The new idiom of patriotism

As I listen to Loknaad's music, I realise that patriotism isn't (or shouldn't) be an unquestioning love for one's nation

In the run up to Republic Day, I find I’ve been humming the desh bhakti songs we learnt in school, all week. They seem slightly faded now, jingoistic even. Still the same old songs play at the Wagah border and in school assemblies with hardly any new additions. Isn’t anyone composing new patriotic songs anymore? Then I remember the compositions of the Ahmedabad-based singing duo, Charul Bharwada and Vinay Mahajan, and realise that perhaps songs celebrating love for one’s country and people are robustly alive today — but perhaps the idiom of patriotism has changed a little.

“Our music is born,