Shailendra was born in Rawalpindi , Punjab (now in Pakistan) in a Chamar Caste, a Dalit family and brought up in Mathura. Shailendra started his career as an apprentice with Indian Railways in Matunga workshop, Bombay in 1947. He is considered as the all time evergreen Legend lyricist in the Indian film industry. He started writing poetry during these days.The filmmaker Raj Kapoor noticed Shailendra, when the latter was reading out his poem Jalta hai Punjab ,Kapoor offered to buy the poem Jalta Hai Punjab written by Shailendra and for his movie Aag (1948). Shailendra, a member of the left wing IPTA, was wary of mainstream Indian cinema and refused. However, after his wife became pregnant, Shailendra himself approached Raj Kapoor in need of money. At this time, Raj Kapoor was filming Barsaat (1949), and two of the film songs had not yet been written. Shailendra wrote these two songs: Patli kamar hai and Barsaat mein.