‘The night that is in the grave is not outside’: a narrative of artists’ determination in the war of ’65

There have been many wars between arch-rivals Pakistan and India, but the war of September 6, 1965 is considered to be the first major war between the two rival states of the subcontinent. It is celebrated as Defense Day in Pakistan. An important role in this war was also the singers of that time, who fought this battle with their voice.

Riyaz Mehmood, who was working as a producer at Radio Pakistan, Lahore at that time, remembers those days and says: ‘The army was fighting on the front lines while the nation and the institutions stood behind the army. During this time, the only source of information was Radio Pakistan. We worked hard for 17 days to keep the nation aware of the war situation moment by moment.’

According to him: ‘During the war, the soldiers had the facility of listening to the radio in the front lines. Radio songs played the most important role in boosting the morale of the army and the nation. Big singers themselves came to Radio Pakistan and kept recording their songs. Most of all Madam Noor Jahan’s songs warmed the blood of the youth.

The battle on the BRB Canal near Lahore is considered to be the biggest and decisive battle of this war.

Riyaz Mehmood says that ‘When the Indian army crossed the Wagah border and entered the territory of Pakistan, Major Aziz Bhatti and his colleagues defended the homeland without caring for their lives. At that moment, Noor Jahan’s song ‘Ae Patar Hittan Te Nayen Vakde Te Labhdi Phire Bazar Kade’ was aired on the radio, which breathed new life into the front and homes.

He said: ‘When a bomb fell on Lahore station, I went to cover it. Civilians lost their lives in it, but the people who were there did not show fear, but the spirit of fighting. People would prepare food from their homes and deliver it to the soldiers near the front lines. Despite the curfew, when enemy ships came, people would shout slogans. These were very surprising scenes.’

‘Poets and writers also spread passion through their writings. Habib Jalib himself came to Radio Lahore and recited poems. I told them on the way to get compensation for these published poems. He put his hands to his ears in anger and said, Repentance, I will pay for it and left.

But perhaps the most memorable moment was when Indian Air Force planes were flying over Lahore and Noor Jahan was recording a song in the radio studio. They were told that everyone is going to a safe place, you should also leave. But Noor Jahan replied: ‘The night that is in the grave is not outside’ and stood there with the composers and recorded the songs.’

According to Riaz Mahmood: ‘When he started coming to the radio office on the morning of September 6, 1965, there were long queues of cars and motorcycles at the petrol pump. As time passed, the situation became dire, but our brave forces defeated a much larger country and an army with more weapons.’

Observers say that now that both countries have nuclear weapons, a conventional war may not last long, although a series of attacks and countermeasures can certainly be seen.

In various reports of this war, both Pakistan and India claimed victory over the other. In the three-week battle, Pakistan claims to have shot down 31 Indian warplanes, while India claims to have shot down 43 Pakistani warplanes.

Pakistan’s casualty figures have not been officially released, but India claimed 1,100 of its soldiers and civilians were killed.