We can rest easy and continue to lustily sing Chhayyé Hamé Zarthoshti. Others have done the research and here are the findings: Chhayyé Hamé Zarthoshti was written by Firoz Rustomji Batliwala (1846-1912) and set, with some melodic changes, to the music of the Blue Bell March, composed in 1904 by an American composer of popular songs, Theodore F. Morse.
Chhayyé Hamé Zarthoshti itself was, originally, sung in the final scene of a Bombay natak (see article by Marzban Giara in Hamazor 2013 Issue1and "Rich musical heritage," Events and Personalities, Parsiana, November 21, 2012) and became so popular with audiences that it was adopted by Parsis as the community’s anthem. Batliwala has written many Zarthoshti hymns, and his collection Sarode Avesta — songs based on the meaning of Avestan prayers — was awarded first prize by the Rahanumae Mazdayasnan Sabha in a competition in 1892. It is now available on an audio CD.
Some two decades after Batliwala’s death, the Nazis took the entire melody of the Blue Bell March and set it to different words in the song Deutschland du Land du Treuer, known as Heil Deutschland, extolling Hitler’s vile vision of Germany under Nazism.
Of course, songs and music are commonly borrowed, often as a tribute to the composer. Indian film songs have been set to melodies from western classical music, for example. The most popular World War II song, Lili Marlene, based on a German poem and set to music in 1938 became a hit with German troops in Africa. The song appealed to British troops so much that it was translated into English. Thus it was sung by German, British and American soldiers alike!
They say music transcends cultural and political differences. It can also be said that a song like Chhayyé Hamé Zarthoshti, composed in good faith, with good intent, of good meaning and for a good purpose, cannot be sullied just because unsavory elements later adopted the same tune for their own propaganda purposes. The tune has universal appeal: it has been heard in Valencia, Spain, where a popular folk song is set to its music; and in a Vietnamese-Chinese supermarket in Houston, in a soothing, instrumental version, which is the basis of an inspirational song.
So, sing on! SOONU ENGINEER
London
soonue@gmail.com