The True History Behind "Jana Gana Mana"
"The Bengali poet Babu Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor." (Statesman, Dec.28, 1911)
"The proceedings began with the singing by Babu Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor." (Englishman, Dec.28).
"When the proceedings of the Indian National Congress began on Wednesday 27th December 1911, a Bengali song in welcome of the Emperor was sung. A resolution welcoming the Emperor and Empress was also adopted unanomously." (Indian, Dec. 29, 1911)
Is this true, Many leaders during those time believed that it was composed for the King, and some great people started an email thread stating the same. Naturally it created a wave among young indians that our national anthem was really just a song in praise of the emperor.
Some time ago, i read about it and had sent a personal email to all my friends countering this falsified thread. Just two days ago, someone bought this topic again, and I was like comeon people find out and then talk, don't just jump to conclusion.
These are the few things that i found about the origin of the song - Read it and then read the song u will understand the significance of each line
"The National Congress people asked Tagore for a poem of welcome. He tried to write it, but could not. He got up very early in the morning an wrote a very beautiful poem, not one of his best, but still beautiful. When he came down, he said to one of us, 'Here is a poem which I have written. It is addressed to God, but give it to Congress people. It will please them. They will think it is addressed to the King.' All Tagore's own followers knew it meant God, but others did not." (The Indian Express, June 3, 1968)
The Calcutta Congress session began on December 26, 1911. The proceedings on the first day began with Vandemataram. The second day was entirely devoted to things connected with the welcoming of King George V, and this day the song Janaganamana was sung, and at the closing ceremony Rajbhuja Dutt Choudhary's
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Tagore's own statement about this, showing this allegation to be myth:
In a letter to Pulin Behari Sen, Tagore later 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 rise 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."
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Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka,
jaya heBharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, Jaya he,
Jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya,
jaya he!
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha,
of the Dravida and the Orissa (Utkalla) and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganga
and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee.
Oh my fellow Indians, Please see to that the name of the great Poet is not tarnished. For some
reason (my personal observation) we just seem to jump on the very first oppurtunity to defame our country and our people. Out here in US it seems more - A group of indians see another group and the first statement - dekh desis kade hain(look there is a group of indians - and the way it is told is with a sort of ridicule and contempt - how come this group of people are here) - Not everyone does it - but a lot of people do it.
We need to learn to respect ourself, our country and our people. Jai Hind
"The proceedings began with the singing by Babu Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor." (Englishman, Dec.28).
"When the proceedings of the Indian National Congress began on Wednesday 27th December 1911, a Bengali song in welcome of the Emperor was sung. A resolution welcoming the Emperor and Empress was also adopted unanomously." (Indian, Dec. 29, 1911)
Is this true, Many leaders during those time believed that it was composed for the King, and some great people started an email thread stating the same. Naturally it created a wave among young indians that our national anthem was really just a song in praise of the emperor.
Some time ago, i read about it and had sent a personal email to all my friends countering this falsified thread. Just two days ago, someone bought this topic again, and I was like comeon people find out and then talk, don't just jump to conclusion.
These are the few things that i found about the origin of the song - Read it and then read the song u will understand the significance of each line
"The National Congress people asked Tagore for a poem of welcome. He tried to write it, but could not. He got up very early in the morning an wrote a very beautiful poem, not one of his best, but still beautiful. When he came down, he said to one of us, 'Here is a poem which I have written. It is addressed to God, but give it to Congress people. It will please them. They will think it is addressed to the King.' All Tagore's own followers knew it meant God, but others did not." (The Indian Express, June 3, 1968)
The Calcutta Congress session began on December 26, 1911. The proceedings on the first day began with Vandemataram. The second day was entirely devoted to things connected with the welcoming of King George V, and this day the song Janaganamana was sung, and at the closing ceremony Rajbhuja Dutt Choudhary's
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tagore's own statement about this, showing this allegation to be myth:
In a letter to Pulin Behari Sen, Tagore later 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 rise 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."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka,
jaya heBharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, Jaya he,
Jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya,
jaya he!
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha,
of the Dravida and the Orissa (Utkalla) and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganga
and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
thou dispenser of India's destiny.
Victory, victory, victory to thee.
Oh my fellow Indians, Please see to that the name of the great Poet is not tarnished. For some
reason (my personal observation) we just seem to jump on the very first oppurtunity to defame our country and our people. Out here in US it seems more - A group of indians see another group and the first statement - dekh desis kade hain(look there is a group of indians - and the way it is told is with a sort of ridicule and contempt - how come this group of people are here) - Not everyone does it - but a lot of people do it.
