Mumbai, Jan 27 (PTI): Melody queen Lata Mangeshakar says it is hard to believe that 51 years have passed since she sang ‘Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon’ in front of prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1963.

“Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo’ is completing 51 years. I really don’t know how these many years passed away but it still reminds me of the sadness of that time…

“I presented this song on January 27, 1963 in front of Pt Jawaharlal Nehru in the memory of those martyrs. Everybody’s eyes were moist. The poignant song was written by poet Pradeepji and was composed by Ramchandraji. How can we forget our martyrs. I remember them every year and salute them,” Lata Mangeshkar tweeted.

One of the most memorable patriotic numbers, the song was written as a tribute to Indian soldiers who died during the Sino-Indian War in 1962.

Lata Mangeshkar, 84, famously sang the song in the presence of Nehru at the Ramlila Maidan in New Delhi, just a day after the Republic Day.

The song is said to have moved Nehru to tears as the war had ended just two months ago and its memories were still fresh.

Lata Mangeshkar, 84, is being felicitated by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi at a function here to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the song.

Narendra Modi is the chief guest at the function being organised by Shahid Bharat Samiti and Lodha Foundation.

The organisers said Lata Mangeshkar will not sing but she might hum one or two lines when over one lakh people sing it in chorus.