Back when travel was a luxury unaffordable to many Indians, a boxy contraption that occupied pride of place in the drawing room offered a unique and enjoyable escapade to travel the length and breadth of India. When you tuned into the airwaves, you were taken for a joyride. 

The rise of radio listening in India was coincident with seminal moments in our nation’s history. The sounds of India represent its diversity and pluralism. The music of Indianness finds resonance in the Constitution of India, a document foundational to our democracy, a tapestry tailored from disparate elements that make us Indian — our shared values, our history, and our diversity. 

November 26 is observed in India as Samvidhan Diwas or Constitution Day. On this day in 1949, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the Constitution of India, which came into effect on January 26, 1950. On this occasion, Radio Azim Premji University hosts you on a musical journey with a difference. Perhaps no other aspect of India represents diversity like our music. Carouse to handpicked tunes in Hindi, Urdu, Bangla, Kannada, Tamil, Khasi, Marathi, and more.

Hindustan Ki Nayi Geetmala, the first episode of our series Samvidhaani Pitaara, is presented by Vineet KKN Panchhi, founder of the Jai Hind Project.

Playlist:

1. Rang De Basanti — Daler Mehndi & Chitra (composed by A R Rahman) from the movie Rang De Basanti (2006) (Hindi) | YouTube

2. Hai Bhalobashi — Moheener Ghoraguli from the album Shongbigno Pakhikul O Kolkata Bishayak (1977) (Bangla) | YouTube

3. Kuladalli Keelyavudo — Ghantasala (composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao) from the movie Satya Harishchandra (1965) (Kannada) | YouTube

4. Kannai Katti — Hariharan (composed by AR Rahman ) from the movie Iruvar (1997) (Tamil) | YouTube

5. Jinhen Naaz Hai Hind Par — Mohammed Rafi (composed by S D Burman) from the movie Pyaasa (1957) (Hindi) | YouTube

6. Folk Song of Meghalaya — Bah Kerios Wahlang (Khasi) | YouTube

7. Naanenu Neenenu — SP Balasubrahmanyam (composed by Rajan-Nagendra) from the movie Gaali Maathu (1981) (Kannada) | YouTube

8. Bulla Ki Jaana Main Kaun — Rabbi Shergill from the album Rabbi (2004) (Punjabi) | YouTube

9. Ekla Chalo Re — Amitabh Bachchan (composed by Vishal and Shekar) from the movie Kahaani (2012) (Bangla) | YouTube 

10. Vaishnava Janatho — Bombay Jayashri (composed by Sai Shravanam) from the album Confluence Of Elements (2007) (Gujrathi) | YouTube

11. Bhartacha pran ahe sanvidhan — written and presented by Sunil Swami / MANS ichalkaranji (Marathi) | YouTube

12. Ishwar Allah — Sujata Mohan and Anuradha Sriram ( composed by AR Rahman) from the movie 1947: Earth (1999) (Hindi) | YouTube

13. Thehar Zara O Janewale — Asha Bhosle, Manna Dey and Madhubala Jhaveri (composed by Shankar Jaikishan) from the movie Boot Polish (1953) (Hindi) | YouTube

14. Na To Karavan Ki Talaash Hai — Yeh Ishq Ishq Hai — Mohammad Rafi , Manna Dey , SD Batish , Sudha Malhotra, Asha Bhonsle (Composed by Roshan) from the movie Barsaat Ki Raat (1960) (Hindi/​Urdu) | YouTube

Credits:

Akshat Krishna, Akshay Ramuhalli, Avishek Bose, Bijoy Venugopal, Bruce Lee Mani, Harsh Gupta, Harshit Gogoi, Maitreyi Shankar, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Sameera Ahmed, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar