Mumbai: On the occasion of Independence Day 2025, the words of legendary lyricist Kavi Pradeep continue to resonate with the same strength and relevance as they did seven decades ago. Known for his simple yet stirring style, Pradeep penned many iconic patriotic songs, including the immortal Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo.
But it is his lyrical gem from the 1954 film Jagriti that feels especially apt for today’s young generation:
Hum laye hain toofan se kishti nikal ke
Is Desh ko rakhna mere bachcho samhal ke.
Tum hi bhavishya ho mere Bharat Vishal ke
Is Desh ko rakhna mere bachchon samhal ke.
The song is composed by Hemant Kumar, remains one of the defining features of Jagriti. The film, produced by Sashadhar Mukerji under the Filmistan banner, revolved around children in a school hostel and their teacher, played by Abhi Bhattacharya.
Story behind Kavi Pradeep’s iconic anthem
Speaking about the story behind the song, Kavi Pradeep’s daughter, Mitul Pradeep, reveals, “Kavi Pradeep had shifted to Mumbai in 1939 and he soon became a leading lyricist, penning one after another gems stirring social awareness on various topics, especially patriotism.”
She shares how a personal experience after Independence Day inspired the lyrics. “Pradeepji used to spend a month or two every year with his parents in his hometown in Madhya Pradesh. In one of these trips, while taking a stroll around his house, he noticed some children playing cards and gambling. He asked them if they went to school and was saddened to know that these teenage youngsters had stopped attending. He went home disheartened,” she says.
His mother, noticing his moist eyes, asked the reason. “He told her what he saw, and she said this was now common in small towns, where many children and youngsters loiter around and become a nuisance to families and society,” Mitul adds.
That encounter, she says, made Kavi Pradeep reflect on the future of an independent India if children were not given proper guidance to carry the nation’s vision forward. “The right opportunity came his way to give this very important message to the young generation. The film’s theme was children-centric… and all the songs became superhits. No Independence or Republic Day is complete without them,” she notes.
Mitul recalls, “As Pradeepji said in one interview, he was given free hand to write patriotic songs by producer Shashadhar Mukerji — and what better way than using a film platform to convey messages to the nation and people.”
Jagriti also featured unforgettable numbers like Aao Bachcho Tumhe Dikhaye Jhanki Hindustan Ki, Is Mitti Se Tilak Karo Ye Dharti Hai Hindustan Ki, and Dedi Hume Azaadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal, which remain etched in the nation’s memory.