Voice of the Nation: Mahendra Kapoor, Forever ‘Betchain Ajanabi’

Few artists have woven themselves so inextricably into India’s patriotic fabric as Mahendra Kapoor. His baritone, raw with emotion, made him the go-to voice for desh bhakti, always ‘betchain’ to become an ‘ajanabi’ for the greater good. From his early days on radio to dominating 1970s Bollywood, Kapoor’s trajectory was meteoric. The 1967 hit ‘Mere Desh Ki Dharti’ captured wartime resilience, with lyrics that painted the soil as sacred. Beyond patriotism, his work included folk-inspired hits and devotional tracks that grossed unprecedented figures. The ‘ajanabi’ motif symbolized his selflessness, prioritizing country over comfort. As archives revive his music, younger audiences discover the depth of the restless soul who taught us true patriotism.