Mumbai, February 5: The magic of Poet Pradeep’s pen has left an indelible mark on the hearts of many, from former Prime Ministers to the legendary Lata Mangeshkar. His timeless patriotic song, “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon,” continues to resonate with the spirit of the nation. Pradeep, born Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi on June 6, 1915, in the small town of Badnagar, Madhya Pradesh, is celebrated for his profound contribution to Indian music and poetry.
Today marks the anniversary of his birth. He is best known for penning the emotional anthem “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon,” written in memory of soldiers who sacrificed their lives during the 1962 India-China war. The song remains a poignant reminder of their bravery in the hearts of every Indian.
After completing his education at Lucknow University, Pradeep moved to Mumbai to pursue his literary ambitions. Adopting the name Poet Pradeep to fit into the film industry, he caught his big break in 1939 when Bombay Talkies recognized his talent at a poetry conference and offered him a monthly salary of 200 rupees. This marked the beginning of his six-decade-long creative journey.
Throughout his career, he wrote approximately 1,700 songs for 71 films, many of which were infused with patriotic fervor. The song “Chal Chal Re Naujawaan” from the 1940 film “Bandhan” was so spirited that the British government banned it. In 1943, due to the lyrics of the film “Kismat,” he had to go underground, as the British administration viewed his work as a significant threat.
“Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” is still sung with the same reverence and emotion today. The story behind this song is deeply touching. When Pradeep first shared it with Lata Mangeshkar, she was moved to tears. She immediately agreed to sing it but insisted that Pradeep be present during rehearsals. Lata suggested a duet with her sister Asha Bhosle. During the rehearsal, both sisters sang together, but Asha withdrew before the final performance in Delhi, leaving Lata to sing it solo.
On January 26, 1963, Lata Mangeshkar performed this song at the National Stadium during Republic Day celebrations, attended by over 50,000 people, including then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. As the song began, the stadium fell silent, and tears streamed down Nehru’s face. After the performance, he remarked, “Anyone who is not inspired by this song, in my opinion, is not an Indian.”
In 1997, Pradeep received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award from the Government of India. However, his personal life was marked by tragedy. Following the death of his wife, he suffered a stroke and was left alone by his four children. A businessman from Kolkata, Pradeep Kundalia, offered him shelter and care during his later years.
Poet Pradeep passed away on December 11, 1998, at the age of 83. In his memory, a postage stamp was issued in 2011, and the “National Poet Pradeep Award” was established to honor his legacy.