The defining milestones of Bharat’s national anthem

The national anthem of any country inspires nationalistic fervor and unity. It encapsulates and appeals to the country’s national consciousness.

11 Dec 1911: Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore composed Jana Gana Mana. He had originally written this poem in Bengali containing five stanzas, Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata.

Rabindranath Tagore was an accomplished Bengali poet, music composer, writer, painter. He introduced the use of colloquial language into Bengali literature, and new forms of prose and verse. He was the youngest son of the religious reformer, Debendranath Tagore, born on 7 May 1861.

He was home-educated and sent to England for formal schooling at the age of 17. Partially completing his studies, he returned home and pursued his passion for literary work. In 1880s, Tagore published several books of poetry and in 1890, Manasi (The Ideal One) with some of his best poetries.

In 1891, Tagore went to East Bengal (now in Bangladesh) for 10 years to manage his family’s estates at Shilaidah and Shazadpur. Tagore loved the Bengal countryside, most of all staying in a houseboat on the River Padma (the main channel of the Ganga) – an oft-repeated scene in his verses.

Among several poems that Tagore wrote during this time, notable ones are: Sonar Tari (The Golden Boat; 1894), and the play, Chitrangada (Chitra; 1892). The ‘humble lives and miseries’ of the village folk deeply influenced him and became the highlight of his finest short stories. Director, Satyajit Ray, admirably adapted these in his films.

In 1901, he started an experimental school in rural West Bengal at Shantiniketan (Abode of Peace) blending the Upanishadic ideals of education with the best of Eastern and Western traditions.

Tagore wrote over 2,000 songs and composed the music himself. Many of these are popular among the Bengalis to this day. Gitanjali (Song Offerings; 1910) reflects the sadness arising from four deaths in his family between 1902 and 1907. He lost his wife, Mrinalini Devi due to an undiagnosed disease, and his daughter, Renuka in the same year, 1902. His father passed away in January 1905. And on the fifth death anniversary of his wife in 1907, his son Shamindranath died of cholera at the age of 11.

As a patriot who wrote songs lionizing the Bharatiya independence movement, Tagore became close to Gandhiji. They became devoted friends. Two of Tagore’s compositions, Chio Jetha Bhayshunyo (Where the Mind is Without Fear, Gitanjali Poem #35), and Ekla Chalo Re (If They Answer Not to Thy Call, Walk Alone), gained mass appeal, with the latter favored by Gandhiji and Netaji.

27 Dec 1911: Jana Gana Mana was first sung at the Kolkata session of the Indian National Congress.

There is a controversy that the poem is in honor of King George V – may be owing to two reasons: one, the poem was written in December 1911, precisely coinciding with the coronation of King George V and; two, the occasion when it was sung and how it was reported in some newspapers as a paean in praise of ‘the overlord of India’s destiny’.

The confusion clearly arose in the British Indian press:

Englishman, 28 Dec 1911: ‘The proceedings began with the singing by Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honor of the Emperor.’

A different song, Badshah Humara, written in Hindi by Rambhuj Chaudhary, was sung on the same occasion in praise of the monarch. The nationalist Bharat’s press stated this difference clearly:

Amrita Bazar Patrika, 28 Dec 1911: ‘The proceedings of the Congress party session started with a prayer in Bengali to praise God (song of benediction). This was followed by a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V. Then another song was sung welcoming King George V.’

The Bengalee, 28 Dec 1911: ‘The annual session of Congress began by singing a song composed by the great Bengali poet Ravindranath Tagore. Then a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V was passed. A song paying a heartfelt homage to King George V was then sung by a group of boys and girls.’

Indian, 29 Dec 1911: ‘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 unanimously.’

The annual INC report of Dec 1911 also stated this difference: ‘On the first day of 28th annual session of the Congress, proceedings started after singing Vande Mataram. On the second day, the work began after singing a patriotic song by Babu Rabindranath Tagore. Messages from well-wishers were then read and a resolution was passed expressing loyalty to King George V. Afterwards the song composed for welcoming King George V and Queen Mary was sung.’

Tagore clarified in a letter dated 10 November, 1937 written in Bengali to Pulin Bihari Sen (Ravindrajivani – Vol II):

‘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 Bhagyo Bidhata [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.’

Again on 19 March, 1939, Tagore wrote: ‘I should only insult myself if I cared to answer those who consider me capable of such unbounded stupidity as to sing in praise of George the Fourth or George the Fifth as the Eternal Charioteer leading the pilgrims on their journey through countless ages of the timeless history of mankind.’

Jan 1912: Jana Gana Mana was first published in the Tattwa Bodhini Patrika magazine under the title, Bharat Vidhata. It was also sung in the presence of prominent leaders at the annual event of Adi Brahmo Samaj by Sarala Devi Chowdhurani, Tagore’s niece, along with a group of school students.

