The lilting tune and lyrics of Gos laage, gos laage the theme song of this year’s Van Mahotsav being observed for a week from July 1 by the Assam state forest department has become a huge hit, and is doing rounds on social media.
Few know that this number has been composed by a 1989 batch IAS officer, Paban Kumar Borthakur.
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Borthakur, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ welfare, government of India, believes that songs are the best means to connect to the people.
“I composed this song at the behest of chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal after he heard my song on Kaziranga,” Borthakur told this correspondent over the telephone from Delhi.
Kaziranga was composed and sung by Borthakur to boost the morale of the security guards who have to suffer the rigors of the forest terrain and long absence from home and health to protect the denizens of the heritage site which houses the unique one horned rhino among others.
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Borthakur has not only composed this song but also sung it.
“When Sonowal heard this he asked me to compose one for the Van Mahotsav. The lyric was set to tune by me, Gopal Das and deputy conservator of forests BK Deb Medhi, who has also sung the song,” he further said.
Borthakur said that he had composed and lent his voice to another song, Namami Brahmaputra, which was composed after the one composed by Papon generated a controversy in the State.
His song too was shown in all the districts during the festival. It can be viewed on YouTube and has got 21 K views.
Borthakur said that the Ministry’s song had also been written by him and sung by officials of the Ministry including him. The song is displayed in the ministry website www.agricoop.nic.in on the top left. If one calls the kisan call centre at 18001801551, this is set as caller tune during waiting time.
“The song is about Aspirational Districts programme of Prime Minister presently going on in 115 districts of the country. The main artist is Praveen Moudgal a classical singer devoted to Sai Bhajans. He is an Assistant Section Officer in our Ministry. They are very happy to get involved in such things, ” he said.
Apart from these three songs another one of his lyrics, Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, for school students has been viewed by more than 57000 people on YouTube.
Borthakur said that he initially wrote poems when young and recited them on different occasions. Writing lyrics was just another part of this.
“Whatever I write be it prose or poetry is on important issues but, I believe that songs are a very strong medium to connect to the people,” he said.
A resident of Kaliabar, Borthakur studied at Cotton College before going to Delhi University for higher studies.