Lallaa, lallaa, lori, doodh ki katori. Doodh mein bataasha, Munni kare tamaasha...
We all have a lullaby that holds a special place in our hearts, isn't it?
In the quiet of night or the hush of an afternoon, lullabies echo across Indian homes - sung by mothers, fathers, grandparents, or older siblings. These simple songs are more than just bedtime routines. They are a child's first introduction to language, rhythm, comfort, and emotional connection - passed lovingly from one generation to the next.
Currently, this link is missing or weak at best. Now, an innovative collaboration is bringing these treasured tunes into the world of early learning. Bachpan Manao, along with Billion Readers (BIRD), EkStep, Pratham Education Foundation and EduWeave, has launched 'First Songs' - a repository of over 100 lullabies in 13 Indian languages collected from families across India. Each video comes with Same Language Subtitles (SLS) - where the lyrics on screen match the audio. This simple but powerful format encourages children to link sounds with words, turning everyday moments into opportunities for joyful reading and learning.
Dr. Usha Goswami, professor of cognitive developmental neuroscience at the University of Cambridge, explains:
In the last three months in the womb, the infant brain can already hear the rhythms of the mother's voice. Talking, singing, or using infant-directed speech like rhymes can shape language outcomes.
These gentle melodies do more than lull a baby to sleep. They stimulate memory, develop pattern recognition, and strengthen the carer-child bond. Lullabies become brain exercises - deeply emotional, developmentally rich, and entirely natural.
India doesn't just have one word for a lullaby. It has many:
Each name carries centuries of tradition, local folklore, and maternal wisdom. The aim of the First Songs initiative is to preserve the sweet childhood memories for today's children and celebrate the joy of growing up.
In order to make this repository, one can share the lullabies that they know by video recording it and uploading it on the form provided on the website. Know more here .
The First Songs initiative is a tribute to tradition and a leap toward an inclusive educational future. It tells us a simple thumb rule that learning can begin not with books or blackboards - but with the tender hum of a familiar tune.
So the next time you hear a lullaby, remember -
It's not just music. It's a memory. It's language. It's love.
And now, it's a movement
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