There are some songs that never become irrelevant. In a few weeks, on 1 October 2026, it will be exactly 30 years since Hariharan and Leslee Lewis released their iconic album Colonial Cousins. I love every song in it, but Krishna has forever stayed closest to my heart.
Every time I listen to it, I'm reminded of an idea of India that has always inspired me. An India that has, for centuries, been home to people of different faiths, languages, traditions, and ways of life. It has never been a perfect story. Like every civilization, ours has seen moments of harmony alongside moments of conflict and triumph alongside mistakes. But the aspiration to coexist has always been one of the most beautiful parts of our shared heritage. That is exactly what makes this song timeless.
As we celebrate this Independence Day, I'd like to dedicate it especially to the younger generation. Yours is the first generation to grow up in a world shaped so completely by globalization and digital connectivity that you have opportunities, influences, and responsibilities unlike any generation before you.
As you help shape India's future, I hope you also carry forward one of its greatest strengths, the ability to see humanity, curiosity, and respect before anything else. May this song remind us that being secular is not simply a constitutional principle. It is also a way of living with openness, dignity, and compassion towards one another. And perhaps that's why, there couldn't be a better song to celebrate the many colours of India.
Happy Independence Day!
