{"id":148022,"date":"2025-01-26T08:11:42","date_gmt":"2025-01-26T08:11:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=148022"},"modified":"2025-01-26T08:11:42","modified_gmt":"2025-01-26T08:11:42","slug":"are-we-patriotic-by-ravindra-chandrasiri-wijegunaratne","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/are-we-patriotic-by-ravindra-chandrasiri-wijegunaratne\/","title":{"rendered":"Are We Patriotic As A Nation? – By Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are We Patriotic As A Nation? – By Ravindra Chandrasiri Wijegunaratne<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Are<\/a><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Image Source :\u00a0slhcindia<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

I served as the First Secretary\/ Defence Advisor at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi, from November 2001 to April 2004. I served under two High Commissioners, namely late Professor Senake Bandaranaike and the late Mangala Moonesinghe. The Late Lakshman Kadirgamar and the The late Tyronne Fernando were the Foreign Ministers during my tenure.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was occupying a residence inside the High Commission complex at Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, in the diplomatic enclave of New Delhi. Our chief gardener was Perry Ram. He was a very experienced gardener who had served in the High Commission for 30 years. He was a very dedicated person who worked tirelessly to maintain the High Commission premises with beautiful flower beds and pots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Our High Commission garden looked very beautiful during thanks to Ram and his assistants. He had received education only up to the fifth grade. Our High Commission garden won the \u201cBest Garden in New Delhi\u201d award three times in the 1990s. Now he is old and the award has been awarded to the garden of the Indian Chief of Air Staff (Indian Air Force Commanders\u2019) residence.<\/span><\/p>\n

I had a CD which contained Indian patriotic songs presented to me by the then Indian Chief of Naval Staff (Indian Navy Commander). I used to play these songs loud at my residence. They were beautiful and could be heard even from my garden.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Are<\/a><\/p>\n

I noticed something unusual when the song Aye Mere Wathan Ke Logo sung by Great Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar was played. Ram, who was working in the garden would stop his work and come into attention until the song was over. It\u2019s not the Indian National Anthem! Then why does Perry Ram come into attention? I asked an Indian Naval officer why Ram was doing that. He said \u201cRavi, this song was sung by Lataji in honour of the Indian Armed forces personnel who died in the Sino-Indian War in 1962. So, everyone comes to attention when it is sung in honour of those brave service personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice.\u201d The gardener showed me what gratitude was and how to honour the War Heroes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aye Mere Watanke Logo (available in YouTube \u2013 please listen) song was written by Kavi Pradeep (refer Wikipedia) saddened by the large loss of Indian Army officers and men in the Sino-Indian War in 1962. Stories about the bravery of the Indian forces to stop the Chinese advance were heard throughout India.<\/span><\/p>\n

During his morning walks at Mahim beach in Mumbai, the writer of the song, Kavi Pradeep had some ideas for a new song to be dedicated to these gallant men. He immediately borrowed a pen from a fellow walker and wrote a few verses of this new song on a cigarette packet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, the song was composed by C Ramachandra. The initial plan wasn to have the song sung as a duet by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. However, the composer Kavi Pradeepopposed to the idea and it was sung only by Latha.<\/span><\/p>\n

The song was first sung at the National Stadium of New Delhi on 27th January 1963 during the Indian Republic Day celebrations by Lata Mangeshkar in front of S. Radhakrishnan, the Indian President and Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister (PM) of India. The stadium was packed its capacity and it was only a few months after the conclusion of the Sino-Indian War. The song became an immediate hit. The story says that Jawaharlal Nehru was moved to tears. Later, when it was inquired by a reporter, the PM said,<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThose who aren\u2019t inspired by the Aye Mere Wathan Ke Logo song, don\u2019t deserve to be called Hindustani.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Artistes\/technical staff and Lataji agreed that the income from the song should be sent to Indian Army welfare fund for the benefit of the families of the Indian Army personnel killed in action.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even today, when it is sung, everyone gets u. At the end of the song, it says \u201cJaya Hindi Ke Sena\u201d (Long live Indian Army!) Please enjoy the song:<\/span><\/p>\n

Lata Mangeshkar<\/span><\/p>\n

Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon (Original Version | Patriotic songs)<\/span><\/p>\n

I wish we also have a song dedicated to our war heroes<\/span><\/p>\n

O people of my<\/span>
\nCountry Let us shout<\/span>
\nthe slogan This<\/span>
\nauspicious day Belong<\/span>
\nto all of us<\/span><\/p>\n

Hoist our beloved<\/span>
\nflag and let us not<\/span>
\nforget Our brave<\/span>
\nwarriors<\/span>
\nWho left their lives on the border<\/span><\/p>\n

Give a thought to them Let us also<\/span>
\nremember Those who did not return<\/span>
\nhome O people of my Country<\/span><\/p>\n

Fill your eyes with tears<\/span>
\nRemember the sacrifice<\/span>
\nof those who became martyrs<\/span>
\nAnd lets you forget<\/span>
\nthem Listen to this story<\/span><\/p>\n

When the Himalayas were<\/span>
\nattacked and our freedom was<\/span>
\nthreatened they fought right to<\/span>
\nthe end<\/span><\/p>\n

Then they laid down their<\/span>
\nbodies with their faces on their<\/span>
\nbayonets<\/span><\/p>\n

The immortal martyrs went to<\/span>
\nsleep when the country<\/span>
\ncelebrated Diwali They sacrificed<\/span>
\nthemselves<\/span>
\nin the fire of holi.<\/span><\/p>\n

When we were sitting safe in our<\/span>
\nhomes. They confronted the deadly<\/span>
\nbullets blessed were they those<\/span>
\nyoung men blessed was their youth<\/span>
\nthose who attained<\/span><\/p>\n

Martyrdom Remember their great sacrifice<\/span>
\nSikhs, Jaat and Marathas<\/span>
\nGurkhas and Madrasis<\/span><\/p>\n

All those who died at the front<\/span>
\nevery dead warrior at the front everyone<\/span>
\nBelongs to India The bloodshed on<\/span>
\nThe Himalayas<\/span>
\nThat blood was India<\/span>
\ntheir bodies\u2019 drenched<\/span>
\nblood they picked up their<\/span>
\nguns and each killed ten men,<\/span>
\nthen they fell<\/span>
\nunconscious and when<\/span>
\nthe end came<\/span><\/p>\n

They said \u201cWe are dying<\/span>
\nnow \u201cBe happy, beloved<\/span>
\ncountrymen<\/span>
\n\u201cWe are going our journey\u201d<\/span>
\nHow wonderful were those<\/span>
\nwarriors How great were those<\/span>
\npeople<\/span><\/p>\n

Long live India<\/span>
\nlong live the Indian<\/span>
\narmy long live India<\/span>
\nLong live India<\/span><\/p>\n