Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja

"Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja" (Hindi: क़दम क़दम बढ़ाये जा) was the regimental quick march of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian National Army. Written by Vanshidhar Shukla and composed by Ram Singh Thakuri, it was banned in India after World War II as "seditious", which was subsequently lifted in August 1947. The song has since become a patriotic song in India, and has been re-interpreted by various Indian musicians including C. Ramachandra and A. R. Rahman and recently by Indraadip Dasgupta in the film Gumnaami by Srijit Mukherji. The song is currently the regimental quick march of the Indian Army.[1][2]

"Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja"
March by Ram Singh Thakur
Written	1942
Text	Vanshidhar Shukla
Language	Hindi/Urdu

Lyrics

Devnagari script	Romanised Hindi	Translation (Approximate)
क़दम क़दम बढ़ाये जा ख़ुशी के गीत गाये जा ये ज़िंदगी है क़ौम की तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा तू शेर-ए-हिन्द आगे बढ़ मरने से तू कभी न डर उड़ा के दुश्मनों का सर जोश-ए-वतन बढ़ाये जा क़दम क़दम बढ़ाये जा ख़ुशी के गीत गाये जा ये ज़िंदगी है क़ौम की तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा हिम्मत तेरी बढ़ती रहे ख़ुदा तेरी सुनता रहे जो सामने तेरे खड़े तू ख़ाक़ में मिलाये जा क़दम क़दम बढ़ाये जा ख़ुशी के गीत गाये जा ये ज़िंदगी है क़ौम की तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा चलो दिल्ली पुकार के क़ौमी-निशाँ संभाल के लाल क़िले पे गाड़ के लहराये जा लहराये जा क़दम क़दम बढ़ाये जा ख़ुशी के गीत गाये जा ये ज़िंदगी है क़ौम की तू क़ौम पे लुटाये जा	Qadam qadam baṛhāye jā khushī ke gīt gāye jā ye zindagī hai qaum kī tū qaum pe lutāye jā Tū sher-e-hind āge baṛh marne se tū kabhī na dar uṛā ke dushmanon kā sar josh-e-watan baṛhāye jā Qadam qadam baṛhāye jā khushī ke gīt gāye jā ye zindagī hai qaum kī tū qaum pe lutāye jā Himmat terī baṛhtī rahe khudā terī suntā rahe jo sāmne tere khaṛe tū khāq men milāye jā Qadam qadam baṛhāye jā khushī ke gīt gāye jā ye zindagī hai qaum kī tū qaum pe lutāye jā Chalo dillī pukār ke qaumī-nishān sambhāl ke Lāl qile pe gāṛ ke lahrāye jā lahrāye jā Qadam qadam baṛhāye jā khushī ke gīt gāye jā ye zindagī hai qaum kī tū qaum pe lutāye jā	Keep stepping forward singing songs of happiness this life belongs to our nation keep laying it down for her March forward you the tiger of India never ever be afraid to die by blowing away the enemy's head raise the spirits of your nation Keep stepping forward singing songs of happiness this life belongs to our nation keep laying it down for her Let your courage be ever increasing may the Lord always hear you as for those who stand in your way keep trampling them to dust and ashes Keep stepping forward singing songs of happiness this life belongs to our nation keep laying it down for her Let "Towards Delhi" be your war-cry And hold the nation's banner high plant it on the Red Fort and wave it high, wave it high Keep stepping forward singing songs of happiness this life belongs to our nation keep laying it down for her

References

Sources

• A tribute to the legendary composer of National Anthem
• Rahman's tunes bring Bose back
• (Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja .. (Every Step, Forward..)) Band of INA
• Songwriter: http://bigsurmise.com/India_Songs/Indian_Songs.php?val=39

Notes

1. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Indian war of independence, Satish Chandra Maikap, pp. 352, Punascha, 1998, OCLC 39292599, ... I. N. A. Marching Song Qadam qadam bar'haye ja ...
2. Reflections And Reminiscences Of Police Officers, Sankar Sen, pp. 90, Concept Publishing Company, 2006, ISBN 9788180692369.