Ram Singh Thakur
Encyclopedia
Captain Ram Singh Thakur (15 August 1914 – 15 April 2002) was an India
n freedom fighter, musician and the composer of the music of the current band-version of the Indian National Anthem
, Jana Gana. He also composed, while serving in the Indian National Army
a number of patriotic songs including "Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja
..." and "Subh Sukh Chain"
Later in life, Captain Singh worked for the Uttar Pradesh
Provincial Arms Constabulary (PAC) and founded the Constabulary band.
on August 15, 1914. As the son of a Gorkha
serviceman, Singh was encouraged to enroll in the army
. After completing school in 1922, Singh joined the 1st Gorkha Rifles as a recruit in the band. From early childhood, he had an interest in music, which was encouraged by his grandfather, Jamni Chand, who migrated from Munakot village in Pithoragarh district of Kumaon
hills, Uttarakhand
in 1890.
while serving in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa between 1937 and 1939. Promoted in 1941 to Company Havildar Major, he was sent to Singapore and Malaya with his unit during World War II
.
. Singh, who had initially not volunteered, was sent to Japan, where he met Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Singh later joined the Indian National Army as it was reorganised under the leadership of Bose. Subhas Chandra Bose was instrumental in tapping the talent of Captain Ram Singh as a dedicated music director. On his personal request, Singh composed the tunes for Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja
, the INA's marching song and now a noted patriotic song from India. He also composed the tune for Subh Sukh Chain (or the Qaumi Tarana as it was known), the National Anthem
to be adopted by Azad Hind. In 1944, Capt. Ram Singh was decorated by Subhas Chandra Bose for his contributions. Singh also received a violin
and a saxophone
as gifts from Bose.
, Singh was released later as most of the INA troops were released without charge. Singh and members of his orchestra band were invited to play the National Anthem
on the occasion of the Prime Minister's inaugural address to the nation at the Red Fort.
Uttar Pradesh
in 1948 by Shri Jagdish Prasad Bajpai [Commandant - 3rd Bn. PAC], and later was promoted as the Band Master in the Rank of Inspector. Thakur retired in 1974. Upon retirement he was accorded the honorary rank of DSP
. He was known as "DSP Band UP Police" at the time of his retirement. He was honoured by the Central
Government, as well as the Governments of Uttar Pradesh
and Sikkim
.
Captain Singh suffered an epilepsy
attack in 2001, and after suffering ill health for nearly a year, died on 15 April 2002. He was cremated with State honours at Bhaisakund. However the State Government of Uttar Pradesh was again criticised for the absence of notable or prominent Government officials save a few police
officers.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n freedom fighter, musician and the composer of the music of the current band-version of the Indian National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
, Jana Gana. He also composed, while serving in the Indian National Army
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
a number of patriotic songs including "Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja
Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja
Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja... was the regimental quick march of the Indian National Army. Composed by Ram Singh Thakur, the song has since became an extremely patriotic song in India, and is also currently the Regimental quickmarch of the Indian Army.-Lyrics:...
..." and "Subh Sukh Chain"
Later in life, Captain Singh worked for the Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
Provincial Arms Constabulary (PAC) and founded the Constabulary band.
Early life
Ram Singh was born in the North Indian Village of Khanyara, near DharamsalaDharamsala
Dharamshala or Dharamsala is a city in northern India. It was formerly known as Bhagsu; it is the winter seat of government of the state of Himachal Pradesh and the district headquarters of the Kangra district....
on August 15, 1914. As the son of a Gorkha
Gorkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the 8th century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath.Gurkha, Ghurkha, or Gorkha may also refer to:-People:...
serviceman, Singh was encouraged to enroll in the army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
. After completing school in 1922, Singh joined the 1st Gorkha Rifles as a recruit in the band. From early childhood, he had an interest in music, which was encouraged by his grandfather, Jamni Chand, who migrated from Munakot village in Pithoragarh district of Kumaon
Kumaon Division
For Kumaoni/Kumauni People see Kumauni PeopleKumaon or Kumaun is one of the two regions and administrative divisions of Uttarakhand, a mountainous state of northern India, the other being Garhwal. It includes the districts of Almora, Bageshwar, Champawat, Nainital, Pithoragarh, and Udham Singh Nagar...
hills, Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand
Uttarakhand , formerly Uttaranchal, is a state in the northern part of India. It is often referred to as the Land of Gods due to the many holy Hindu temples and cities found throughout the state, some of which are among Hinduism's most spiritual and auspicious places of pilgrimage and worship...
in 1890.
