Bharatiya Rashtrageet - Bharat's National Songs

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The Sovereign Democratic Republic of Bharat has two official songs, which each share equal status according to the Constitution. In addition, there is also a third song, extremely dear to the hearts of many people in Bharat, but holding no official position in the Republic.




Rashtrageet - National Anthem
The first of these three songs, designated the title of the "National Anthem", is the poem written by the great Bengali poet, Srijut Rabindra Nath Thakur (a.k.a. Rabindranath Tagore). The poem was first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress, on December 27, 1911, and was then published the following year. The poem gained increasing popularity through the course of the Independence struggle, and finally, on January 24, 1950, two days before the declaration of the Republic, when the Constitution was ratified, the song was officially adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the National Anthem.

The poem in its full form comprises five stanzas, but the first stanza makes up the entire National Anthem. The approximate playing time of this full version of the National Anthem (i.e. the first stanza of the poem) is approximately 52 seconds. A shorter version of this stanza, comprising only its first and last lines, and having a playing time of approximately 20 seconds, is also played on certain occasions.

The poem is becoming increasingly mired in controversy. There are rumours, for example, that the song was actually not intended as a patriotic song, but that it was written in praise of the Monarch of the British Empire, King George V, who was the first British Sovereign to actually visit the colony of Bharat. It is held by those who argue this that the "Vidhata" and "Adhinayaka" mentioned in the National Anthem actually originally referred not to God, but to King George V.

However, this claim is quite easily rejected on the basis of the later stanzas, in which this "Vidhata" is described as the "Chira Sarathi" ("Eternal Charioteer" - held to be an appellation to Shri Krishna) and "Rajeshwara" (translated as "King of Kings", this is also an epithet of Lord Vishnu, who's incarnation Shri Krishna is). Also, the phrase "Sehamayee Toomi Maataa" ("You are the ever-loving Mother") is quoted as demonstrating that it was indeed not the King, but God to whom this song was directed. The switch from referring to Lord Vishnu and Shri Krishna to referring to the "Mother" is explained by alluding to the well-known line, "Twameva mata cha pita twameva..." ("You alone are the Mother, and you alone are the Father"), which demonstrates God's role as both Father and Mother.

Following is the first stanza of the poem - constituting the entire National Anthem - with Srijut Rabindra Nath Thakur's own rendering of the stanza in English :-

Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He Bharat Bhagya Vidhata	hou art the ruler of the minds of all people Dispenser of India's destiny
Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha Dravid Utkala Banga	Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha Of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal
Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga Uchhal Jaladhi Taranga	It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas Mingles in the music of the Jamuna and Ganges And is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea
Tava Shubha Name Jage Tava Shubha Ashish Mange Gahe Tava Jaya Gatha	They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise
Jana Gana Mangaladayaka Jaya He Bharat Bhagya Vidhata	The saving of all people waits in thy hand Thou dispenser of India's destiny
Jaya He, Jaya He, Jaya He Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya He	Victory to thee, victory to thee, victory to thee Victory, victory, victory, victory to thee

 

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The remaining four stanzas of the poem, with their translation, are as follows :-

