Rashtrakavi Pradeep, whose songs stirred the nation then and now

From 'Aao Bachhon Tumhe Dikhayen' to 'Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon', his songs are till date regarded as the most hard-hitting songs that were much beyond romantic love, and stirred emotions like pride, patriotism and rebellion

Every year on Independence Day and Republic Day when the nation is high-strung and soaked in the spirit of nationalism, one song that reverberates from almost every corner of the country is 'Ae Mere Vatan ko logon'. Written in 1962, the song is one of the many such gems written by Kavi Pradeep who used the power of words, added hard-hitting emotions and wrote lines that gave the British a tough time, and long after they were written, they still evoke patriotism, pride and even melancholy in new India.

Today, on 6 February which is the birth anniversary of 'Rastrakavi' Pradeep, let us look at the life and times of this firebrand poet and songwriter.

The man who moved India to tears wanted to be a teacher

Kavi Pradeep was born as Ramchandra Dwivedi on 6 February 1915 in Madhya Pradesh's Badnagar. He spent his childhood in a middle-class family in the town near Ujjain, and started showing interest in the written word quite early in his school days.

He soon became a known figure in the Kavi Sammelans in the town even as a young boy and became popular by his pen name 'Pradeep'. By the time he graduated from the University of Lucknow in 1939, Pradeep was a name everyone in the poetry circle knew and respected. His poems, which were hugely inspired by the nationalist movement in the country, were soon becoming popular and heard.

Kavi Pradeep wanted to be a teacher and had even joined a course to be one but destiny had bigger plans for him. He was invited to Bombay for a Kavi Sammelan where Himanshu Rai, the owner of Bombay Talkies offered him to write a song for the movie Kangan. The rest, as they say, is history. Kavi Pradeep wrote over 1700 songs and poems, most of which were not mere songs of love for each other, but raised important issues of patriotism, inequality as well as the importance of India's history and culture.

From Aao Bachhon Tumhe Dikhayen to Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon, his songs are till date regarded as the most patriotic songs, and he one of the most respected patriotic song writers during Indian's freedom struggle.

His songs India never forgot

While the list of the songs Kavi Pradeep wrote is actually very long, here are three of his most path-breaking songs and a little backstory that make them stand tall even today.

'Chal chal re naujawan, kehna mera maan, dur tera gaon aur thake paav, fir bhi tu hardum aage badha kadam, rukna tera kaam nahi, chalna teri shaan'

Kavi Pradeep wrote the song 'chal chal re naujawan' for the movie 'Bhandhan' in 1940. Almost touted as the song for the Indian freedom movement in those times, the song was a clarion call to the nation's youth to not stop despite all the tiredness and challenges in the way. This is often regarded as one of the first songs that established Kavi Pradeep as the song writer who looked beyond the love of a man and woman, and used his pen to ignite patriotic fire in the youth.

'Aaj Himalay Ki Choti Se Phir Hum Ne Lalkara Hai, Door Hato Ae Duniyawalon Hindustan Hamara Hai'

India's freedom struggle was at its peak in the 1990s and that is when this song for the movie 'Kismet' came along. The song, written in 1943, hit a chord with the freedom fighters almost immediately, and looking at its impact, the British issued arrest warrants against Kavi Pradeep and the composer Anil Biswas. The song, that threatened the British, took the nation by a storm.

'Aye mere vatan ke logon, zara aankh mein bhar lo paani; Jo Shaheed hue hai unki, zara yaad karo qurbaani'

The year was 1962 and every Indian was agonised by the defeat in the Indo-China war. The emotions were strong and anger was at its peak. It is shortly after India's defeat in the war that Kavi Pradeep wrote these lines in remembrance of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation and to remind the countrymen to once again unite in the spirit of nationalism.

The song, which churned almost every Indian's heart, reinstated the nation's pride and is known to have moved the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who heard it for the first time at an event organised as a fundraiser for the war widows.

Interestingly, it is said that Kavi Pradeep was struck with the words of this song while he was taking a stroll on a beach. He immediately borrowed a pen and scribbled down these first few words on a foil ripped out of his cigarette packet.

The song, still hummed and sung at every Republic Day and Independence Day is the song that still reminds India of what it took to free this country, and the many lives that are lost saving the nation and its people.

Awards for Kavi Pradeep

Kavi Pradeep, who passed away on 11 December 1998, was honoured with many awards and recognitions. He was also made Rashtrakavi (Poet Laureate), after which he was revered as Kavi Pradeep.

He received the Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1961, BFJA award in 1975 and was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in the year 1997 in recognition of his legendary work.