India's National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', is an adoption from the writings of the poet and playwright, Rabindranath Tagore. The lines of India's National Anthem are taken from Rabindranath Tagore's song, 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'. The original was written in Bengali and the full song has 5 stanzas.
There is no provision of law which compels anyone to sing the national anthem. It is not considered disrespectful to the nation or to the anthem if a person chooses only to stand up in respectful silence. 7. Formal rendition of the anthem should take 52 seconds by law, and not 54 seconds.
'Jana Gana Mana, originally written as ''Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'' in Bengali, was adopted as India's national anthem on January 24, 1950. The two national anthems have unknowingly connected the people of two countries in several instances — the majority of them being cricket matches between the two countries.
The entire song was not selected by Hindu leaders in order to respect the sentiments of non-Hindus, and the gathering agreed that anyone should be free to sing an alternate "unobjectionable song" at a national gathering if they do not want to sing Vande Mataram because they find it "objectionable" for a personal reason.
When was it first sung?
On December 27, 1911, it was sung publicly for the first time on the second day of the annual conference of the Indian National Congress at Kolkata (then Calcutta). It was sung by Rabindranath Tagore himself.
The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom.
The song Jana-Gana-mana, composed originally in Bangla by Rabindranath Tagore, was adopted in its Hindi version by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem of India on January 24, 1950.
After consulting Tagore who proposed a broad 'Swara', with the help of college students, Margaret Cousins composed the musical tune for Jana Gana mana. Tagore appreciated Ms Cousins' performance and like the melody. Margaret Cousins' composition became an accepted rendition of the song and became widely used.
The national anthem takes around fifty-two seconds to be played. The original poem was translated by“Abid Ali into Hindi and the original Hindi version of the song was a little different. The text of Jana Gana Mana, though written in Bengali, is highly Sanskritised and has been written almost completely with the use of nouns which can also function as verbs. Nearly all the nouns in the song are used in all major languages of India.
The national anthem tells us that India is a diverse nation and there are differences in culture, traditions, religions and languages, but despite these differences, it reminds us that India is united under one flag. The anthem is significant in uniting people and reminding us that there isn't any difference among Indians.
The Indian national anthem is played or sung on various occasions. From government offices to schools and colleges, the national anthem of India is sung on special occasions or national holidays or even daily as it is also titled "The Morning Song of India".
The national anthem tells us that India is a diverse nation and there are differences in culture, traditions, religions and languages, but despite these differences, it reminds us that India is united under one flag. The anthem is significant in uniting people and reminding us that there isn't any difference among Indians.
The Indian national anthem is played or sung on various occasions. From government offices to schools and colleges, the national anthem of India is sung on special occasions or national holidays or even daily as it is also titled "The Morning Song of India".
Controversies:
Controversy surrounds the song Jana Gana Mana from its inception. A section of congress leaders alleged that Tagore wrote this song in praise of King George V as indicated by the use of the words like “Adhinayaka” and “Bharat Bhagya Bidhata”. The creation of the song coincided with the England Monarch’s first visit to India and his Coronation at Delhi Durbar in 1911.
But in a letter to Mr Pulin Bihari Sen in December 1939, Tagore dismissed the idea. He wrote “A certain high official in His Majesty's service, who was also my friend, had requested that I write a song of felicitation towards the Emperor. The request simply amazed me. It caused a great stir in my heart.
In response to that great mental turmoil, I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata [ed. God of Destiny] of India who has from age after age held steadfast the reins of India's chariot through rising and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George. Even my official friend understood this about the song. After all, even if his admiration for the crown was excessive, he was not lacking in simple common sense.”
The National Anthem is perhaps one of the most potent declarations of a country’s independent status. India is a nation of multiple languages and dialects therein. Jana Gana Mana is understood unequivocally throughout India and thus brings forth the spirit of unity among these diverse languages. Our National Anthem conveys very aptly the traditions and values that still hold strong as the backbone of the country. It helps reinforce the accepting and assimilating nature of Indian culture along with its tolerance of pluralism. Jana Gana Mana appeals to the country’s patriotic emotions and helps unify the different races, castes and creeds by solemn singing of the hymn-like verses.
National Anthem is one composition which makes every Indian feel connected with the country. This one composition has a tremendous power to fill every Indian with feelings of patriotism and deserves all the respect.
Written by: Jeevanantham G.
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