During this time, Tagore toured Europe, the Americas, East Asia reading and lecturing from his works. Thus, he became an eloquent voice of Bharat’s spiritual heritage and independence. In the same year, Tagore introduced Gitanjali to the West containing English prose translations of religious poems from several of his Bengali verse collections. W.B. Yeats and André Gide greatly admired his literary acumen and won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 from the Government of Sweden – becoming the first non-European to receive the award.

Following this, King George V conferred the knighthood of ‘Sir’ in 1915. However, Tagore repudiated the knighthood in protest against the 1919 Amritsar Jallianwala Bagh Massacre. Tagore translated his Bengali novels Gora (1910) and Ghare-Baire (1916), respectively into English as Gora and The Home and the World, respectively.

28 Feb 1919: For the first time, Rabindranath Tagore himself sung it at Besant Theosophical College, in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh. Enthralled, the college vice-principal, Margaret Cousins, requested for an English translation. On the same day while at the college, Gurudev wrote the English translation, The Morning Song of India, and set down the musical notation.

In 1920s, when he was in his 60s, Tagore absorbed himself in painting. His works won him a place among Bharat’s foremost contemporary artists. Besides, he wrote his autobiography shortly before his death on 7 August, 1941.

11 Sep 1942: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who was then at the founding meeting of the German-Indian Society in Germany, selected Jana Gana Mana as Bharat’s National Anthem. The song was played for the first time by the Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra as the national anthem of an independent Bharat.

1945: In terms of movies, the song was first heard in the Hindi film, Hamrahi.

24 Jan 1950: The Constituent Assembly of India declared Jana Gana Mana as Bharat’s National Anthem. However, they adopted only the first stanza from the original song as they did with Vande Mataram. In both was chosen the stanza that gave a geographical description of our motherland.

National Anthem Protocols

The Do’s

The Government of Bharat has embodied instructions on our National Anthem in the Information Sheet for people’s information and guidance. These include the correct versions of the anthem, the occasions on which it can be sung or played, about the need for paying respect to the anthem by observing proper decorum on such occasion.

It takes 52 seconds approximately to complete the formal rendition of Bharat’s National Anthem. And 20 seconds for a short version of the first and last lines, which can also be played occasionally.

The Supreme Court in Section 3 – Prevention of Insults to National Honor Act has upheld that all the patrons must stand up with proper respect when the National Anthem is being rendered.

All the cinemas nationwide must play before every show, the National Anthem accompanied by an image of Bharat Flag to instill committed patriotism and nationalism. The doors of the cinema hall are expected to be locked during the anthem to minimize disruption. This is the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment passed on 30 November, 2016.

The Don’ts

Not to stand up will be considered disrespectful to the National Anthem though the patron may not join the singing.

Preventing or causing disturbance to an assembly engaged in the singing or playing the anthem will be treated as offence.

