One lakh Indians to sing Ai Mere Watan Ke Logon with Lata on Jan 27 in Mumbai

Mumbai: More than one lakh Indians, including the families of martyred jawans, will sing 'Ai Mere Watan Ke Logon' with India's Nightingale Lata Mangeshkar on January 27 at the Mahalaxmi Race Course from 6 pm onwards.Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will felicitate Lata Mangeshkar on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of this popular song. Organised by Shaheed Gaurav Samiti and Lodha Foundation, famous singers and music directors will join Lata and other Indians in singing this ode to the jawans who became martyrs for the cause of the nation during the 1962 India-China war. More than 100 Param Vir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and other awardees and their families will be felicitated on this occasion, said Veermata Anuradha Gore, the secretary of Shaheed Gaurav Samiti.Lata Mangeshkar sang this immortal song on January 27, 1963 at Ramlila Grounds in Delhi, and the then Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru openly wept at the function. The composer was C. Ramchandra. Asha Bhosle was supposed to have sung it originally, but the lyricist Pradeep insisted that only Lata should sing this stirring song. Pradeep wrote this song after hearing about the great wartime exploits of Param Vir Chakra awardee Major Shaitan Singh Bhati.Former servicemen and families of martyred jawans are being invited to this event from across India. The man behind this event is BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Lodha.The immortal lyrics:Ai Mere Watan Ke Logon, Tum Khoob Lagaa Lo Naara, Ye Shubh Din Hai Hum Sabka, Leharaa Lo Tiranga Pyaara Par mat bhulo seema par , Veeron ne hai Praan ganwayeKuch Yaad unhen bhi kar lo, kuch yaad unhe bhi kar lo, Jo laut ke ghar na aaye, Jo laut ke ghat na aaye Ai Mere Watan ke Logon, zaraa aankh mein bhar lo paani Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaani Jab ghayal hua himalaya, khatare mein padi azaadi Jab tak thi saans ladhe wo, phir apni Laash bichha di Sangeen pe Dhar kar Maathaa, So gaye Amar Balidani, Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaaniJab desh me thee Diwaali, wo khel rahe the Holi Jab hum baithe the gharon me, who jhel rahe the goli They dhanya jawan woh apane, thi dhanya wo unki jawaani Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaani Koi Sikh Koi Jaat Maraatha, Koi Gorkhaa Koi Madrasi Sarhad Pe Marane waala, har Veer thaa Bharatvaasi Jo Khoon giraa parvat par, wo khoon thaa hindustaani, Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaani thee khoon se lathpath kaaya, phir bhi bandook uthaake das das ko ek ne maara, phir gir gaye hosh ganwaa ke Jab ant samay aayaa to, keh gaye ki ab marte hain Khush rehnaa desh me pyaaron, ab hum to safar karte hain kyaa log the wo deewane, kyaa log the woh abhimaani Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaani Tum bhool na Jaao Unko, isliye kahi ye kahaani Jo shaheed hue hain unki, zaraa yaad karo qurbaani Jai Hind.....Jai Hind ki senaa Jai hind...Jai hind ki senaa Jai Hind, Jai Hind, Jai Hind Kavi Pradeep, real name Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi, born in Ujjain and died in Mumbai at the age of 83 on December 11, 1998. He was given the Dadasaheb Phalke award in 1997, the highest award in Indian cinema, for his contribution through poems, Door Hato Ai Duniya Walo Hindustan Hamara Hai, Aao Bchho tumhe dikhayen jhaanki hindustan ki, Chal Chal re Naujawan.