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 :-
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 |