is being splashed all over. It has made the covers of international magazines. There are more and more articles comparing India and China and their race for power in Asia never mind that the two differ in big ways. India is suddenly in the news in international scenario. It makes ‘developed’ countries wonder how India got here in the first place. Was it because of the liberalization? Is it because of the huge educated, English-speaking force? Or is it just because India is now ready to take on the world?

Gulzar and Shankar Mahadevan must have pondered on all these questions before coming up with a patriotic, inspiring anthem for Times Of India's India Poised campaign. The song certainly makes every Indian feel patriotic with its wonderful music and lyrics. Nearly in the caliber of Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana. Nearly but not quite but the best anthem by far after them. This one-and-a-half minute song explores the spirit of the India Poised Campaign.

Lyricist Gulzar explains that the song is about an India ‘raring to go, a new India ready to march forward.’ This spirit now needs to be expressed to the world. The new India is here to stay. The song, of course, is targeted mainly at youth and at increasing their patriotic fervor. The youth, it says, must be ready to embrace and take this new India forward. The music is by Shankar Mahadevan who calls the song “inspiring, moving, and powerful”. The lyrics, he says, are subtle and have used elements of nature to convey thoughts and to describe what Indians should do to make this new India a reality. India indeed is moving forward and every Indian needs to reflect its new spirit. This anthem is one way that they can do it.