Jalandhri confined himself for 3 months to write National Anthem

LAHORE: Abu Al Asar Hafeez Jalandhri confined himself in a room for three months to write the lyrics of the national anthem.

He continued listening tunes of the national anthem again and again and then chose words for it, said Raza Riaz the daughter of Hafeez Jalandhri in an interview with APP here on Friday.

Jalandhri chose the words for the anthem keeping in mind history, culture, politics, future and importance of Pakistan in the world specially the Muslim Ummah.

The national anthem was officially adopted in 1954 which was publicly broadcast the first time on the Radio Pakistan on the 13th of August 1954. Jalandhri started his poetry when he was a student of class three and actively participated in the Pakistan Movement besides using his writings to inspire people for the cause of Pakistan.

One aspect of his versatile personality was that he collected funds for the Pakistan Movement by using his poetry, she said.

He had a strong belief that resolving Kashmir issue was must to ensure peace in the Sub continent, she added.

His poem Tasweer e Kashmir written many decades before was a comprehensive piece of poetry that reflected the current situation of Kashmir.

He also wrote the Kashmiri Anthem ‘Watan Hamara Azad Kashmir’.

He wrote many patriotic songs during the Indo Pakistani War of 1965. He also took part in war of 1948 on Kashmir and got injuries on his arm and leg.