Pakistan, India united with ‘peace anthem’

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Independence Day celebrations for both Pakistan and India this week have been soundtracked by a “peace anthem” fusing the countries’ national anthems and featuring artists from both sides.

Pakistan and India parted ways 70 years ago when the British rule ended in the Indian subcontinent in August 1947. Pakistan celebrated its 70th Independence Day on Monday, while India marked the event on Tuesday.

India's Arun Haridas Kamath performs in the Voice of Ram music video.‍

The peace initiative united the national anthems is known as Voice of Ram.

It was released on Facebook on Sunday as the “first such initiative since the partition.”

'Friendly gesture'

Praising Voice of Ram, Sibte Arif, a Dubai-based journalist associated with Pakistan’s Geo TV, told CGTN that people get emotional when they listen to their national anthems.

“If people from other countries sing them, it may bring tears to the eyes,” he said, adding that South Asians are susceptible to such emotion.

Pakistani artist Alycia Dias singing in the music video.

He termed the video as a friendly gesture that encourages people to tolerate differences and share happiness.

The producers have called the song a "peace anthem".

The video begins with a phrase emphasizing peace and highlighting the importance of art: "When we open our borders to art, peace comes along."

In the end, it calls on people from both countries to “stand together for peace”.

At least a dozen artists, including four from Pakistan, took part in the initiative, singing Pakistan's Pāk Sarzamīn and the Indian anthem Jana Gana Mana.

"To me, these videos mean a new beginning, another small step towards peace," activist Ram Subramanian, who runs Voice of Ram, told India’s Catch News.

Independence Day present

Indian acapella band Voxchord also released a video which they called a gift for the Independence Day.

Isheeta Chakrvarty is among the Indian artists featured in the mash-up video. /YouTube

In the two-minute video posted online last week, the band members sing the Pakistan national anthem.

In the opening shot, the artists are seen holding placards which read, "This Independence Day, we'd like to dedicate a song to our neighbors. A song about faith, pride, and grandeur, of power, progress and perfection."

Pakistan English daily Dawn praised the video as a "surprise offering".

“The song is quite a treat to listen to,” it said in a report.

Screenshot of acapella band Voxchord in the video.

Another Pakistani journalist, Adnan Bacha, told CGTN that Voxchord and Voice of Ram had adopted a unique path to deliver the message of peace.

“What the people from both the countries want is peace, and the videos have effectively given the message,” he said.

Internet sensation

Both the videos created a buzz on social media, drawing thousands of views and comments.

On Voice of Ram’s Facebook page, the mash-up video has so far been viewed over 700,000 times. Many netizens have praised the efforts.

“What a beautiful gesture, rendered with so much finesse, love, and care #music #India #Pakistan Thank you VoxChord,” Pakistani journalist Beena Sarwar wrote on Twitter.

Beyond South Asia

Similar efforts have also been witnessed in other parts of the world. Korean Dream Song, released on Tuesday seeks common ground between South Korea and the DPRK.

“Korean Dream Song" voices hope for unification and peace. /YouTube

The song comes amid the tensions that flared up around the DPRK after it threatened a missile attack on Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific Ocean.

As the situation on the Korean Peninsula remains tense, One K Media, which produced the song, said it wanted to issue a call for peace to mark the Liberation Day, the anniversary of Japan’s surrender in World War II.