PANDIT JITENDRA PRATAP - COMPOSER OF THE SCHOOL SONG
I hope many of you will check out the latest episode of "Glimpses Of A Glorious Past: An Informal History of The Lawrence School, Lovedale. " This YouTube video was released on October 11, 2022. It is one more in the series titled, "Stalwarts of Lovedale" and features Pandit Jitendra Pratap ( 1920-2013).
Our special thanks go out to his daughters Shree Gouri Dhiman (DEO 1963) and Chitra Gouri Lal (DEO 1965). They were most generous in sharing their material on their father based on which we put this episode together.
You may have caught the strains of the sitar playing in the background in this episode. This was from a performance by Pandit Jitendra Pratap accompanied by his eldest daughter, Shree Gouri Dhiman.
Pandit Jitendra Pratap's most significant contribution to Lovedale was the School Song which he composed for the School's Centenary Founder's in May 1958. I must confess that in my schooldays I ( and I suspect many others) sang the School Song by rote without really understanding the true meaning.
I am grateful to Nitya Cherian Matthai, Class of 1977 and our collaborator in "Glimpses" for sending me the School Song- "Saba Se Sundar" and its English translation by Mr J Asrani who taught English in the School in the 1950s.
" Our School Songs"
Saba Se Sunder (Hindi)
Saba Se Sundar, Jaga Se Pyaara
Vidya Ka Yeh Dhaam Hamara
Shobha Iski Ati Hi Nyari,
Iski Shaan Nirali Hai.
Nila giri. Yehan Nila Gagan,
Yehan Nila Van. Shital Samiran
Shobha Iski Ati Hi Nyari.
Iski Shaan Nirali Hai.
Iska Naam Amar Karenge,
Iski Shaan Badhayenge,
Bal Buddhi Mein Sarvottam Ho.
Vir Lawrencians Kahayenge.
Haar Na Manege, Hama Haar Na Manenge,
Hama Haar Na Mane, Haar na Mane,
Haar Na Maanenge.
Source: Composed By Shri J. Pratap, Indian Music Teacher
Loveliest, dearest in all the world
Her splendour unique...
Where hills are blue, where sky is blue.
To towering heights the blue gum grew,
The mountain breeze caresses you.
Her glory matchless.
Her splendour unique.
Loveliest, dearest in all the world
Is this our Alma Mater?
Immortal we shall make her name,
From strength to strength we'll bear her fame.
We the brave Lawrencians.
*Never Give In' our motto is
*Never Give In' it'll always be.
Never Give In. we'll never give in.
Never, no never, we'Il never give in."
Translated by Shri J. Asrani
Our thanks to Air Commodore T T Job, AVSM, VSM, Indian Air Force, (Retd), NIL 1960, now a sprightly 78 , who took so much pains to record videos for this episode.
You will remember that he spoke in the episode video about his tryst with Pandit Jitendra Pratap and his Indian Orchestra. That was only one part of the story. Here, he elaborates in greater detail about his interactions with Pandit Jitendra Pratap.
Job was commissioned in the Indian Air Force in 1967 after he studied engineering at the REC ( now NIT) Calicut and training at the Air Force Technical College. Probably, the "Never Give In" spirit helped him do well in the Indian Air Force. He retired as an Air Commodore in 2001.
For his distinguished service of a high order and leadership in commanding important establishments like Base Repair Depots- which serviced top rung fighter aircraft crucial to our defence system amongst others- he was awarded the Vishist Seva Medal and the Ati Vishist Seva Medal by the President of India.
Clearly, Indian Music's loss was the Indian Air Force's gain!
I myself was in Pandit Jitendra Pratap's Indian Orchestra and I played ( or tried to play ) the sitar. Decades later, I kick myself at not having made better use of the great opportunities to learn that fabulous instrument under such a talented teacher. But in Junior School, we were young kids not even in the teens and far too playful to be worthy students of Indian classical music.
After the recent episode, I received a mail from my friend Viju Parameshwar, NIL 1968, Past President of the OLA. Viju wrote: "I just watched the YouTube episode on Pandit Jitendra Pratap. It was most enlightening. I am ashamed to say I never knew what an eminent musician and later music critic he was. We lost out by not having retained him and got more value from his presence. Congratulations on this lovely episode."
You summed it up so well, Viju. Looking back, perhaps many of us did not realise the true worth of Pandit Jitendra Pratap! He is no more- but the School Song will always remind us of him.
1 comment:
Thank you for this. I've always wondered who wrote the School Song. This one as well as our March (Lawrencians! Lawrencians! Keep the dear old School in mind...) and the Hymn (Nilgiri hills, the home of our schooldays...) All are so apt and so beautiful.
We were in Class 5 and Mr. C. Mukherjee (Bull Mukhaj) taught us the meaning of the School Song in Hindi class. Loved it then, still love it!
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