Himachal Pradesh: Patriotism is best evoked through songs, they say. While the country was ravaged in turmoil, Ram Singh Thakuri gave its people a sense of relief and instilled patriotism through his songs such as Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja and Subh Sukh Chain. With ardent devotion to the motherland, Thakuri served in the Indian National Army too.
Thakuri, born on August 15, 1914, in a mountainous range of Dharmasala in Himachal Pradesh, was blessed with the gift of words as well as weapons. At the age of 14, he joined the Gorkha Rifles. In August 1941, he was sent to fight in Malay and Singapore during World War II. The Japanese, however, made him a Prisoner of War. Post his release in 1942, Thakuri came in contact with Subhas Chandra Bose. As a token of appreciation for Thakuri's skills, Bose gifted him a violin.
As Thakuri mesmerized people with his tunes, he was given the opportunity to compose music for the Bose's army, Azad Hind Fauj, and also the marching song of Rani Regiment of Jhansi, Hum Bharat Ki Beti Hain. Identifying Thakuri's ability in keeping listeners attuned, Netaji entrusted him with composing music for Sukh Chain Ki Barkha Barse. The song was written first in Bengali by Tagore, Bharato Bhagyao-Bidhata and first sung before Mahatma Gandhi. During the oath-taking ceremony of Jawaharlal Nehru, August 15, 1947, Shubh Sukh Chain Ki Barkha Barse resonated under the leadership of Captain Thakuri.
"Our Captain Ram Singh Thakuri was a very prominent person of our Gorkha community. He was born in our village Khaniyara," said Ravinder Singh Rana, President, Gorkha Association, Himachal. "He was earlier in the Army and later joined the Azad Hind Fauj, the army of Subhash Chandra Bose. He worked as a music director," Rana added.
Paying respect to his valour and contribution to the nation, the Uttar Pradesh government recruited him as a police inspector. He breathed his last in Lucknow in 2002.
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