Feel the power of #MyCountryFirst, a new anthem uniting India with pride
✍️ By Prashant for PuneriPages.in
New Delhi is no stranger to big events, but the other night felt different. It wasn’t just another launch, it felt like something that could spark a movement. Lyricist Manoj Muntashir Shukla stood on stage and unveiled what he called his most important work yet—#MeraDeshPahle (My Country First).
From the moment the anthem began, you could sense the energy. Students, influencers, journalists, even cultural figures—all on their feet, clapping, chanting, waving the tricolor. It didn’t feel like a formal event; it felt like a stadium before a historic match.
And then Muntashir’s words cut through:
“Before we are professionals or individuals, we are Indians. This anthem is not entertainment. It is a reminder, a sankalp (vow).”
That line stuck.
Table of Contents
Who is Manoj Muntashir, Really?
For anyone who’s followed Indian cinema, Manoj Muntashir needs no introduction. He’s the pen behind songs from Baahubali, Kesari, Satyameva Jayate. His style? Simple but powerful. Words you don’t just hear—you feel.
What makes his story even more inspiring is where he comes from. Born in Uttar Pradesh, no filmi background, no godfather. Just a boy with words in his heart who fought his way into Bollywood. Over the years, his writing has always had one thing in common—it speaks India’s language.
But this time, with #MeraDeshPahle, he isn’t writing for a film, a star, or a studio. He’s writing for us—for India’s youth. That’s why this feels bigger.
The Anthem: Short, Simple, and Straight to the Heart
One thing I noticed immediately—the anthem doesn’t try to be complicated. No heavy Sanskritized words, no difficult lines to remember. Just simple phrases like mitti (soil), vaada (promise), bhavishya (future)—and of course the unforgettable refrain:
“Mera Desh Pahle.”
Muntashir even explained why:
“I don’t want this song to only live on stages. I want kids in schools, college students, even daily workers to sing it proudly.”
It’s built for today’s times. Short, catchy, repeatable. The kind of anthem that fits in a reel, a rally, or even a sports match chant.
The Music That Binds It All
And then there’s the music. Honestly, it gave me goosebumps. A mix of tabla and dhol with electric guitar riffs—it was like India’s tradition shaking hands with its future.
The chorus hits hard. Vocals rise, drums roll, and you just want to chant along. The best part? The music doesn’t overshadow the words. The lyrics remain the hero, as they should.
Delhi Launch: Goosebumps, Cheers, and Tricolors Everywhere
The venue in Delhi was packed. Hundreds of students, youth leaders, influencers—all waiting for the big reveal.
When the anthem started, something changed in the air. People weren’t just listening, they were feeling it. Flags waving, chants echoing, phones going live.
Raghav, a student from Delhi University I spoke with, summed it up perfectly:
“It didn’t feel like a launch. It felt like we were witnessing history.”
On the big screens, visuals of India rolled—mountains, rivers, farmers, cities—intercut with young faces chasing dreams. That combination of music, visuals, and crowd energy—it was electric.
Muntashir’s Message: More Than Just a Song
What struck me most wasn’t the song itself, but Muntashir’s speech afterwards. He wasn’t selling an anthem. He was planting an idea.
“We live in times where regional, linguistic, religious divides are highlighted. But before all of this, we are Indians. If our youth embraces #MeraDeshPahle, we can rise above these divides.”
The crowd roared. And for a moment, I could see why he calls this more than music—it’s a movement.
Social Media: The Hashtag Takes Flight
By the time the anthem ended, #MeraDeshPahle was already trending.
Edits flooded Instagram and Twitter. A boy painting the tricolor on his cheek, set to the chorus. A gym trainer motivating his followers with the line “Mera Desh Pahle.” Students pulling all-nighters with the anthem in the background.
It spread fast because it was built for this digital age. Catchy, emotional, and easy to repurpose.
India’s Legacy of Patriotic Songs—And Where This Fits
Patriotic songs are nothing new for us. Vande Mataram during the freedom struggle, Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon after independence, even cinema gave us gems like Maa Tujhe Salaam.
But here’s what makes #MeraDeshPahle stand out: it isn’t tied to a film or political moment. It’s standalone. A pure anthem for people, aimed at today’s generation that lives online, consumes fast, and dreams big.
It refreshes patriotism for the Instagram era.
Why the Focus on Youth?
Simple. India is young. Over 65% of us are under 35. The choices we make now will decide the nation’s future.
Muntashir nailed it in his speech:
“Every reel, every exam, every startup—it all matters. But if it doesn’t serve the nation, it’s incomplete. Your success should also be India’s success.”
That line is going to stay with me.
From Song to Movement: What Comes Next
This isn’t stopping at one event. Plans are already rolling:
- School and college tours across states.
- Social media challenges where students show what “nation-first” means to them.
- Influencers bringing the anthem into their content.
- Youth festivals and rallies where this becomes the opening chant.
If it works, we might just see #MeraDeshPahle become more than a trend—it could become a lifestyle statement.
But Will It Work?
Of course, not everyone will buy into it. Some critics will dismiss it as “idealistic.” Others may call it symbolic without real impact.
But Muntashir himself doesn’t seem worried:
“If even ten young Indians change their outlook because of this anthem, it will be worth it.”
That’s the thing about movements—they don’t start with millions. They start with a few, and then they spread.
Final Take: A Vow in Music
Walking out of the event, I kept humming the chorus. And so were hundreds of others. That’s when I realized—this wasn’t just a song we had listened to. It was a thought planted inside us.
With its relatable words, powerful music, and Muntashir’s burning vision, #MeraDeshPahle could well become the defining anthem of our generation.
Will it change the nation overnight? Probably not. But has it reignited the conversation of putting the country first in our daily lives? Absolutely.
As the crowd chanted together that night, the refrain echoed across Delhi and then across social media:
“Mera Desh Pahle.”
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