India of 1960s was a much more simple and uncomplicated nation, where cynicism about the nation and its leaders had yet to take roots. People actually looked upto the national leaders. Every household compulsorily had the pictures of national leaders on their drawing room walls.Framed photographs of Mahatma Gandhi, Rajendra Prasad, and Jawaharlal Nehru were there in all households.

People, including kids actually dreamt of big things for the nation.

The movies of those days also reflected this sentiment. There were quite a few songs talking about serving the nation that became hugely popular.

Most such songs, including patriotic songs that became popular were sung by well known singers. In fact, even songs supposed to be sung by kids on screen were actually sung by grownups (female singers). It was in early 1960s that this anomaly was addressed for the first time. Thus, in “Son of India”, one sees a kid giving playback for a kid.

This song was “nanha munna rahi hoon, desh ka sipahi hoon”. This song plucked at the heart strings of all Indians and this song almost became as popular as the national anthem.

When I listened to this song again after many decades, I could not help but feel nostalgic about those days when people actually talked about making India a great nation. The line in the song that talks of “bada hoke desh ka sahaara banoonga”, moves me even today.

Feeling nostalgic, I tried to find the whereabouts of the people involved in creating this masterpiece. We all know about Shakeel Badayuni and Naushad, the lyricist and music director respectively, of this song. The song was sung by Shanti Mathur. There is very little information available about her. She must be in her 50s now and she must be known by some other surname by now. I hope and wish that she, wherever she is, is leading a happy life. This one song is enough to make her a legend in our eyes.

What about the kid, on whom this song is picturised ? This kid is called Sajid Khan. Most fans quickly jump to the conclusion that he is the same Sajid Khan who is seen in TV these days spoofing film actors. That is not the case. The present day TV actor is in his 40s and is too young to have acted in the 1962 movie that “Son of India” was. The Sajid Khan (born in 1951) of “Son of India” was an adopted son of Mahboob Khan and this movie “son of India” was made by Mahboob Khan. This Sajid Khan is no longer in show business, though he acted in movies till 1980s. “Heat and Dust” (1983) was his last movie. In fact, this Sajid Khan acted as a child artist in Mahboob Khan’s “Mother India” as well in 1957.

Song-Nanha munna raahi hoon (Son of India) (1962) Singer-Shanti Mathur, Lyrics- Shakeel Badayuni, MD- Naushad

Lyrics

Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind
Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind

raste pe chalungaa na dar-dar ke
chaahe mujhe jeenaa pade mar-mar ke
manzil se pahle na loongaa kahin dam
aage hi aage badhaaungaa kadam
daahine baayen daahine baayen, tham!
Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind
ho ho ho

dhoop mein paseenaa main bahaaungaa jahaan
hare-bhare khet laharaayenge wahaan
dharti pe faake na paayenge janam
aage hi aage badhaaunga kadam
daahine baayen daahine baayen, tham!
Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind

nayaa hai zamaanaa meri nayi hai dagar
desh ko banaaungaa masheenon kaa nagar
bhaarat kisi se rahegaa nahin kam
aage hi aage badhaaunga kadam
daahine baayen daahine baayen, tham!
Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind

badaa ho ke desh kaa sahaaraa banungaa
duniyaa ki aankhon kaa taaraa banungaa
rakhungaa uunchaa tirangaa parcham
aage hi aage badhaaunga kadam
daahine baayen daahine baayen, tham!
Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind

shaanti ki nagri hai meraa ye watan
sabko sikhaaungaa main pyaar kaa chalan
duniyaa mein girne na doongaa kahin bam
aage hi aage badhaaunga kadam
daahine baayen daahine baayen, tham!
Nanha munna raahi hoon desh ka sipaahi hoon
bolo mere sang
jai Hind, jai Hind, Jai Hind
jay Hind, jay Hind