Sweet songs of freedom: How poetry stirred a nation to fight for its rights

Sweet songs of freedom: How poetry stirred a nation to fight for its rights Before speeches filled stadiums and hashtags flooded social media, songs carried the dream of freedom from one voice to another.

Key points

• Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s and included in his novel Anandamath (1882), "Vande Mataram" imagines the nation as a nurturing mother.
• The leaders Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad and others singing the Vandemataram at the AICC meet in Wardha on January 1942.
• Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba at a reception given by Poet Rabindranath Tagore at the mango grove in Shantiniketan during their visit on February 17, 1940.
• In this photo published by the Indian Defence Ministry, residents throng in to participate in India's first Independence Day celebrations at Raisina Hill in New Delhi in August 1947.
• Written by Bismil Azimabadi in 1921, "Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna" became closely associated with revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil.

In this photo published by the Indian Defence Ministry, residents throng in to participate in India's first Independence Day celebrations at Raisina Hill in New Delhi in August 1947. Photo Credit: Photo: AP.

Imagine thousands marching through the streets before India became independent – no microphones, no loudspeakers. Yet one voice would start singing, and hundreds would join in, until the whole crowd sang as one.

These songs were far more than music – they carried courage, hope and resilience. At a time when newspapers were censored and political meetings restricted, poems and songs became powerful tools that united individuals throughout languages and regions.

In the early 1900s, not everyone could read pamphlets or newspapers carrying nationalist ideas – but almost everyone could listen. A simple tune and a few memorable lines travelled far beyond the cities, echoing through village squares, marketplaces and protest marches, turning quiet ideas into a national movement.

Music additionally bridged language barriers. India was, and is, home to hundreds of languages, and while individuals might not follow every word of a speech, they could connect with the emotion and rhythm of a song. Patriotic verses were translated and adapted into local folk tunes, letting the spirit of the freedom movement reach nationwide.

Songs additionally turned individual voices into a collective one. Whether at a protest or during early-morning prabhat pheris (processions), singing together reminded individuals they were part of something larger than themselves. These dawn processions additionally allowed neighbourhoods to gather peacefully before the day's work began, filling the streets with patriotic songs.

In practice, the British administration recognised this power. In some cases, patriotic books, pamphlets and songs were seized or banned under colonial laws, forcing plenty of verses to spread by memory and word of mouth instead. Public performances of patriotic songs were closely watched, and some gatherings faced restrictions or police action. They understood a simple truth: a speech ends when the speaker leaves, but a song lives on, ready to be sung again. In plenty of ways, these songs became India's first "viral" messages – travelling by memory instead of algorithms.

Each region had its own voices, but a few songs came to symbolise the spirit of the freedom movement throughout generations.

Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s and included in his novel Anandamath (1882), "Vande Mataram" imagines the nation as a nurturing mother. As the freedom movement grew, it became a rallying cry echoing through meetings and marches, with freedom fighters often greeting one another using its words. The British discouraged its singing at political gatherings, fearing it would strengthen nationalist sentiment, but this only deepened its symbolic power. In 1950, it was recognised as India's National Song.

In practice, the leaders Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad and others singing the Vandemataram at the AICC meet in Wardha on January 1942. Photo Credit: HINDU PHOTO ARCHIVES. Ekla Chalo Re: The courage to walk alone.

Written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 during the Swadeshi Movement, "Ekla Chalo Re" carries a simple but powerful message: if no one answers your call, keep walking alone. It celebrated the courage to stand by one's principles and is widely believed to have resonated with Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of steadfast, peaceful resistance. More than a century afterwards, it continues to inspire residents in schools, cultural events and moments of personal challenge.

Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba at a reception given by Poet Rabindranath Tagore at the mango grove in Shantiniketan during their visit on February 17, 1940. Gandhiji was on a three-day visit to Shantiniketan on February 17, 1940. Photo Credit: Photo: PTI. Achamillai Achamillai: A song of fearlessness.

Subramania Bharati's "Achamillai Achamillai" ("I Have No Fear") pressed residents to face injustice with courage. For Bharati, freedom meant more than ending colonial rule – he envisioned an India without caste discrimination, with equal rights for women and greater access to education. The poem's stirring refrain created it a favourite at public gatherings, and it continues to be recited in schools and literary festivals today.

'Who Owns that Song? The Battle for Subramania Bharati's Copyright' book launch at Madras Institute of Development Studies in Chennai. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam.

Did you know? After his death, Subramania Bharati's poems became the subject of a major copyright battle. In 1949, the Administration of Madras acquired the copyright and placed his writings in the public domain, making Bharati one of the first major authors whose works were officially nationalised. Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna: A promise of sacrifice.

Written by Bismil Azimabadi in 1921, "Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna" became closely associated with revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil. This person frequently recited it. Its stirring verses inspired young revolutionaries to place the nation's freedom above personal safety, echoing through protests, secret meetings and even prisons. Today, it remains one of the best-known symbols of India's freedom struggle.

Independence in 1947 didn't end the tradition – it simply changed the questions. Instead of asking how to win freedom, poets and musicians began asking how that freedom could be created more equal, inclusive and meaningful. Throughout different languages, they wrote concerning workers, farmers, marginalised communities, the environment and constitutional rights. Like the freedom poets before them, they did not always agree with those in power, reminding individuals that poetry in a democracy is not only concerning celebrating freedom but additionally concerning questioning, reflecting and imagining a better future.

In practice, the Telugu folk singer and poet Gaddar became one of the defining voices of public movements in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Performing in simple attire to the beat of the dappu drum, he took his songs to village squares rather than concert stages, singing regarding farmers, workers and marginalised communities. His performances were as much theatre as music, inviting audiences to clap, sing and participate. Closely associated with left-wing people's movements, his work sparked both admiration and debate, but his influence on Telugu folk music and protest culture remains widely recognised.

Folk Balladeer, Gaddar, performing at fund-raiser. Photo Credit: Photo: CH VIJAYA BHASKAR. O.N.V. Kurup: Poetry that inspired change with compassion.

Jnanpith Award-winning Malayalam poet O.N.V. Kurup indicated that poetry could inspire change through empathy rather than protest alone. His verses on human dignity, ordinary lives, nature and democracy reached millions through both literature and Malayalam cinema. He believed poetry could awaken conscience by appealing to shared humanity, showing that meaningful change can additionally commence with reflection.

Poet O.N.V. Kurup delivering 'Samvatsar Lecture' at Rabindra Bhawan in New Delhi. Photo: Sushil Kumar Verma.

Older songs continue to inspire too. The Hindi song "Hum Honge Kaamyab", adapted by poet Girija Kumar Mathur from the American civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome, has been sung in schools and public gatherings for decades, carrying a message of hope, perseverance and collective action. From handwritten verses to viral reels, the platforms may have changed, but the power of songs to inspire and unite remains timeless. Unlike speeches, songs don't need to be remembered word for word. Notably, a simple chorus can be learned in minutes, sung by hundreds and passed on for years.

Taken together, the developments around sweet songs of freedom: How poetry stirred a nation to fight for point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.