I am sharing the real story of our National Anthem "Jan Gan Man" & demand constitutional change to remove it as our National Anthem or suitably modify it. It goes without saying that even while knowing its true context we must sing this Anthem with full respect till it is mandated as our National Anthem by our constitution.
As we all know our National Anthem "Jan Gan Man" was adopted from poem written & sung by Rabindranath Tagore on 26th Dec 1911 on second day of Congress convention at Kolkatta to welcome British King Geogre V to Bharat for Coronation Darbar. The official agenda of that day was to welcoming George V on his visit to India.
The event on second day of the congress convention was also reported accordingly in the British Indian press
"The Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor." (Statesman, Dec. 28, 1911)
"The proceedings began with the singing by Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor." (Englishman, Dec. 28, 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." (Indian, Dec. 29, 1911)
Even Tagore has acknowledged that he was officially requested to write a poem in praise of visiting king. On 10 November 1937 Tagore wrote a letter to Mr Pulin Bihari Sen. This letter in Bengali can be found in Tagore's biography Ravindrajivani, volume II page 339 by Prabhatkumar Mukherjee. He wrote as under :
"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."
After the recital by Rabindranath glorifying the King a Hindi song composed by Pt. Rambhuj Chaudhary for praise King George V & Queen Mary was sung. This song can be found in the book ‘Our National Anthem’ by Rabindra Kumar Dasgupta published in 1993 by Manjula Bose, Tagore Research Institute, Kolkata.
The Geoge V was so pleased by praises showered on him by Tagore that he promised Tagore a Nobel Prize then & there. George V fulfilled his impulsive promise soon as he was on selection board. Tagore was accordingly conferred Nobel Prize in 1913 for very ordinary book Gitanjali.
George V even confided with then Governor General Charles Hardinge that even his wife don't praise him that much. Tagore was able to impress King Geogre so as he adapted his welcome song from British Anthem "May God Save Our King"
Rabindranath was so westernised that he changed his original cast from Thakur to Tagore which was more easily understandable to British. During visit to his Maath the guide normal ask visitors to remove their shoe & then proudly show the bar used by Tagore each day.
Till Dec 1911 Vande Matram was sung in all Convention of Congress but few Muslim members who were British agents spread the rumor this was against Islam. So congress started singing only "Jan Gan Man" at its conventions. If Tagore was indeed referring to God then "Jan Gan Man" is even more against Islam then "Vande Mataram" which mean "Bowing to Motherland" .
British were very apprehensive that "VANDE MATRAM" was generating so much nationalism all over Bharat that it will lead to freedom of India soon. So they instructed their agents in Congress to somehow undermine it by an alternative. So "Jan Gan Man" was promoted to counter patriotic effect of "Vande Mataram" on people mind.
In our culture we are too insignificant to seek blessing or victory for our GOD. We never address it as Adhinayak or Rajeshwar. Reading of complete poem & the context of the day it was read for the first time make it certainty that congress by adopting Jan Gan Man as our National Anthem ensured that we continue to shower our praise on the British royalty even after independence.
Infact as a member of British Commonwealth we are bound to show reverence to the British monarchy by its Charter.
We should pressurize the government to also break free from commonwealth so we can effectively forget out colonial subjugation.
The Word by word translation of First five stanza adopted as our National Anthem "Jan Gan Man" is given below.
jana= all people of Bharat
gana= all groups of Bharat
mana= all idealogies of Bharat
adhinayaka = the Great King of Great Britian that was King George V
jaya he= may you be alway victorious be
Bharata= India
bhagya=Destiny
vidhata= and the destiny of entire Bharat is only in your hands
Pañjaba=Punjab
Sindhu=Indus
Gujarata=Gujarat
Maratha=Maharashtra
Dravida=the south
Utkala=Orissa
Banga=Bengal
Vindhya=vindhyas
Himacala= Himalayas
Yamuna=yamuna
Ganga=ganges
Ucchala=moving
jaladhi=ocean
taranga=waves
Tav=your
subha=auspicious
na-me= name
jage=awaken,
All regions, rivers & ocean of Bharat awaken taking your auspicious name of Great King George V
Tava=for you
subha=auspicious
asisa=blessings
mage= ask,
Everyone in Bharat seek auspicious blessing for Great King George V.