Bharoto Bhagyo Bhidata

Bengali Script	English Transliteration	English Translation
জনগণমন–অধিনায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! পঞ্জাব সিন্ধু গুজরাট মরাঠা দ্রাবিড় উত্‍‌কল বঙ্গ বিন্ধ্য হিমাচল যমুনা গঙ্গা উচ্ছলজলধিতরঙ্গ তব শুভ নামে জাগে, তব শুভ আশিস মাগে, গাহে তব জয়গাথা। জনগণমঙ্গলদায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় জয় জয়, জয় হে॥ 2. অহরহ তব আহ্বান প্রচারিত, শুনি তব উদার বাণী হিন্দু বৌদ্ধ শিখ জৈন পারসিক মুসলমান খৃস্টানী পূরব পশ্চিম আসে তব সিংহাসন–পাশে প্রেমহার হয় গাঁথা। জনগণ–ঐক্য–বিধায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় জয় জয়, জয় হে॥ 3. পতন–অভ্যুদয়–বন্ধুর পন্থা, যুগ–যুগ ধাবিত যাত্রী। হে চিরসারথি, তব রথচক্রে মুখরিত পথ দিনরাত্রি। দারুণ বিপ্লব–মাঝে তব শঙ্খধ্বনি বাজে সঙ্কটদুঃখত্রাতা। জনগণপথপরিচায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় জয় জয় জয় হে॥ 4. ঘোরতিমিরঘন নিবিড় নিশীথে পীড়িত মূর্ছিত দেশে জাগ্রত ছিল তব অবিচল মঙ্গল নতনয়নে অনিমেষে। দুঃস্বপ্নে আতঙ্কে রক্ষা করিলে অঙ্কে স্নেহময়ী তুমি মাতা। জনগণদুঃখত্রায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় জয় জয় জয় হে॥ 5. রাত্রি প্রভাতিল, উদিল রবিচ্ছবি পূর্ব–উদয়গিরিভালে— গাহে বিহঙ্গম, পুণ্য সমীরণ নবজীবনরস ঢালে। তব করুণারুণরাগে নিদ্রিত ভারত জাগে তব চরণে নত মাথা। জয় জয় জয় হে, জয় রাজেশ্বর ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় জয় জয় জয় হে॥	Jōno gōno mōno odhinayōko jōyo he Bharōto bhagyo bidhata! Pōnjab Šindhu Gujraṯ Mōraṯha Drabiṟo Utkōlo Bōngo Bindhyo Himachōlo Jomuna Gōnga Uchchhōlo jōlodhitōrongo Tōbo shubho name jage, Tōbo shubho ashisho mage, Gahe tōbo jōyo gatha. Jōno gōno mōngolodayōko jōyo he Bharōto bhagyo bidhata! Jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo jōyo jōyo jōyo he. Ōhorōho tōbo aobhano procharito, Shuni tōbo udaro bani; Hindu Bouddho Shikh Joino Parošik Musolmano Khrishṯani Purōbo poshchimo aše, Tōbo šinghašōno pashe, Premoharo hoy gãtha. Jōno gōno oikyo-bidhayōko jōyo he Bharōto bhagyo bidhata! Jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo jōyo jōyo jōyo he. Pōtono obhyudhōyo bondhuro pōntha, Jugo jugo dhabito jatri. He chirošarothi, tōbo rōthochokre Mukhoritho pōtho dinoratri. Daruno biplōbo majhe, Tōbo shōnkhodhoni baje Šōnkoṯo duːkho trata. Jōno gōno pōthoporichayōko jōyo he Bharōto bhagyo bidhata! Jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo jōyo jōyo jōyo he. Ghōro timiro ghōno nibiro nishithe Pirito murchhito deshe Jagrōto chhilo tōbo obichōlo mōngolo Nōtonōyone ōnimeshe. Duːšopone atōnke Rōkkha korile ōnke Snehomoyi tumi mata. Jōno gōno duːkhotrayōko jōyo he Bharōto bhagyo bidhata! Jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo jōyo jōyo jōyo he. Ratri probhatilo, udilo robichchhobi Purbo udōyo giri bhale Gahe bihōngōmo, punyo šomirōno Nōbo jibōnorōšo dhale. Tōbo korunaruno rage Nidrito bharōto jage Tōbo chōrone nōto matha. Jōyo jōyo jōyo he jōyo rajeshwōro Bharōto bhagyo bidhata! Jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo he, jōyo jōyo jōyo jōyo he.	Oh! The ruler of the minds of people, Victory be to You, Dispenser of the destiny of India! Punjab, Indus, Gujarat, Marhatta (Marathi heartland), Dravida (South India), Orissa and Bengal, The Vindhyas, the Himalayas, the Jumna and the Ganges, And the oceans with foaming waves all around. Wake up listening to Your auspicious name, Ask for Your auspicious blessings, And sing to Your glorious victory. Oh! You who impart well being to the people, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! Your call is announced continuously, We heed Your gracious call The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Muslims and Christians, The East and the West come together, To the side of Your throne And weave the garland of love. Oh! You who bring in the unity of the people! Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! The way of life is somber as it moves through ups and downs, But we, the pilgrims, have followed it through ages. Oh! Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot Echo day and night in the path In the midst of fierce revolution, Your conch shell sounds. You save us from fear and misery. Oh! You who guide the people through torturous path, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! During the bleakest of nights, When the whole country was sick and in swoon Wakeful remained Your incessant blessings, Through Your lowered but wink-less eyes Through nightmares and fears, You protected us on Your lap, Oh Loving Mother! Oh! You who have removed the misery of the people, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! The night is over, and the Sun has risen over the hills of the eastern horizon. The birds are singing, and a gentle auspicious breeze Is pouring the elixir of new life. By the halo of Your compassion, India that was asleep is now waking On your feet we now lay our heads Oh! Victory, victory, victory to you, the Supreme King, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You!

In the original Bengali poem only those provinces mentioned which were under British rule, i.e. Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha etc. were mentioned. Those princely states (Kashmir, Rajasthan, Andhra, Mysore or Kerala) which were ruled by the Portuguese not mentioned in the anthem.

Jana Gana Mana

Devanagiri Script

English Transliteration

English Translation*

जन–गण–मन अधिनायक जय हे,
भारत भाग्य विधाता!
पंजाब–सिंधु–गुजरात–मराठा,
द्राविड़–उत्कल–बङ्ग
विंध्य हिमाचल यमुना गंगा, उच्छल जलधि तरंग
तव शुभ नामे जागे,
तव शुभ आशिष मांगे
गाहे तब जय गाथा।
जन–गण–मंगलदायक जय हे,
भारत भाग्य विधाता!
जय हे! जय हे! जय हे!
जय जय जय जय हे!

Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata
Panjaba-Sindh-Gujarata-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
uchchala-jaladhi-taranga
Tava Subha name jage,
tava subha 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.
Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha (Marathi heartland),Of the Dravida (South India), Orissa and Bengal
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas, the Himalayas, the Jamuna and the Ganges,

And the oceans with foaming waves all around,

Wake up listening to Your auspicious name,

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!

*Translated by Tagore on 28 Feb 1919 at the Besant Theosophical College.