South Asian Canadian anthem to be unveiled in Toronto

TORONTO:  The month of May is celebrated in Ontario as the South Asian Heritage Month. Among other things, it’s a time to showcase the rich cultural heritage and pay tribute to the accomplishments of Canadians of South Asian descent.

On Sunday, May 21, 2006, the renowned music composer and maestro Sohail Rana, originally from Pakistan and now settled in Toronto, will unveil his priceless creation — a musical gift in the form of an anthem — to the people of Ontario at the festival of MOSAIC, the first and the largest South Asian multidisciplinary arts festival ever presented in the city of Mississauga.

The South Asian Canadian anthem is aptly titled, “Hum hain saath rung, saath suroon kee sargam” and has been composed using seven ragas, highlighting what is common to most South Asians — a rich cultural heritage that binds them together. 

The song highlights the similarities in the South Asian culture and talks of people living outside their countries of origin, holding many identities and being proud of each one of them. Many take pride in the fact that they are Canadians but also part of a rich and priceless heritage that is called South Asia.

“Many South Asians like me have chosen Canada as their country of residence and continue to prosper and contribute to the social, cultural, economic and political life of Canada. My anthem is a tribute to these people and a message to people in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and all the countries of the world to take example, to unite and be one,” says Rana, while preparing for the big landmark in his career.

The South Asian anthem is being rendered by a mixed chorus of talented and illustrious students of Rana and led by the melodious Mousumi Roy and accompanied in orchestra by Adnan Rana and Luke S. Rana on keyboard.

Only a musical genius such as Rana, the true disciple of Mauseeqar-e-Azam Naushad Saab, could write, compose and deliver such a captivating, compelling and mesmerizing song.

“I have been inspired by the late Naushad Saab all my life and always wanted to work with him. This musical piece is a small tribute to his ingenuity and creativity,” adds Rana. Rana’s accomplished students include Adnan Sami Khan, the late Nazia Hassan and many other well known names.

He has scored memorable melodies for numerous films that have included songs by great celebrities such as Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, Noor Jehan, Reshma and Farida Khanum.

Several critically acclaimed songs such as Sohni Dharti and Jeevay Pakistan that have acquired an equivalent status to the national anthem in Pakistan are also some of his remarkable creations.

His original composition of the evergreen love song “Aaj janay ki zid na karo” by Farida Khanum and Habib Wali Mohammad has been sung by many including Noor Jehan, Jagjit Singh, Talat Aziz and recently Asha Bhosle, to name a few.