Kavi Pradeep

December 14, 2011

A commemorative postage stamp on Rashtrakavi Pradeep, an Indian Hindi poet and songwriter :

Issued by India

Issued on Dec 14, 2011

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on ‘Kavi Pradeep’.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.3 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : ISP Nashik Road

Name : Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi

Born on Feb 6, 1915 at Badnagar, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, India

Died on Dec 11, 1998 at Mumbai, India

About :

Ramchandra Narayanji Dwivedi, also known as ‘Kavi Pradeep’, was born on 6^th February 1915 in a middle class family in the small town of Badnagar, in Madhya Pradesh. He had a deep passion for writing both prose and poetry in Hindi. While pursuing graduation from the University of Lucknow, he attended Kavi Sammelans, rendering Hindi poetry in his inimitable style. It was during this time he changed his name to ‘Pradeep‘.
After his graduation he moved over to Bombay (Mumbai) where he started writing film songs. Most of the songs penned by him were extremely popular for their patriotic content : ‘Aao Bacchon Tumhe Dikhayein’, ‘Insaan Ka Insasn Se Ho Bhaichara‘, ‘Chal Chal Re Naujawan‘, ‘Door Hato Ai Duniya Walon‘, ‘Dedi Hamein Azadi Bina Khadag Bina Dhal‘ were some very popular songs written by him.
Kavi Pradeep believed in writing songs with a purpose and in a simple language. In 1962, during the Indo-China War, the sacrifice and bravery of Major Shaitan Singh touched his heart deeply. Inspired by his exemplary courage he wrote a very moving song ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon‘ (O people of my country), it was rendered by melody queen Lata Mangeshkar to pay tribute to our soldiers in function where it moved then Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to tears.
During his life time he penned 1,700 songs for more than 85 Hindi films, most of the songs embellished with a patriotic fervor. Kavi Pradeep was one of the legendary Hindi film lyricists who won several awards such as ‘Dadasaheb Phalke Award’. He was conferred with Sant Gyaneshwar Award, Chhatrapati Shivaji Award and was also awarded by the Sangeet Natak Academy.
He passed away on 11^th December 1998.
Text : Based on the text provided by the proponent.