Service
In the Army, Singh combined his love for music along with his service. He trained in classical and western music as well as ballad, brass band, string band and dance band.British Indian Army
Singh earned the King George VI medalKing George VI Coronation Medal
The King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
while serving in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa between 1937 and 1939. Promoted in 1941 to Company Havildar Major, he was sent to Singapore and Malaya with his unit during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Indian National Army
After the Fall of Singapore, the Japanese forces took a large number of PoWs. Of these, a large number volunteered to join the Indian National ArmyIndian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
. Singh, who had initially not volunteered, was sent to Japan, where he met Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Singh later joined the Indian National Army as it was reorganised under the leadership of Bose. Subhas Chandra Bose was instrumental in tapping the talent of Captain Ram Singh as a dedicated music director. On his personal request, Singh composed the tunes for Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja
Kadam Kadam Badaye Ja
Kadam Kadam Badhaye Ja... was the regimental quick march of the Indian National Army. Composed by Ram Singh Thakur, the song has since became an extremely patriotic song in India, and is also currently the Regimental quickmarch of the Indian Army.-Lyrics:...
, the INA's marching song and now a noted patriotic song from India. He also composed the tune for Subh Sukh Chain (or the Qaumi Tarana as it was known), the National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
to be adopted by Azad Hind. In 1944, Capt. Ram Singh was decorated by Subhas Chandra Bose for his contributions. Singh also received a violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and a saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
as gifts from Bose.
Return to India
After the end of the war, as the INA surrendered in Rangoon, Singh was shipped back to India with his fellow soldiers. Imprisoned at the Kabul Lines of the Delhi CantonmentDelhi Cantonment
Delhi Cantonment is one of the three statutory towns that make up the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Its population according to the 2001 Census was 124,452...
, Singh was released later as most of the INA troops were released without charge. Singh and members of his orchestra band were invited to play the National Anthem
National anthem
A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.- History :Anthems rose to prominence...
on the occasion of the Prime Minister's inaugural address to the nation at the Red Fort.
Post 1947
Ram Singh was recruited in the 3rd Battalion PAC at LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
in 1948 by Shri Jagdish Prasad Bajpai [Commandant - 3rd Bn. PAC], and later was promoted as the Band Master in the Rank of Inspector. Thakur retired in 1974. Upon retirement he was accorded the honorary rank of DSP
Deputy Superintendent
Deputy superintendent, or deputy superintendent of police , was a rank used by police forces of the British Empire. In some territories it was called Deputy District Superintendent of police ....
. He was known as "DSP Band UP Police" at the time of his retirement. He was honoured by the Central
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
Government, as well as the Governments of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.
Final years
Captain Singh's final years were difficult and controversial, for which the Government drew much criticism. He was initially denied the status of a freedom fighter by the government, while the State government of Uttar Pradesh later faced contempt proceedings for withholding the corresponding payment although the amount in question was meager. A controversial court petition at one point sought to establish that he was not the composer of the National Anthem.Captain Singh suffered an epilepsy
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common chronic neurological disorder characterized by seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms of abnormal, excessive or hypersynchronous neuronal activity in the brain.About 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, and nearly two out of every three new cases...
attack in 2001, and after suffering ill health for nearly a year, died on 15 April 2002. He was cremated with State honours at Bhaisakund. However the State Government of Uttar Pradesh was again criticised for the absence of notable or prominent Government officials save a few police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officers.
Awards
Over his long career, Captain Ram Singh earned a number of awards. These included:- George VI MedalKing George VI Coronation MedalThe King George VI Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to each of...
, 1937 - Netaji Gold Medal(Azad Hind), 1943
- Uttar Pradesh 1st Governor Gold Medal, 1956
- President Police Medal, 1972
- UP Sangeet Natak Akademi (UP Music and Drama Academy) Award, 1979
- Sikkim Government Mitrasen Award, 1993
- The First Azad Hind Fauj Award by the West Bengal Government in 1996