This is a story of a man who carried a river in his heart. It is the story of Raju (Raj Kapoor), a simple hearted child of the soil who sings away hatred and evil from people's hearts with songs about the holiest of holy river, the Ganga. It is the story of his love for a dacoit girl Kammo (Padmini), of his encounter with the murderous dacoit Raaka (Pran) whose accomplice he becomes in order to reform him and his gang of dacoits.

But most of all it is the story of Ganga, who witnessed the birth and flowering of an ancient and glorious civilization called India, who also washes away even the most hideous stains with her pure loving waters. Jis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai was one of Raj Kapoor's biggest hits, made despite his failing health as his greatest tribute to his motherland. The poignant simplicity of Raju's character and the starkness of the ravines of Jabalpur is set against the radiant beauty of Padmini and the glorious sound of Shanker-Jaikishan's greatest hits like "Jis Desh Mein", "Mera Naam Raju", "Aa Ab Laut Chalen" and "O Basanti Pawan Pagal".