When poet Pradeep had to go to court for royalty for the song aiye mere waten ke logo |

When poet Pradeep had to go to court for royalty for the song you wrote, जब आपने ही लिखे गीत के रॉयल्टी के लिए कोर्ट के चक्कर लगानी पड़ी कवि प्रदीप को When a lyricist made the sholas of Sholay cool जब एक गीतकार ने शोले के शोलों को ठंडा कर दिया था 'ऐ मेरे वतन के लोगों, जरा आंख में फर लो पानी कुछ याद उन्हें भी कर लो, जो लौट के फिर ना आएं आजादी के बाद से कवि प्रदीप की ये पंक्तियां गीतों का सिरमौर बनी हुई हैं। कवि प्रदीप यानि शब्दों की आकाशगंगा में एक चमकता हुआ सितारा, उनकी ये पंक्तियां नस-नस में देशभक्ति का जज़्बा पैदा करती हैं और सही रास्ते के चयन का मार्ग प्रशस्त करती हैं, मनोबल बढ़ाती हैं। एक इंटरव्यू के दौरान उन्होंने इस गीत की रचनात्मकता के पीछे की कहानी बताते हुए कहा था- 1962 के भारत-चीन युद्ध में भारत की हार से लोगों का मनोबल गिर गया था, ऐसे में सरकार की तरफ़ से फ़िल्म जगत के लोगों से ये अपील की गई कि- भई अब आप लोग ही कुछ करिए. कुछ ऐसी रचना करिये कि पूरे देश में एक बार फिर से जोश आ जाए और चीन से मिली हार के ग़म पर मरहम लगाया जा सके। Kavi Pradeep — the patriotic poet whose songs moved Nehru to tears,These hard-hitting words were penned by Kavi Pradeep back in 1954 for the movie Nastik. The song features a pensive Ajit staring into nothing as he thinks about the state of post-Independence India.From Aao Bachhon Tumhe Dikhayen to Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon, Kavi Pradeep’s songs have long informed Indian patriotism. On his 21st death anniversary, ThePrint examines his life and legacy. Born as Ramchandra Dwidevi on 6 February 1915 in Badnagar, Madhya Pradesh, he started writing and reciting poetry at a very early age. “A lot of people wrote in those days and I was encouraged because I was saying something that listeners then appreciated,” he explained. After graduating from Lucknow University, Pradeep was deeply taken by the nationalist movement consuming Lucknow at the time. He was a regular at kavi sammelans where he started using his pen name. However, fate had something else in store. Mitul Pradeep, daughter of Kavi Pradeep, tells ThePrint, “While in college, my father lived very close to Anand Bhawan, (the Nehru household) where he attended many political meetings. He was deeply influenced by these and felt like he wanted to do something for the nation.” “I finished my graduation and decided to join a teacher’s course and teach, but destiny had other plans for me. I was invited to a kavi sammelan in Bombay,” Pradeep said once. Himanshu Rai, the owner of Bombay Talkies, offered Pradeep Rs 200 and made him sign a contract for Kangan. The rest is history.The early 1940s witnessed the Quit India Movement. Pradeep penned a song titled When poet Pradeep had to go to court for royalty for the song you wroteDoor Hato Ae Duniyawalon Hindustan Hamara Hai for the film Kismet.This song took the nation by a storm. It became the go-to chant for satyagrahis at the Quit India Movement. The British considered this song seditious in nature and arrest warrants were issued against Kavi Pradeep and the composer of the song, Anil Biswas. “My father had to go underground to escape arrest,” recalls Mitul Pradeep. “He was only able to resurface when an Indian policeman named Dharmendra Gowd pointed out to the British government that the lyrics Tum na kisike aage jhukna German ho ya Japani were directed against Germany and Japan. It was his cunningness that protected my father from the British.” This forced Kavi Pradeep to lie low for over a month and stay underground till things cooled off.Aye mere vatan ke logon Zara aankh mein bhar lo paani Jo Shaheed hue hai unki Zara yaad karo qurbaani From Independence Day to Republic Day, this song still marks every patriotic occasion in India. Kavi Pradeep wrote this song shortly after India’s defeat in the 1962 India-China war and C. Ramchandra composed the tune. This song united the masses at a time when India was agonised by its defeat in the war. Pradeep’s words reminded Indians of the sacrifice made by soldiers and reinstated the pride of the country. On 27 January 1963, Lata Mangeshkar first performed the song in the presence of then President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at Delhi’s National Stadium for an event organised by the film industry as a fundraiser for war widows. It is said that after listening to the song, Nehru was moved to tears. Pradeep’s daughter, Mitul Pradeep reveals, “Unfortunately, Mr Pradeep was not invited. When Mr Nehru visited Mumbai three months, my father sang it specially for him at a function at R.M. High School here and also presented the original handwritten poem to him.” Aaj Himalay ki choti se phir ham ne lalkaaraa hai Door hato 75th Anniversary of Indian Independence SPECIAL THANKS TO DHEERAJ BHARDWAJ JEE (DRAMA SERIES INDIAN), THANKS FOR WATCHIN GOLDEN MOMENTS WITH VIJAY PANDEY