The story goes that Jawaharlal Nehru’s eyes brimmed with tears. The stadium was filled to capacity and it was only a few months after the end of the Sino-Indian War. The song was first sung, at the National Stadium of New Delhi on January 27, 1963, during the Indian Republic Day celebrations, by Lata Mangeshkar in front of the then Indian President S Radhakrishnan and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. However, the composer Kavi Pradeep had opposed the idea and it was sung only by Lata Mangeshkar. The initial plan had been to have the song sung, as a duet, by Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle. He immediately borrowed a pen from a fellow walker and wrote down a few verses of the new song on the back of the foil paper in his cigarette pack. The inspiration for a new song, which could be dedicated to these gallant men, emerged during lyricist Kavi Pradeep’s morning walks on Mahim beach in Mumbai. The Indian public was saddened by the supreme sacrifices made by their army. The bravery and valour of the Indian forces, at stopping the Chinese advance, were heard throughout India. ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ (available on YouTube, please listen) was written by Kavi Pradeep saddened by the considerable loss of Indian Army personnel in the Sino-Indian War in 1962, accodring to Wikipedia. So, everyone stands at attention when it is sung in honour of those brave service personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice.” He said, “Ravi, this song was sung by Lataji in honour of the Indian Armed forces personnel who died in the Sino-Indian War in 1962. It is not the Indian National Anthem! Then why did Perry Ram stand at attention? I inquired about this from an Indian Naval officer I was acquainted with. Ram, who was working in the garden, would stop work and stand at attention until the song was over. I noticed something unusual when the song ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ sung by great Indian singer Lata Mangeshkar was being played. I used to play those songs loud at my residence, because they were beautiful and could be heard even from my garden. I had a CD containing Indian patriotic songs presented to me by the then Indian Chief of Naval Staff (Indian Navy Commander). He is old now and the award has been conferred on him for the garden in the residence of the Indian Chief of Air Staff (Indian Air Force Commander). Our High Commission garden had won the ‘Best Garden in New Delhi’ award three times in the 1990s, thanks to then young Ram. The Sri Lankan High Commission garden looked magnificent during this period, thanks to Ram, who had been to school only up to Fifth Grade, and his two assistants. From February to April, New Delhi looks beautiful with flowers blossoming in mild cold weather. A very dedicated person, he worked tirelessly to maintain the High Commission premises with beautiful flower beds and flower pots. He was a very experienced gardener who had served the High Commission for the past 30 years. I was occupying a house inside the High Commission complex in Kautilya Marg, Chanakyapuri, in the Diplomatic enclave of New Delhi. I served under two High Commissioners, namely late Professor Senake Bandaranaike and late Mangala Munasinghe, and two Foreign Ministers, Lakshman Kadirgamar and Tyronne Fernando. I served as the First Secretary/ Defence Adviser at the Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi, India from November 2001 to April 2004.