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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.)

RSS’s 99-Year Journey: From 1980 to a Vision for the Future

Updated: Oct 22, 2024

In 1980, the RSS emerged as a powerful political force, leveraging the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement to elevate Hindu nationalism and solidify its influence in shaping India’s socio-political landscape. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi movement catapulted the BJP and the RSS to national prominence by constructing the Lord Ram temple. It tapped into the religious sentiments of millions and became a rallying point for Hindu nationalism.

 

India’s Global Leadership

 The election of long-time swayamsevak and former Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, as Prime Minister in 2014 marked a turning point in Indian politics and the RSS’s influence on national affairs. Modi’s leadership emphasised economic growth, national security, and cultural revival, with initiatives like Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat positioning India as a global force. His foreign policy strengthened ties with major powers like the U.S., Russia, and Japan, while enhancing India’s role in world organisations.  The RSS has shaped Modi’s policies, especially in education, culture, and social welfare, with its affiliates involved in various development initiatives.


Nation-building

One of the most remarkable aspects of the RSS’s journey has been its consistent focus on social welfare and nation-building through a wide range of social initiatives at the grassroots level to improve the lives of ordinary Indians. Seva Bharati, an RSS affiliate, operates in underdeveloped regions, offering healthcare, education, and disaster relief.


Promotion of Education

The RSS’ Vidya Bharati network of schools promotes education in rural and semi-urban areas and emphasises Indian cultural values and national pride among students.


Through its various affiliate organisations, such as the Sanskriti Bharati and the Akhil   Bharatiya Itihas Sankalan Yojana, the RSS has worked to revive interest in India’s ancient history, languages, and traditions.


Vision for India

 The RSS sees India as a global leader that can offer a unique development model based on cultural values, economic self-reliance, and social harmony. It believes India’s rise as a global leader must be rooted in its civilisational values the principles of Dharma, truth, and justice that have guided Indian society for millennia. This vision of global leadership is not about dominance or hegemony but about offering a model of development that promotes sustainability, inclusivity, and human well-being.


Economic development

A key pillar of the RSS’s vision for India’s future is economic self-reliance, achieved by reducing dependence on foreign goods and fostering domestic industries and innovations This vision aligns with the Atmanirhar Bharat initiative launched by the Modi government, which seeks to make India self-sufficient in key sectors such as manufacturing, defence, and technology. The RSS believes that economic development must go hand in hand with social justice. The organisation is involved in initiatives aimed at empowering marginalised communities and promoting inclusive growth.

  

Cultural Leadership

 In addition to its economic aspirations, the RSS believes that India’s rich cultural heritage, rooted in the principles of Sanatana Dharma, has much to offer the world through values, philosophy, and way of life. It has been at the forefront of efforts to promote Indian culture and values globally. Through its affiliate organisations, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh, the RSS has worked to connect the Indian diaspora with their cultural roots and promote a positive image of India abroad.

  

Humanitarianism

At the core of the RSS’s vision is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family, which envisions India as a peaceful, responsible global citizen contributing to world stability and welfare. The organisation has led relief efforts during COVID-19 and promoted peace both domestically and internationally.

 

The Future of the RSS

The challenge for the RSS will be to adapt to a rapidly evolving world while staying true to its core values. As India rises globally, the RSS’s role in shaping its destiny remains crucial in India, as well as global leadership and human welfare. The next phase of the RSS’s journey will bring new challenges and opportunities, but its commitment to service, discipline, and national pride will guide its path toward a strong and prosperous India—one that stands tall as a global leader and development model.


(The author is an official of Vishwa Samvad Kendra, Mumbai. Views personal)

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