Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon : A song of the patriotic fervour

Yesterday while writing the post on the Malayalam movie Kurukshetra, I have quoted a few lines from the famous song 'Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon'. After reviewing my post, I wanted to listen to this song once again and searched You Tube for it. I have listened to it many-a-times and had lost the count of how many times I listened to it since yesterday.

Since this song fills my mind now, I would like to share the lyrics and history of the song with you.

History

Aye Mere Watan Ke logo is an Indian patriotic song written by Kavi Pradeep and composed by C. Ramchandra. It was rendered by Lata Mangeshkar around the end of Sino-Indian War. It was famously performed live, by Lata Mangeshkar in the presence of Jawaharlal Nehru at the Ramlila grounds, in New Delhi on Republic Day, 26th January, 1963, and a copy of the soundtrack spool was also gifted to Nehru on the occasion.

None of the artists and technicians involved with the song, including singers, musicians, music director, lyricist, recording studio, sound recordist, charged for the song, and later lyricist, Kavi Pradeep, pledged the royalty of the song to the 'War Widows Fund'.

This song is a tribute to honour the sacrifices of the gallant Indian Jawans (infantrymen) who in the 1962 Sino-Indian War fought to the last man and the last round on the icy desolate peaks of the Himalayas with obsolete bolt-action Lee-Enfield rifles against the assault rifles, heavy machine guns, mortars and artillery of the People's Liberation Army of China.

During 1962 (Indo-China) war days, Kavi Pradeep heard about Param Vir Major Shaitan Singh Bhaati. He was so touched by his sacrifice and bravery that he penned down the lines `Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon` (translation: O people of my country). This song was originally supposed to be sung by Asha Bhosle, due to a misunderstanding between composer C. Ramchandra and Lata Mangeshkar. Kavi Pradeep though, was adamant about having Lata Mangeshkar sing the song, as he felt that hers was the only voice that could do justice to the number. C. Ramchandra was unsure whether Mangeshkar would agree to sing, so Kavi Pradeep began the task of convincing her to hear the song. On hearing the song she was moved so much that she instantly agreed to sing the song, on condition that Kavi Pradeep be present at the rehearsals.

Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo emerged as one of the greatest patriotic songs of India. It was while listening to Lata Mangeshkar’s rendition of ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’ that the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was moved to tears. Reportedly later he confessed to the singer: "Beti tune mujhe rula diya" (my daughter, to-day you made my eyes moist.)

For writing the song, Pradeep was conferred the honour of "Rashtriya Kavi" (National Poet) by the Government Of India.

Listen to the Song

Lyrics of the Song

In Hindi

Translation in English

ए मेरे वतन के लोगों तुम ख़ूब लगा लो नारा ये शुभ दिन है सब का लहरा लो तिरंगा प्यारा पर मत भूलो सीमा पर वीरों ने है प्राण गंवाए कुछ याद उन्हें भी कर लो -2 जो लौट के घर न आए -2 ए मेरे वतन के लोगों ज़रा आँख में भर लो पानी जो शहीद हुए हैं उनकी ज़रा याद करो कुर्बानी तुम भूल न जाओ उनको इस लिए कही ये कहानी जो शहीद ... जब घायल हुआ हिमालय खतरे में पड़ी आज़ादी जब तक थी साँस लड़े वो फिर अपनी लाश बिछा दी संगीन पे धर कर माथा सो गए अमर बलिदानी जो शहीद ... जब देश में थी दिवाली वो खेल रहे थे होली जब हम बैठे थे घरों में वो झेल रहे थे गोली थे धन्य जवान वो आपने थी धन्य वो उनकी जवानी जो शहीद .. कोई सिख कोई जाट मराठा कोई गुरखा कोई मदरासी सरहद पे मरनेवाला हर वीर था भारतवासी जो खून गिरा पर्वत पर वो खून था हिन्दुस्तानी जो शहीद ... थी खून से लथपथ काया फिर भी बंदूक उठाके दस -दस को एक ने मारा फिर गिर गए होश गँवा के जब अंत -समय आया तो कह गए के अब मरते हैं खुश रहना देश के प्यारों अब हम तो सफर करते हैं क्या लोग थे वो दीवाने क्या लोग थे वो अभिमानी जो शहीद ... तुम भूल न जाओ उनको इस लिए कही ये कहानी जो शहीद ... जय हिंद जय हिंद की सेना - जय हिंद , जय हिंद , जय हिंद

O! the people of my motherland! Raise all the slogans you desire, This is a great day for us all, Hoist your beloved Tricolor, But don't forget on the border, The brave did lose their lives, And remember each great soldier, Who did not return home ever, O! the people of my motherland! Shed a few tears, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! Don't you ever forget their glory, So I narrate this noble story, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! When injured was the Himalayan might, Our freedom was in jeopardy, Till their last breath did they fight, And then laid their dead body, Resting their head on the soil, Sacrificed and slept immortal, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! When the country celebrated Diwali, They played with their blood the game of Holi, When we were sitting safe at our homes, They dealt with deadly bullets and bombs. Blessed they were those soldiers, Blessed were their youths, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! Some Sikh, some Jaat and Maratha, Some were Gurkha or Madrasi, But each soldier who died on the border, Was a brave Hindustani. The blood that stained the mountain, That blood was that of an Indian, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! With blood their body was drenched, Yet they lifted their rifle and aimed, One killed tens of the enemy, Then fell down unconsciously. When the final moment came on, They said they will die now, Be happy! O beloved of the nation, We embark on eternal journey now, How great were those patriots, How great was their pride, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! Don't you ever forget their glory, So I narrate this noble story, For those who martyred on ice, Remember their great sacrifice! Victory to India!, Victory to her army! Victory to India!Victory to India! Victory to India!

In tribute to those who lost lives protecting our great nation.

Vande Matharam. Jai Hind.