This Independence Day India and Pakistan proved that although they might be different in some ways, they are similar in a lot more ways. First, it was Samya Arif’s Mumbai taxi makeover which symbolised peace between the two countries and now, a moving song – Mere Saamne Wali Sarhad Pe – attempts to highlight the similarities between the neighbours.
Mere Saamne Wali Sarhad Pe is a rendition of the classic Meray Samnay Wali Khirki mein and is composed by Indian rock band Indian Ocean’s Rahul Ram, satirist Sanjay Rajoura and stand-up comedian and lyricist Varun Grover.
The song is a part of the trio’s political satire stage show Aisi Taisi Democracy.
It beautifully explains that the division between India and Pakistan has been created by a few:
Mere saamne wali sarhad pe kehte hain dushman rehta hai, par ghaur sey jab dekha us ko toh meray jaisa dikhta hai
And:
Bas do families ki chaandi hai, Wahan Bhutto hai, Yahan Gandhi hai
In response to this touching song, Pakistani Army officer Muhammad Hassan Miraj wrote an equally heartwarming rendition of the same song and titled it Aisi Taisi Hypocrisy:
With a few tweeks:
Mere saamne wali sarhad pe suntay hain key dushman rehta hai, 70 years honay ko hain kuch ukhra ukhra rehta hai
The 4-minute clip is longer than the Indian version and packs a powerful punch with lyrics like:
Gali deyna ab chhor bhi do, beytho kuch kaam ki baat karein
Na Bhutto ka na Gandhi ka, yeh tera mera funda hai
Asal mein yeh sab kuch goron ka kuch arbon ka, kuch breaking news ka dhanda hai
Isn’t this amazing?