Rabbi Shergill’s Bilqis

Something happened the other day. I am actually very orthodox about listening to music. I like to hear songs which I know, especially on my MP3 player. I have to hear the song somewhere, be it radio or someone else’s mobile before it can come to my player. A month ago, a friend transferred some songs on my player, which he claimed was his playlist. It was lying there on my player for a long time. The other day I decided to try out his selection, and lo and behold, I was in for a revelation.
His is not a typical singer's voice. It sounds more like a poet reciting, with a distinct guitar sound. When the 4.19 minutes song was over, I replayed it and again and again. And everytime the song is over, I would get goosebumps. It was an incredible experience.
The song is ‘Bilqis (Jinhe Naaz Hai Hind Par)’ by Rabbi Shergill of ‘Bulla ke Jaana’ fame, from his latest album ‘Avengi Ja Nahin.’
There is a haunting quality about the song. It's not about protest or patriotism, and it ends up being both, a commentary about the politics of modern India. The song tells the story of four people, the victim of the system and the country: Bilqis Yakub Rasool, Satyendra Dubey, Anna Manjunath and Navleen Kumar. It is their story, and all of them ask just one question: "Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan the/ Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain (Where were they who are proud of India/ Where are they who are proud of India.)
This reminds me of the song that asked the same question, Guru Dutt's ‘Pyaasa,’ where poet Vijay roams about in a red-light district, holding a glass of booze and complaining about the state of affairs, and asking, where are the people who are proud about India. The song, beautifully recited by Md Rafi was romantic at its best, where Shergill's gem is culture commentary.
Here's the lyric downloaded from the net, and my translations below:

RABBI SHERGILL: BILQIS (JINHE NAAZ HAI)

Mera naam Bilqis Yakub Rasool
Mujhse hui bas ek hi bhool
Ki jab dhhundhhte thhe vo Ram ko
To maen kharhi thhi rah mein
Pehle ek ne puchha na mujhe kuchh pata thha
Dujey ko bhi mera yehi javab thha
Fir itno ne puchha ki mera ab saval hai ki

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan the
Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain

Mera naam shriman Satyendra Dubey
Jo kehna thha vo keh chukey
Ab parhey hain rah mein
Dil mein liye ik goli

Bas itna kasur ki hamne likha thha
Vo sach jo har kisi ki zuban thha
Par sach yahan ho jatey hain zahriley

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan the
Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain

Mujhe kehte hain Anna Manjunath
Maine dekhi bhatakti ek laash
Zamir ki beech sarhak Lakhimpur Kherhi

Adarsh phasan jahan naaron mein
Aur chor bharey darbaron mein
Vahan maut akhlaq ki hai ik khabar baasi

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan hain
Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain

Mazha nau aahe Navleen Kumar
Unnees june unnees var
Unnees unnees unnees unnees
Unnees vaar

Unnees unnees unnees unnees
Unnees unnees unnees unnees
Unnees unnees unnees unnees
Unnees vaar

Looto dehaat kholo bazaar
Nalla Sopara aur Virar
Chheeno zameen hamse hamein
Bhejo pataal

Jinhe naaz hai hind par vo kahan hain
Jinhe naaz hai vo kahan hain

==========

My name is Bilqis Yakub Rasool
I've made just one mistake that
When they’re looking for Ram
I was standing there, on the road
First no one asked and I did not know anything
Same was my answer for the second one
Then so many of them asked my that now I've a question

Where were they who are proud of India
Where are they who are proud of India

My name's Mr Satyendra Dubey
Said whatever I had to say
Now I lie on the road
Currying a bullet on my heart

My crime was that I wrote
That truth which was on everyone's lips
But truth turns into poison here

Where were they who are proud of India
Where are they who are proud of India

I'm called Anna Manjunath
I have seen a lost dead body
The road in the middle of the land in Lakhimpur Kherhi

Where ideal is entangled in slogans
And thieves on the royal court
Where death becomes a stale news

Where were they who are proud of India
Where are they who are proud of India

My name's Navleen Kumar
Nineteenth June nineteenth times
Nineteenth, Nineteenth, Nineteenth
Nineteenth, Nineteenth, Nineteenth...
........

Rob the villages, open markets
Nalla Sopara and Virar
Snatch our lands and send us
to hell

Where were they who are proud of India
Where are they who are proud of India

Dibyajyoti Sarma