When Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, heard Lata Mangeshkar sing ‘Aye mere watan ke logon’, he could not hold back his tears. Such was the impact of the song, which was a tribute to the Indian soldiers who lost their lives fighting for the country in the Indo-China war of 1962. 

Written more than 50 years ago by legendary Hindi film lyricist Kavi Pradeep (born Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi), the song has become immortal, with its soul-stirring lyrics that evoke a strong sense of patriotism in us whenever we give it a listen. He is the man behind some of the most popular patriotic songs of Hindi movies. 

Born in Madhya Pradesh in 1915, when India was under British rule, Kavi Pradeep wrote songs that inspired freedom-fighters during the independence movement. Today, on the 101st birth anniversary of this legendary lyricist, here are some lyrical gems penned by him.   

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