January 28, 2022: Abide With Me No More

The news of the government’s decision to drop the somber hymn “Abide with me” from the iconic Beating the Retreat ceremony of the Indian Republic Day celebrations this year quite surprisingly did not prick up the ears of many in this part of the country. The Christian hymn “Abide with me” written by Scottish poet and hymnologist Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 has been part of the Beating the Retreat ceremony since 1950, the year India became a republic. India gained Independence in 1947 but it became a republic on January 26, 1950, the day the Indian Constitution came into effect.
Beating the Retreat ceremony marks the culmination of the weeklong Republic Day celebrations and has since 1950 ended with the hymn being played by the brass bands. It is reported that the hymn was also dropped in 2020 but was reinstated after an uproar of criticisms from various quarters and was retained in 2021. This year too, there were some critics including retired military officers who disapproved the government’s decision to drop the hymn but the government had its way.
It is reported that “Abide with me” was one of Mahatma Gandhi’s personal favourite hymns. Opposition parties, specifically the Congress party, have accused the BJP-led Union government, of “removing history” and “erasing the legacy” of Gandhi, while government sources have claimed that it was only phasing out tunes handed down from a colonial past.
“Abide with me” may be a Christian hymn but it connotes a meaning that cut across religions and nationalities. The government’s decision to drop the hymn from the Beating the Retreat ceremony of the Republic Day celebrations is a subtle reminder to the uninitiated of which path this country has chosen to trot on. Without adding any political colours to the debate, it can be contended that the government could have added the tunes of their favour without dropping “Abide with me.” Reinstating the hymn to the Beating the Retreat ceremony in the future is improbable.
May be one will have to remain contented turning to hymn number 50 of the Ao Naga hymnal for “Kü Den Liang” or “Abide with me” for now.