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By:

Rajeev Puri

24 October 2024 at 5:11:37 am

Before Sholay, there was Mera Gaon Mera Desh

When the comedian and television host Kapil Sharma recently welcomed the veteran screenwriter Salim Khan onto his show, he made a striking claim. India, he joked, has a national bird and a national animal; it ought also to have a national film. That film, he suggested, would surely be Sholay. Few would quarrel with the sentiment. Released in 1975 and directed by Ramesh Sippy,  Sholay  has long been treated as the Everest of Hindi popular cinema -quoted endlessly, revisited by generations and...

Before Sholay, there was Mera Gaon Mera Desh

When the comedian and television host Kapil Sharma recently welcomed the veteran screenwriter Salim Khan onto his show, he made a striking claim. India, he joked, has a national bird and a national animal; it ought also to have a national film. That film, he suggested, would surely be Sholay. Few would quarrel with the sentiment. Released in 1975 and directed by Ramesh Sippy,  Sholay  has long been treated as the Everest of Hindi popular cinema -quoted endlessly, revisited by generations and dissected by critics. In 2025, the film marked its 50th anniversary, and the release of a digitally restored, uncut version introduced the classic to a new generation of viewers who discovered that its mixture of revenge drama, western pastiche and buddy comedy remains curiously durable. The film’s influences have been debated almost as much as its dialogues – from scenes taken by the Spaghetti westerns of Sergio Leone, particularly ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1968) or to the narrative architecture of ‘Seven Samurai’ (1954) by Akira Kurosawa. Others note echoes of earlier Hindi films about bandits and frontier justice, such as ‘Khotey Sikke’ (1973) starring Feroz Khan. Yet, rewatching ‘Mera Gaon Mera Desh,’ directed by Raj Khosla, one cannot help noticing how many of the narrative bones of  Sholay  appear to have been assembled there first. Released in 1971,  Mera Gaon Mera Desh  was a major hit at the box office, notable for holding its own in a year dominated by the near-hysterical popularity of Rajesh Khanna. The thematic framework of the two films is strikingly similar. In  Sholay , the retired policeman Thakur Baldev Singh recruits two petty criminals - Jai and Veeru - to help him avenge the terror inflicted upon his village by the bandit Gabbar Singh. In  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , the set-up is not very different. A retired soldier, Jaswant Singh, seeks to protect his village from a ruthless dacoit and enlists the help of a small-time crook named Ajit. Even the villain’s name seems to echo across the two films. In Khosla’s drama, the marauding bandit played by Vinod Khanna is scene-stealing performance is called Jabbar Singh. In  Sholay , the outlaw who would become one of Indian cinema’s most memorable antagonists was Gabbar Singh. There is an additional irony in the casting. In  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , the retired soldier Jaswant Singh is played by Jayant - the real-life father of Amjad Khan, who would later immortalise Gabbar Singh in  Sholay . The connective tissue between the two films becomes even clearer in the presence of Dharmendra. In Khosla’s film he plays Ajit, a charming rogue who gradually redeems himself while defending the village. Four years later, Dharmendra returned in  Sholay  as Veeru, a similarly exuberant petty criminal whose courage and irrepressible humour make him one half of Hindi cinema’s most beloved buddy duo alongside Amitabh Bachchan as Jai. Certain visual motifs also appear to have travelled intact. In Khosla’s film, Ajit finds himself bound in ropes in the bandit’s den during a dramatic musical sequence. A similar image appears in  Sholay , where Veeru is tied up before Gabbar Singh while Basanti performs the now famous song ‘Jab Tak Hai Jaan.’ Other echoes are subtler but just as suggestive. Ajit’s pursuit of the village belle Anju, played by Asha Parekh, anticipates Veeru’s boisterous attempts to woo Basanti, portrayed by Hema Malini. Scenes in which Ajit teaches Anju to shoot recall the flirtatious gun-training sequence between Veeru and Basanti that became one of  Sholay ’s most cherished moments. Even the famous coin motif has a precedent. Ajit frequently tosses a coin to make decisions - a flourish that would later appear in  Sholay , where Jai’s coin toss becomes a running gag. Perhaps most intriguingly, the endings of the two films converge in their original form. In  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , the villain is ultimately killed by the hero. The uncut version of  Sholay  reportedly ended in a similar fashion, with Gabbar Singh meeting his death at the hands of Thakur Baldev Singh. However, censors altered the climax before the film’s 1975 release, requiring that Gabbar be handed over to the police instead. All this does not diminish  Sholay . Rather, it highlights the alchemy through which cinema evolves. The scriptwriting duo Salim–Javed took familiar ingredients and expanded them into a grander narrative populated by unforgettable characters and stylised action. On the 55 th  anniversary of  Mera Gaon Mera Desh , Raj Khosla’s rugged western deserves a renewed glance as the sturdy foundation on which a legend called  Sholay  was built. (The author is a political commentator and a global affairs observer. Views personal.)

