I was listening to the song Bharat from the movie Manikarnika – The Queen of Jhansi. It is composed by the dynamic troupe Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, penned by Prasoon Jhoshi and sung in the dulcet tones of Shankar Mahadevan. My attention was seized by the first two lyrics that also form the chorus.

देश से है प्यार तो हर पल ये कहना चाहिए
मैं रहूँ या ना रहूँ, भारत ये रहना चाहिए

The lines translate to the following meaning.

If you love your country, then it should be said every moment
Whether I live or die, India should remain

These words capture the driving force behind every long-term movement, be it the fight for freedom, democratic protests against authoritarianism or a campaign to battle climate change. The people who lead and participate in these movements are guided by ideals bigger than any single person or group. They recognise the value of the whole over the individual. How else can they fight for something at risk to their own lives, depriving themselves of simple personal comforts, standing up to forces far stronger than their own, knowing all the while that their dreams may not be realised in their own lifetimes?

These contemplations tied together with another sonnet I read today, this time written by a 13th century Persian poet Sa’adi, whose words are woven into a tapestry that adorns the UN General Assembly hall.

Human beings are members of a whole
In creation of one essence and soul