Mahatma Gandhi’s favorite hymn ‘Abide With Me’ dropped, ‘Aey Mere Watan ke Logon’ to be part of Beating Retreat ceremony

New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has included the patriotic song ‘Aey Mere Watan ke Logo’ in the Beating Retreat ceremony in an effort to make the event more Indian.

The hymn Abide With Me has been dropped from the event as per the details of the ceremony shared by Indian defence officials. Abide With Me was part of the ceremony held on January 29 every year as part of the culmination of the celebrations of Republic Day.

‘Aey Mere Watan ke Logon’ has been chosen at a time when the hostilities with the Chinese are still on after a two-year military standoff.

The song had become famous after it was sung by noted playback singer Lata Mangeshkar and written by legendary lyricist Kavi Pradeep for the soldiers who laid down their lives in the 1962 war.

The Defence Ministry has chosen the song for inclusion in the ceremony after going through a number of other songs and compositions.

After “Abide With Me”, one of Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite hymns, was been dropped from this year’s Beating Retreat ceremony, the government sources on Sunday clarified that the “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo” has touching lyrics that highlight the “Unity in Diversity” aspect of the Indian soldiers and has a very mesmerizing and solemn impact. To commemorate the Swarnim Vijay Varsh and as part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” is being played instead of ‘Abide with me.’

Last year “Abide with Me”, a solemn Christian hymn, was the only non-Indian tune played during the Beating the Retreat ceremony.

The patriotic song “Ae Mere Watan Ke Logon” written in Hindi by Kavi Pradeep, composed by C Ramchandra

The celebrated song has universal appeal and is an appropriate tribute to the brave soldiers of our Indian Armed Forces who have laid down the lives of our Nation.

“Abide with Me is a popular military tune but the lyrics for this are understood by a limited few”, stated the government sources.