Hindustan Zindabad

Hindustan Zindabad (listenⓘ, Hindi: हिन्दुस्तान ज़िन्दाबाद, Urdu: ہندوستان زِندہ باد Lit. Long live Hindustan) is a Hindustani phrase and battle cry most commonly used in the Republic of India in speeches and communications pertaining to or referring to patriotism towards India, and was used since the British Raj in the Indian subcontinent. It translates to "Long Live India".[1] It is a nationalistic slogan,[2] and has been used in nationalist protests such as radical peasant movements in post-colonial India.[3] Other variations of the slogan are Jai Hind and India Zindabad.[4] Such slogans are common while cheering the Indian team in cricket matches.[4][5]

Etymology

In contemporary usage, the word Hindustan generally refers to the modern country of India since 1947. It is conventionally believed to be derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, which in turn is derived from Sindhu, the Sanskrit name for the Indus River.[6] Old Persian refers to the people living beyond the Indus as Hinduš. This combined with the Avestan suffix -stān (cognate to Sanskrit "sthān", both meaning "place")[7] results in Hindustan, as the land on the other side (from Persia) of the Indus.

Zindabad (may [idea, person, country] live forever) is a typical Urdu and Persian suffix that is placed after a person or a country name. It is used to express victory, patriotism or as a prayer.[8]

Use in episodes of violence

The slogan Hindustan Zindabad, and its counterpart, Pakistan Zindabad, were used during the partition of India in episodes of sexual violence against women: the slogans were often tattooed on the bodies of victims of collective rapes.[9]

The slogan's popular usage in recent times is likely to be credited to the film Gadar: Ek Prem Katha. The film tells the story of a Sikh man named Tara Singh (Sunny Deol), who falls in love with a Muslim woman named Sakina Ali (Ameesha Patel) during partition of India. However, Sakina's father disapproved of the marriage, primarily due to religious and national differences, but allowed the marriage to continue under the condition that Singh converts to Islam and shouts‌ हिंदुस्तान मुर्दाबाद Hindustan Murdabad (death to India) in full view of hundreds of witnesses in Pakistan; instead of following the latter, Singh defiantly proclaims Hindustan Zindabad and then uproots a hand pump and kills a few locals belonging to an attacking mob enraged from his remarks.[10]

See also

References
  1. Sarina Singh (2009). Lonely Planet India (13, illustrated ed.). Lonely Planet. p. 276. ISBN 9781741791518.
  2. Christine Everaer (2010). Tracing the Boundaries Between Hindi and Urdu: Lost and Added in Translation Between 20th Century Short Stories (annotated ed.). BRILL. p. 82. ISBN 9789004177314.
  3. Debal K. Singha Roy (2004). Peasant Movements in Post-Colonial India: Dynamics of Mobilization and Identity. SAGE. p. 61. ISBN 9780761998273.
  4. Nikhita Sanotra (3 April 2011). "India Zindabad! rings across Dubai after cricket victory". Yahoo! News.
  5. "World Cup semifinal: Mohali citizens throw open homes to Pak fans". Indian Express. 24 March 2011.
  6. Lipner, Julis (1998), Hindus: their religious beliefs and practices, Routledge, pp. 7–8
  7. "Unlimited: What does -istan" mean as in Pakistan, Uzbekistan or Afghanistan?". Guardian. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  8. "Pakistan, India have no option but to promote peace: Shahbaz". Thenews.com.pk. 2012-05-08. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  9. Ritu Menon; Kamla Bhasin (1998). Borders & Boundaries: Women in India's Partition. Rutgers University Press. p. 43. ISBN 9780813525525.
  10. Gadar: Ek Prem Katha [Revolt: A Love Story] (Motion Picture) (in Hindi). Zee Telefilms. 2001.
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