“It was in 1963 when she first sang the song in the National Stadium at Delhi and my father wasn’t around at that time. After she sang, Jawaharlal Nehru asked, 'Who is the writer?' She then said these are
Kavi Pradeep’s verses,” shares Kavi Pradeep’s daughter
Mitul
Pradeep from the time when ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’ was released.
Lata
Mangeshkar passed away on the day Kavi Pradeep was born. Recollecting one of the endearing phone conversations between Lata and
Pradeep Ji
, Mitul shares, “After singing the song in Delhi, she came back to Mumbai, and she called my father. She spoke to him about the song. I still remember that phone conversation. She said, ‘Pradeep ji, not just
Nehru ji
, the entire nation, the crowd was so moved and emotional on hearing the song. While I was singing, I could see people in tears. I myself was so emotional, I took great care to make sure I didn't break down singing the song. Even I wasn’t aware that this song would have such an impact on the crowd. There was pin-drop silence in the stadium – not a single word, not a single voice. Everyone was so much into listening to the voice and verses. People were so emotional.’”
Recalling the times when Lata Mangeshkar would visit her house, Mitul shared, “Lata ji often visited our place. I remember back in 1997, after she had announced one lakh rupees from her own contribution to my father, for giving her this song. She came over and it was an absolute emotional bonding with both of them. I remember dad saying, 'Lata is like Saraswati – Aaj Maa Saraswati aayi hai, mere ghar.' Then she told him, ‘Aap Saraswati Putra hai. Aapki lekhani hai, isliye
toh hum sab
gaa sakte hai.' (It’s because of your writings, I/we can sing)”