Gahe=sing
tav=your
jaya=victory
gatha=song
We all Bharatiye sing victory song of Great King George V.
jana= people
gata= group
mangala=good fortune
dayaka=giver
jaya he=victory be Yours
Great King George V is giver of good fortune to all people & groups of Bharat. May you be victorious alway
Bharata= India
bhagya= Destiny
vidhata=dispenser
Great King George V is the decider of the destiny of Bharat
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he, Jaya jaya jaya jaya he.= victory,victory,victory,victory for Great King George V. forever.....
The following translation attributed to Tagore, is provided by the GOI national portal:
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, Utkala and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is
chanted by the waves of the Indian Ocean.
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.
The full text of poem written & sung by Tagore himself to welcome King Geogre V is as under :-
Jono gono mono odhinayoko (adhinayak refer to George V & can never refer to God) joyo he,
Bharoto bhag-go bidhata (Bharat Bhumi is our God & all God flourish on it so which God can determine its Destiny, Tagore is saying to George V that you are maker of our destiny)
Punjab Sindh Gujorata Moratha, Drabido Uthkolo Bongo, Bindhdho Himacholo Jomuna Gongo,
Uchchholo jolodhi torongo (torongo is not our tricolour it wave of our ocean), Tobo shubho name jage, Tobo shubho ashish mage (how can we ask for blessing for God. It is clear Tagore is saying all region, river & ocean seek blessing for George V from God. It is in line with British Anthem God save the King)
Gahe tobo joyo Gathas (Jay gatha is sung for kings not God), Jono gono mongolo dayoko joyohe, Bharoto bhag-go bidhata, Joyo he Joyo he Joyo he Joyo Joyo Joyo Joyo he.
Ohoroho tobo ahban procharito, Shunithob Udaro Bani, Hindu Buddho Shikh Jeino Parshiko,
Musolman Krishtani
Purab Poshchim Ashe,
Tobo Shinghashono Pashe (Which God of times had such aura that Hindu Muslim will stand behind him. This line confirm beyond doubt Tagore is talking about George V Throne behind which people of all religion of Bharat stand.)
Premohar Hoy Gãtha
Jono Gono oik-ko bidhayoko joyo he,
Bharoto Bhaggo Bidhata
Joyo he Joyo he Joyo he Joyo Joyo Joyo Joyo he.
Potono Obhbhudhoyo Bondhur Pontha,
Jugo Jugo Dhabito Dathri
He Chirosharothi, tobo Rotho Chakre,
Mukhuritho Poth Dinratri
Daruno Biplob Majhe,
Tobo Shongkhodhoni Baje
Shonkoto Dukkho Tratha
Jono Gono Potho Porichayoko joyo he,
Bharoto bhag-go bidhata
Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he.
Ghor timir ghono nibir nishithe,
Pirit murchhito deshe
Jagroto chilo tobo obicholo mongolo,
Notonoyo ne onimeshe
Duhshopne atangke,
Roksha korile ongke
Snehomoyi tumi mata
Jono Gono Duhkho Troyoko joyo he,
Bharoto bhag-go bidhatha
Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he.
Ratri probhatilo udilo robichhobi,
Purbo udoyo giri bhale
Gahe bihongom pun-no shomiron,
Nobo jibono rosh dhale
Tobo korunaruno rage,
Nidritho bharot jage
Tobo chorone not matha
Joyo Joyo Joyo He, Joyo Rajeshor (here Tagore clearly write King)
Bharoto bhag-go bidhata
Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he.
The most widely accepted English translation is as under:-
Oh! the ruler of the minds of people, Victory be to You,
Dispenser of the destiny of India!
Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra,
Dravid (South India), Orissa, and Bengal,
The Vindhya, the Himalayas, the Yamuna, the Ganges,
And the oceans with foaming waves all around.
Wake up listening to Your auspicious name,
Ask auspicious blessings for you,
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, Parsees,
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! Victorious 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 winkless eyes
Through nightmares and fears,
You protected us on Your lap,
Oh Loving Mother! (Here Tagore Is honouring the accompanying Queen Mary)
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, (at last Tagore clearly write the King)
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!
Victory, victory, victory to You!
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