Brave Soldiers and the Brave Women Behind Them

Bravery isn’t just born — it’s built through discipline, resilience, and duty. But even deeper runs the quiet courage of the women who stand behind our soldiers.

Colonel Sofiya Quresh and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh
Colonel Sofiya Quresh and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh

Recently, the nation has witnessed fear, tension, and anguish. Anxiety lingers over the continuous firing, shelling, and ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the border. Our brave armed forces, who responded with strength and precision successfully intercepted missiles aimed at 15 Indian cities. Their courage is deeply commendable, and we remain forever indebted to them for risking their lives to protect ours. Their valour is beyond words — a sacrifice we honour with gratitude and respect.


Are soldiers born brave?

Bravery is a combination of both natural and developed characteristics. While each soldier is inherently courageous, military training, discipline, and instilling a strong sense of duty enhance their innate courage, which enables them to be highly receptive to challenges.


The training includes physical and mental conditioning to combat difficult situations, along with "duty comes first" over anything developed. Here’s a look at the essential traits that define a soldier’s preparedness and performance:

  • Resilience: The ability to recover from setbacks and maintain a positive outlook in adverse situations.

  • Focus and Concentration: The skill of staying sharp and executing missions with precision, even under intense stress.

  • Adaptability: Soldiers must adjust swiftly to unpredictable conditions, from shifting terrains to volatile weather.

  • Self-control: Emotional regulation is critical to making sound, timely decisions during high-stakes operations.

  • Persistence: A soldier's grit and perseverance push them to meet objectives despite numerous challenges.

  • Conquering Fear: Training instils the strength to overcome fear of injury or death in pursuit of mission success.

  • Teamwork: The armed forces thrive on collective learning and mutual support, fostering unity, inspiration, and strength.


The High Price of Duty

While their courage is visible, the personal cost borne by soldiers is often unseen. Their sacrifices go far beyond the battlefield.

  • Constant Physical Risk: Soldiers face life-threatening danger in combat zones and high-risk deployments.

  • Harsh Conditions: From scorching deserts to icy outposts, they endure extreme climates with limited resources and no room for complaint.

  • Mental and Emotional Strain: Continuous exposure to danger, trauma, and loss takes a deep toll on mental health, often leading to anxiety, PTSD, and other challenges.

  • Social Isolation: Long deployments leave little time for personal life, leading to isolation from society and friends.

  • Separation from Family: Extended absences mean missing out on birthdays, anniversaries, and major life moments — sacrifices made silently for the nation.


Brave women behind brave soldiers

Women play a vital role in a soldier’s life — as mothers, wives, and family members — contributing to his well-being and, in turn, to national security. Their strength sustains the spirit of service.


A soldier’s mother is a warrior herself, showing immense courage by sending her son to serve the nation. She instils bravery and patriotism from the very beginning, knowing the risks yet embracing them with pride. She is truly a brave heart who deserves our deepest respect.


The wife, too, shoulders multiple roles, managing the home front with quiet strength. Despite anxiety and long separations, she remains resilient, waiting, hoping, and holding the family together. Her unwavering spirit makes her a pillar of support, embodying courage and sacrifice.


Support extended by women is never-ending, but to summarise, here are a few:

Managing the Home Front

Women take primary charge of the household, ensuring the family’s needs are met while their sons or partners serve the nation. Their steady presence keeps life running smoothly in the soldier’s absence.


Providing Mental Strength

They offer deep understanding, immense patience, and unwavering emotional support — a source of strength that uplifts morale during testing times.


Love and Trust

Their unconditional love and steadfast trust help maintain a strong emotional bond. This connection brings both comfort and a shared sense of purpose, fuelling resilience and unity on both sides.

Here are a few ways to show gratitude to our bravehearts:

We as citizens can show gratitude to our soldiers and their families not just by acknowledging or appreciating their sacrifices but by an act of kindness in the form of various contributions, like raising funds to assist with their children's education or family health care, or we can even associate and get involved with organisations that take care of all these needs of their families.


If we ever get an opportunity to make a difference in their lives, we are truly blessed.


It's a powerful gratitude. This act of kindness will resonate with our inner selves and help ignite benevolence.


Alongside this, we should teach our children the essence of patriotism and enlighten them with the stories of our real heroes, which will help shape their lives in a larger way to be perceptive.


We salute the bravehearts, the strength and courage of brave women behind the scenes who play such powerful roles in national security and our peaceful life.


Jai Hind!


(The author is a tutor based in Thane.)

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