Fifty seconds. One song. Our National Anthem.
Composed in Sanskritised Bengali by Rabindranath Tagore. Rabindranath Tagore was not only a poet but also a playwriter, an active participant in politics.
Anyway, back to the anthem.
The anthem written by Tagore is said to be sung with music officially in Madanepalli in Andhra Pradesh. Madanepalli is also famous for its Besant Theosophical College.
Whenever I listen to the song, I am reminded of the wonderful composition that Tagore has done. Weaving all the elements that make our country what it is.
The most astonishing fact is even though you do not know the language, you will sing it and also smile at these lines:
Tava śubha nāme jāge
Tava śubha āśhiṣa māge
because that’s where I used to say mage to mange.
Here’s the entire anthem and also it’s English translation:
Bengali:
জনগণমন-অধিনায়ক জয় হে.
ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা
পঞ্জাব সিন্ধু গুজরাট মরাঠা
দ্রাবিড় উৎকল বঙ্গ
বিন্ধ্য হিমাচল যমুনা গঙ্গা
উচ্ছল জলধি তরঙ্গ
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॥
Jônogônomono-odhinaeoko jôeô he
Bharotobhaggobidhata
Pônjabo Shindhu Gujoraṭo Môraṭha
Drabiṛo Utkôlo Bônggo
Bindho Himachôlo Yomuna Gôngga
Uchchhôlo jôlodhi toronggo
Tôbo shubho name jage
Tôbo shubho ashish mage
Gahe tôbo jôeogatha
Jônogônomonggolodaeoko jôeô he
Bharotobhaggobidhata
Jôeo he, jôeo he, jôeo he,
jôeo jôeo jôeo, jôeo he
National Library at Kolkata Romanization Transliteration:Jana gaṇa mana adhināyaka jaya he
Bhārata bhāgya vidhātā
Pañjāb Sindhu Gujarāṭa Marāṭhā
Drāviḍa Utkala Baṅga
Vindhya Himāchala Yamunā Gaṅgā
Uchhala jaladhi taraṅga
Tava śubha nāme jāge
Tava śubha āśhiṣa māge
Gāhe tava jaya gāthā
Jana gaṇa maṅgala dhāyaka jaya he
Bhārata bhāgya vidhāta
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he
Translation:
Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
Dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Shindhu,
Gujarat and Maratha,
Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bangla;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganges 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 forever.
This one is made for the Chattisgarh Tourism (do check it):