Ever wondered how these heroes made such melodious music when they marched past you on Republic Day?
Defense bands in India create magic with their tunes, evoking patriotism and inspiring people to do great deeds. Their function may be ceremonial, but they make any patriotic or national event complete with their soulful renditions and make sure the tunes linger on in the minds of the spectators.
A Musical Relief to Somber Functions
They usually perform at parades, functions, regiment dinner nights, and other official events. The bands belong to the army, navy and air force. They play different genres like martial music, folk songs, some film melodies and even ragas. These events are generally very serious and the music adds some color to them. They sometimes play western classics like Mozart as well all deeply traditional tunes. Loud, clear without too much frills and with a clear message, it’s one of the rare experiences you cannot forget easily!
Music that heightens the Will to Carry on and Fight on
Do you know why these valiant people never feel tired of marching on and on? It’s the music they make that help them. Remember how Hrithik sang to the tunes of “Kandhon se MiltehainKandhe” along with his fellow soldiers in Lakshya? Their music has the standing characteristic of making people take note and serves as a source of inspiration to fight against odds and carry on.
There’s no disagreeing the fact that this music instills a sense of pride and honor, rekindles our love for the country and makes sure every person goes home a little more in love with their motherland! The music boosts our sense of courage and helps listeners take on their respective fights in life with more vigor!
The Genres of Music and the Types of Musical Instruments
Percussion, brass and woodwind instruments are the basic kinds played by them. Pipes, bugle, drums and cymbals add a good amount of lively beats to produce a dynamic aura on any occasion. Martial music, whose purpose is to touch the heart and soul, is a potent way to reach out to the masses.
Ragas, go back to the cultural roots and evokes nostalgia amongst them. And film songs, from the booming industry, are a binding factor that fellow army men relate to. Fusion music, blending western trends with some Indian tunes is also a trend now. Doesn’t this remind you of how they enjoyed and danced with Anushka Sharma when she sang “Jiya re” in Jab takhaiJaan? There are records of even Pirates of the Caribbean being played by them.
Music knows no Race/faith
The musicians in the Indian Army come from myriad backgrounds. They can be Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, or a scheduled caste/tribe. They come together putting aside these superficial boundaries and create sheer music that touches their heart. When fighters sang the famous “sandeseaatehain” in Border, all they remembered was their home and dear ones, and not their castes. It’s the inclusive nature of these bands that make it an even more wholesome experience. This also makes sure they truly represent a secular country which promotes equality.
The bands’ purpose on paper is to keep spirits high and create order and discipline amongst the marching personnel. Its official function may be to reduce fatigue or boredom, but it serves a far greater function as very few things transcends borders the way music does. In a land divided by communities, caste, class and races, their music ensures “unity in diversity.”
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