Trio behind immortal prayer lives in penury

As Pushpa Paghdare sang Itni Shakti Hamein Dena Daata for the students of Swami Vivekananda Group of Schools on Thursday, her eyes welled up.

In 1984, she had first sung the song, now a hymn in most schools during the morning assembly.

Since then, Paghdare,  song composer Kuldeep Singh and lyricist Abhilash  have not got a single penny although the Copyright (amendment) Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha in May. They have been facing financial problems although the song reverberates in educational institutions across the country.

On Thursday, Swami Vivekananda Group of Schools felicitated the artistes and the school director gifted Rs15,000 to each artiste.

School director Yogesh Patel was moved by their plight and felicitated the artistes.

“We have been singing this song in the school since its inception. I wanted to honour those who gave such an immortal and powerful secular prayer song. It’s disheartening to see such talented people neglected,” he said.

Paghdare lives in a one-room tenement in Mahim’s Machimaar Colony.

“My eyes filled up as I sang out to the students. I hope the song will inspire confidence in the young ones and help them,” she said.

Abhilash, who wrote the song, has defaulted on EMI payment towards his housing loan. “Despite the song being downloaded lakhs of times, we haven’t got a single penny

from the music company,” he said.
Kuldeep Singh, the composer of the song, is making a living by giving music lessons. “Although our song is famous and is used everywhere, even for ring tones, we do not get any royalty,” he said.