We need to learn to respect ourself, our country and our people. Jai Hind
posted by Aatma at 8/22/2005 04:10:00 PM
18 Comments:
Hi Aatma,
Absolutely agree with you. I hate this whole "desis" thing. Being in Australia, its very small majority which indulge in using it, but instead they use "curries".
I also really hate the way the Indian flag is being treated. Copying many westerners, many Indians wrap the flag around themselves in a cricket match (in the crowd), the flag inevitably gets food on it, is dragged on the ground and is treated with utomost disrespect. Some people put zinc cream in the tricolour design on the their faces. I hate that aswell.
It's good to be patriotic, but not at the cost of various national symbols and items of dignity.
We are not desis, or curries. We are Indians (even that name is derogatory -- should be Hindustani's).
Jai Hind - Vande Mataram
Ps. Hope you liked the cricket game.
click on the play(text) button, in the top left corner (not the main one because that leads you to play ashes).
if you click the top left, you can play as any country.
you can do slog fests, world tournaments and other cool stuf..
thanks for visiting my blog
Thanks Venkat for the game, yes I enjoyed it.
Venkat your comments shows young blood, yes I completely agree the point about not respecting the Indian flag/national symbol.
But Painting their face with Indian tricolor or waving the flag can also be interpreted as a sign of passion towards the game. If the intentions are right, I have no problems with it.
I would like to tell u one thing though - no we are not Hindustani - as it can be interpreted as the land of Hindus. Our country does not belong to a single religion - So Indian is apt.
Yes, I think you have a point there.
We are NOT land of the Hindu's, but then what are we? Bharat?
I don't like India because India was a derogatory term used by the western world to determine some "non-white" peoples. That is why we see American Indians, South American Indians and ofcourse Indians from India. I am sure this topic has been debated a plethora of times, but I still feel "India" is wrong just as Madras and Bombay were.
Also, this being the case what does "Paki" in Pakistan mean?
Hey Aatma,
This is my first visit to your blog and I see a good one, keep it up.
Like Venkat, I too am in Australia and share the same feelings about the waning pride of being Indian in some individuals. The problem is, outside of our country, our numbers are small and if a few make derogatory comments out of sheer ignorance, the seeds of disrespect are sown in the minds of locals. It is all a case of attitude I guess. I feel it is upto us Indians away from our country on work or study or any number of reasons to uphold our nation's name and fame around the world.
Let me also add that I have seen plenty of foreigners in all the places I have been over three continents who have high regard for the intellect and culture of India and Indians. We still have plenty to be proud of and should be investing in ourselves as a nation more.
Thanks Smashingguy, I am also trying to same thing that u are stating, we need to learn to respect ourself, our country and our people, Unfortunately most here don't seem to do that, thats what is hurting me.
We have so much to be proud of - don't know why so many educated folks want to look at the negative side only
Good one Aatma! :)
good research and good yield, aatma.
sometimes I hate these chain mails, which are being circulated without verifying the authentcity.
Thanks Ram, yes and my aim is to help people know the truth
Thanks Riz, Yes I will come and visit your blog
Hi Aatma
Ol it need here is to generate luv among our country...now the question is how n why..
new generation has to work hard for this as v frm middle age not doing much for country i think may be due to career n social responsibilites..but atleast we can keep toking n discussing like dis n paases d truth to our younger..de will definetely take intrest..i wish..
JAY HIND
So u mean to say, he wrote poem for God and sang it for King George. Means, we can pray to God by keeping a picture of a Britisher in front.
!!WOW!!
For me its simple - the national anthem refers to BHAGYA VIDHATA meaning the one who determines your destiny. It can be one the only ONE - THE ALMIGHTY. Period .
Hi Aatma
I just got email about our national anthem stating that it was actually meant for the king and trust me for few minutes is was so angry on our leaders. Them again felt like checking the facts behind it. Thanks for your effort to bring out the facts.
I appreciate it.
Regards,
Raj
You know sanskrit????? If u would, your blog post was suppose to be completely different my friend
all is not correct. the welcome song for king george 5 was actually written by jatindramohan tagore.
But guys get the datails behind Tagore getting the NOBLE PRIZE
Praveen Reddy
then u will understand the whole story of Jana Gana Mana....
since the facts have been suppresed not for this instance but for other incedents too.
it is too pity that even after submitting the facts to the people concerned regarding the Jana Gana Mana .., issue , people r not ready to accept the truth , pity on such indians.
Truth is Truth whether u r building ur image on it Or Degrading on it.
52 seconds? Would you listen and support this new Anthem? http://tlnt.at/Uybp9z. Thanks. Ashwin, Music composer.
i cant really agree to this ..becoz no one knows what was actually going on that time..some says this ,some say that i believe none ..ijust wanna say whenever m gonna stand up for my National Anthem i l hav a positive approach believing that God is our adhinayaka ..and bhagya vidhata...
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