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Post your national anthem and why you think it is special.
The words of the National Anthem of Chechnya were written by author and intellectual Abuzar Aydamirov whom we regard in the same stature as the Greek Homer, English Shakespeare, French Dumas and Russian Pushkin.
What I find special about the anthem is that it describes us, the Chechen People. It does not seek to glorify a monarch or praise the land or some abstract ideal. It is dedicated to the Chechen People and reflects their temperament well.
I often find it difficult to translate from Chechen to English. I find English a bit too direct and bland and therefore the result of translation is often laughable. Either way, I feel I've made a fairly decent attempt.
N.B. More literal meaning in brackets.
Death or Freedom
We were brought into the world at night as the She-Wolf whelped,
In the morning they named us to the lion's roar.
Chorus: There is but one God
In eagles' nests our mothers nursed us,
And our fathers taught us to ride horses in the wilderness (rugged terrain).
Our mothers raised us to dedicate ourselves to our nation and homeland,
And if we ever face aggression we will display our bravery.
The mountain eagles (referring to Chechens) were raised in freedom,
We laugh in the face of hardship, ruin and arrogance.
Until cliffs of granite melt like molten lead,
We shall never give up our honour in life's trials.
Until the broiling sun burns the Earth into blackened crisp,
We shall refuse death (to head towards the ground meaning grave) having sold our dignity.
Never shall we submit in the face of wrong-doing out of desperation,
Death or Freedom - there can only be one choice.
Our sisters' singing heals (deflects, restores) our wounds,
The eyes of our beloved ones arouse our strength (force).
If hunger weakens us, we'll gnaw on the roots of trees,
And if thirst blinds us, we'll drink the dew from the grass.
For we were born at night when the she-wolf whelped.
We pledge our lives to God, our nation and our homeland.
[YOUTUBE]mAhGQZ5gNlM[/YOUTUBE]
Probably the oldest live recording of the anthem in existence today. Recorded in 1991 when Chechnya declared independence and the video quality shows.
[YOUTUBE]3z0eRsmWGVA[/YOUTUBE]
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