All around the world in revolutions and uprisings, in war time and in the hope that springs from a country’s independence and peace, there are wordsmiths and artists, in silence or behind bars, their voices loud in printed letters of defiance and melodies of hope.

From their instruments, they write and craft lyrical poems and images that speak of the society’s struggles, hopes and dreams.

They are the conscience and the heart of the people, instilling the spirit of nationalism and the love for their respective motherlands.

Then and now, many countries have their writers, poets, painters and musicians who were part of a social movement, and like them, we had plenty that we could be proud of.

One of them is the late National Laureate Datuk Dr Usman Awang, who was known as the creator of several nationalistic poems that touches on freedom and the journey towards being an independent nation.

Among his works that explores the nationalistic spirit are the poems Tanahair, Merdeka, Jiwa Hamba, Pahlawan dan Tanahair and Pahlawan Kemerdekaan.

These works were produced from the late 1940s to the late 1950s, and the central theme was defiance against colonialists and freedom, from every sense of the word.

The freedom that he questioned was especially pertinent in the poem entitled Jiwa Hamba, a poem that asks readers to reflect and ponder and find that change from within, before true freedom can be achieved.

A verse that is especially powerful is this:

Kalau hidup ingin merdeka

Tiada tercapai hanya berkata

Tetapi cuba maju ke muka

Melempar jauh jiwa hamba.

It was written in 1948, yet the message is still loud and strong today. Are we really free? After 56 years of independence from the British and 50 years of the establishment of the nation we call Malaysia, can we proudly say that we are free from the chains that bind us, intellectually and emotionally?

These questions are still important today, as we will never be a nation that is strong and proud of our heritage and achievements if we do not do away with the invisible chains of an enslaved soul.

In the ode to the nation Tanahair, the poet, also known as Tongkat Warrant, describes lovingly of the nation’s birth, trials and tribulations and of the omnipresent entity called motherland.

From humble beginnings in backbreaking labour of the land to the metallic hardness of war, the emergence of heroes from all walks of society, to the dawn that breaks over a new country, the poem is a sublime inspiration. It is a respectful reminder of who the motherland is, and what “she” means to all of us.

In recent days there have been instances where segments of society are questioning the necessity to showcase or “shout out” feelings of patriotism, whether by flag waving or the playing of the national anthem in cinemas.

While it is true that patriotism is more than just flag waving, the national anthem and sloganeering, it is also imperative that there is no unjustifiable resistance against it.

Satu jeritan yang banyak berulang meresap

meresap... seperti senyum gadis di pertemuan

menerawang... serupa gema di tengah malam

merempuh... seperti kereta kebal di medan perjuangan.

Pekiklah!

Jeritlah!

Dan...

Maralah!

Merdeka is a succinct rallying cry for celebration, appreciation and pride in being an independent nation. Just as it fanned the flames of nationalism back then, it is a fiery composition valid in these days, where freedom and pride in being a free people are taken for granted.

It stares at you and asks, if we as a people are not proud of our nation, who else will?

These poems by Datuk Dr Usman Awang are still relevant today as it was then, as we would never be the nation that we are if we never moved forward, crashing barriers and limitations while at the same time, appreciating and understanding where we came from.

And it is also still relevant today for there are much that we still need to improve upon, in culture, industry, politics and finally, acceptance of who we are as a people and country.