Aharaha Tabo Ahwano Pracharito Shuni Tabo Udara Bani Hindu Bauddha Shikha Jaina Parsika Musalman Kristani Purabo Pashchimo Ashe Tabo Shinghashano Pashe Premoharo Haya Gantha Jana Gana Aikya Bidhayaka Jaya He Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Jaya He, Jaya He, Jaya He Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya He	Your invitation is announced all the time, and all of us - Hindus, Bauddhas, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Muslims, and Christians - always hear your clarion call. The East and the West come to your throne and the garland of love is created. Glory to you, who brings unity among the people.
Patana Abhyoodaya Bandhoora Panthaa Yuga Yuga Dhaabita Yaatri Hey Chira Saarathi, Taba Ratha Chakrey Mookharita Patha Dina Raatri Daaroona Biplaba Baajhey Taba Sankkha Dhwani Baajey Sankata Dookka Traataa Jana Gana Patha Parichaayaka Jaya Hey Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey	The road is difficult, with rise and fall; the travellers travel this road for ages. Oh Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot keep this way alive day and night. In the midst of all chaos, your conch shell sounds aloud, as savior of pains and perils of the journey. Glory to you, who leads people on the way.
Ghora Timira Ghana Nibira Nishithey Peerita Moorchita Deshey Jagrata Chila Taba Abichala Mangala Natanayaney Animeshey Dooh Swapney Aatankey Rakkhaa Kariley Ankey Snehamayee Toomi Maataa Jana Gana Dookkha Traayaka Jaya Hey Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey	It was the darkest of the dark nights; the entire country was sick, even unconscious. Your kind eyes didn't rest; they kept a round-the-clock vigil (on the ailing country). In the nightmares and fears, you protected us in your lap, like a loving mother. Glory to you, who relieve the pain of people.
Raatri Prabhaatila, Oodila Rabichchhabi Poorba Oodya Giri Bhaaley Gahey Bihangama, Poonya Samirana Naba Jibana Rasa Dhaaley Taba Karoonaaroona Raagey Nidrita Bharat Jagey Taba Charaney Nata Maathaa Jaya Jaya Jaya Hey, Jaya Rajeshwara Bharat Bhagya Vidhata Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey, Jaya Hey Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya Hey	The night is over, the sun is rising at the eastern mountains, the birds are singing; the gentle breeze is bringing in the nectar of new life. Your kind rays awaken the sleeping India; they all bow their heads to your feet. Glory to you, again and again, Oh King of Kings!

Rashtriya Geet - National Song
The second of the three songs, designated as the "National Song", was written by another great Bengali literary beacon, Srijut Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, in 1874. The poem, "Bande Mataram" (now known as "Vande Mataram") was set to music by Srijut Rabindra Nath Thakur himself, and was sung by him at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta, it having been adopted by the INC as its own Official Anthem.

The song went on to occupy a unique position in pre-Independence Bharat, becoming the uniting call to all those struggling against the oppression of the British Raj, and countless martyrs of the Independence struggle went to their deaths with the words "Vande Mataram" on their lips. The words "Vande Mataram" came to be the common war-cry of the Indian struggle against foreign tyranny under the mighty Raj. This was the song that, more than any other, captured the hearts of millions throughout Bharat, and served as an inspiration to the whole nation. At the time of Independence, the song was the natural choice for the National Anthem.

However, in 1937, the song was banned by the Muslim League, and described by them as being "not merely positively anti-Muslim and idolatrous in its inspiration and ideas, but definitely subversive of the growth of the genuine nationalism in India." Indeed, the story is told that when the song was sung at a certain public function, the Muslim Congress leader, Maulana Azad actually left the event in protest!!

The problem appeared to be the huge "Hindu" content of the song. To the Hindu, Bharat Mata is an incarnation of Parvati Devi, and as such, the song even compared Bharat Mata to Durga (another of Parvati Devi's forms). As such, the Congress leaders decided, in following with their ongoing policy of extreme appeasement, to choose "Jana Gana Mana" over this. However, possibly as some form of conciliation, the first two stanzas of the song, which, in its full form, comprises of six stanzas, were adopted as the "National Song", and nominally given equal status under the Constitution. Adoption of just these two stanzas also meant that any direct reference to anything that could be (mis)construed as "idolatry" were cut out, since those references occur only later on in the song (though, of course, the hardliners - for example, the Students Islamic Movement of India, SIMI - continue to complain about the phrase "Vande Maataram", condemning patriotism itself, with statements such as "Nation worship, the biggest idol amongst all, a death threat for Islam").

The complete National Song - i.e. the first two stanzas of the original poem - are given below, along with an English translation by Rishi Aurobindo Ghose :-

Vande Maataram!! Sujalaam Sufalaam Malayaja Sheetalaam Shasyashaamalaam Maataram!! Shubhrajyotsna Pulakita Yaaminim Phulla Kusumita Drumadala Shobhinim Suhaasinim Sumadhura Bhaashinim Sukhadaam Varadaam Maataram!! Vande Maataram!!

I bow to thee Mother!! Richly watered, richly fruited, Cool with the winds of the south, Dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother!! Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight, Her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom, Sweet of laughter, sweet of speech, The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss!! I bow to thee Mother!!