Sanjo (popularly known as Sanjo The Balladeer)
had just got off the stage after headlining an event commemorating One Billion
Rising – a global protest against the ever increasing levels of violence
against women. A reporter from a well-known mainline daily newspaper was waiting
to interview him. The reporter’s first question (obviously intended to provoke
Sanjo) was: “Why are you jumping on to the protest bandwagon?” Without batting
an eyelid Sanjo replied: “Actually, I jumped on to the protest bandwagon thirty
years ago and I still haven’t jumped off!”
In truth, it would be more accurate to say
that it is the protest bandwagon that has been following Sanjo around. For decades, he has
been using music, and in particular, ballads, to create awareness on burning social issues. His well-known
shows like ‘The Songs of The Balladeer’, ‘Earth Eulogy’, ‘The Power of Protest
Songs’, and ‘FolkTree’ all carry a strong social message.
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that
Sanjo’s second studio album in collaboration with his trusted
singer-songwriter-composer partner, Chandrani, is a thought-provoking collection
of beautifully crafted songs – each focussed on a particular social issue.
Every song in this album is written by Chandrani. The album also marks Chandrani’s
emergence as a composer. Though she has composed only one song on this particular album,
the new material that Sanjo and Chandrani have consistently been working on
over the years includes several compositions by Chandrani – but more on that
later.
In this article, we shall focus on the title
track from the new album: Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab. Many fans rate it one of the
most brilliant songs from Sanjo & Chandrani. It conveys, in no uncertain
terms, that destroying the environment is a sure-fire way of finishing
ourselves off.
The central premise of the song is that we, as humanity, are seamlessly and
intimately interconnected with our ecological surroundings, in a mutually enriching symbiotic relationship. We are one, we are inseparable, and we are interdependent. Thus, when we
destroy the environment, it is in reality ourselves that we are destroying.
The premise is encompassed in two searing
lines of the emotionally charged chorus:
Ham Se Hi Hai Yeh Sab
Sab Mein Hai Ham Hi
Invariably, when Sanjo performs this song
live, the entire audience joins him in the chorus. The evocatively-crafted lyrics
are a vital part of the power of this song. During his live shows, Sanjo
usually has the lyrics projected on a large screen for the audience to read;
and when the audience includes a large number of foreigners, he also projects a line-by-line translation on the screen.
HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
Lyrics by: Chandrani
Reproduced here with permission from
Chandrani
ZARA ZARA AASMAN GUM HO RAHA HAI KAHIN
THORHI THORHI SIMAT RAHI HAI YEH ZAMEEN
SOCHO ZARA KHO JAAYE NA BEHTI NADI
HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI
ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA
KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA
OH-HO-HO-HO…
ANDHERA KAALA DHUAAN WOH CHHOONEY LAGA AASMA
KHONEY LAGA HAI TAARON KA SHAAMIYAANA
KAR DO SUBAH KHONEY NA DO APNI ZAMIN
HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI
THAAM LO YEH HAWA GUZAR JAANEY NA DO
BAANDH LO YEH MEHAK BIKHAR JAANEY NA DO
PARCHHAAYIYAAN BAN JAAYE NA BAAHAAREIN SABHI
HAM SE HI HAI YEH SAB
SAB MEIN HAI HAM HI…
Listen to a short audio clip of the song
here:
You can buy the song along with other songs,
or the entire album here:
Note: To buy a song, register on the OK
Listen website and click on the orange button next to the black “Play” button.
To buy the album, scroll down to the point below the album image and click on
the large orange button.
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