How and Why “Jana Gana Mana” Became the National Anthem of India

The national anthem of any country is a solemn patriotic song which the country officially takes as a representation of national identity. A national anthem is a catalyst to the feeling of national pride in the people of that country.

Rabindranath Tagore, the Nobel prize winner writer, had composed India’s national anthem “Jan Gana mana Adhinayaka Jaya Hai” on 11th December 1911. This song was later sung for the first time on 28th December at the congress session in Kolkata. The constitution of India officially declared the “Jana Gana Mana” song as India’s national anthem after independence on January 21st, 1950

The lyrics of the national anthem of India are derived from the first stanza of Rabindranath Tagore’s Brahmo hymn “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata” (Dispenser of India’s destiny) which has a total of five stanzas and is originally written in Bengali script. The song portrays the national heritage of India and showcases pride, patriotism, and national allegiance. The various parts of the song depict the regional, religious, and cultural diversity and unity of India. 

Let us know more about how and why this song was chosen as the national anthem of India, the meaning of this song, and also the controversy around it.

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History of India’s National Anthem

In the autumn of the year 1941, a few months after Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose dramatically escaped to Berlin, he formed a group of enthusiastic Indians to launch a fresh fight against British rule in India. This group of young men had Abid Hasan, M.R.Vyas, N.G Swamy along with veterans like Girija Mookerjee, A.C.N Nambiar, and N.G. Ganpuley.

Soon this group got support and diplomatic recognition from the foreign ministry of Germany and the Free India (Azad Hind) Center was established. At the inaugural session of the Azad Hind center on 2nd November 1941, the Free India team decided that “Jana Gana Mana” would be the national anthem of India. They also decided upon “Jai Hind” as the national greeting.

Historic Significance of the Indian National Anthem

• The Azad Hind team had a lot of discussion about why “Jana Gana Mana” should be our national anthem. The song depicted the union of all languages, provinces, and religions. Hence, it was most suited as a national anthem.

• Subhash Chandra Bose summoned B.L.Mukherjee (a regular vocalist at the Berlin radio station) and Ambik Mazumdar (doctorate in music from Quinsbeck University) to prepare the musical details like notation, tune, etc. of the song.

• On September 11, 1942, the Indian-German society at Hamburg was inaugurated by Bose and it was here that Netaji officially introduced “Jana Gana Mana” which later became India’s national anthem. The inaugural function concluded by playing both Indian and German national anthems.

• Since “Jana Gana Mana” was in Bengali, Subhash Chandra Bose instructed Hasan and Mumtaz Hussain (member of Azad Hind radio) to prepare a simpler Hindustani version of the national anthem. This gave the version  “Sabh Sukh Chain ki Barkha'' which was earlier called the Quami Tarana whose music was given by Captain Ram Singh Thakur.

Meaning of National Anthem of India

• The anthem starts with an exaltation of the almighty who is the guiding light of the country’s destiny: “Jana Gana mana adhinayak Jaya he, Bharat bhagya vidhata”. Its English translation would be “We hail the rule of our minds, our nation”.

• Then the poem takes you on a virtual tour of India before independence. It starts with the northern part of India then circles the west. There is mention of Punjab, Sindh, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Odisha, Bengal, and also the Dravidian language of southern states; “Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha, Dravid Utkala Banga”.

• Tagore refers to the topography or physical geography of India also in the lines where he mentions Himalaya and Vindhya mountain ranges and Ganga, Yamuna rivers. “Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga, Uchala Jaladhi Taranga”. In English, this means that the echoes of mountain ranges are mingled in the rivers, and the foaming waves of the Indian sea chant it.

• The last few lines are “Tava Subha Name Jaage, Tave Subha Aashish Mange, Gaahe Tava Jay Gaatha, Jana Gana Mangal Daayak Jay He, Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, Jay he Jay he Jay he, Jay Jay Jay Jay He." It says that we wake up with your auspicious name filling the air and we ask for your blessings. You are the savior of all the people of this land and the guide of India’s destiny. May the victory be yours.

Interesting Facts About India’s National Anthem

• If the song is rendered in the prescribed tempo, it would take exactly 52 seconds to finish.

• The original text had five stanzas and was first published in the year 1905 in an issue of Tatwabodhini Patrika.

• Rabindranath Tagore penned an English interpretation of the entire Bengali song on February 28th, 1919. He named this “The Morning Song of India.” This version was written at the request of Dr. Cousins from Besant Theosophical College at Madanapalle where Tagor was visiting.

• The melody of the song is in raga Alhaiya Bilawal and has been composed by Rabindranath Tagore himself. Dinendranath Tagore (a great musician), who was the grand-nephew of Rabindranath, might have helped in the conception of the music. 

• The famous painter Maqbool Fida Hussain created an artwork whose title was based on the Indian national anthem’s line “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.” It is a 45 feet mural that is still seen on the wall of Tata Fundamental Institute of Research, in Mumbai.

• For certain tributary occasions, a shorter version of the anthem is sung which has only the starting and closing line of the national anthem. The lines are “Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak Jaya He Bharat Bhagya Vidhata, Jaye he Jaya he Jaya he, Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya he”. The playing time of this short version is 20 seconds.

• Before the official adoption of the song as the national anthem of India, “Jana Gana mana” was first featured in a movie called Hamrahi in 1945. It was a chorus song in the movie, and the music was composed by Raichand Boral.

• When the President of India arrives at formal state functions and right before his/her departure, the full version of the national anthem is played. In general, the national anthem is not played upon arrival or departure of the Prime Minister of India though there can be some exceptions on special occasions.

Orders Related to National Anthem

The National anthem is sung or played in India on various occasions. From time to time, instructions are issued concerning the correct version of the song, the need for paying respect to the song by maintaining proper decorum, and the occasions on which the song has to be played or sung. Some of the general instructions are:

1.The full version of the song has to be played on the following occasions:

• Military and Civil investments.

• During national salute to the President or Governor within their respective states and union territories.

• On arrival and departure of the President at state functions.

• Right before and after the President has addressed the Country on All India Radio.

• On arrival and departure of Governer or Lieutenant governor within his/her state or Union territories’’ formal state functions.

• When the National flag is brought in the parade.

• When the regimental colours are presented.

• While hoisting of colours in the Navy.

2.The full version of the song along with mass singing at the following occasions:

• The unfurling of the National flag.

• On arrival and before departure of the President at any public or government functions.

3.The shorter version of the national anthem is to be played during toasting in messes.

4.The anthem must be played on occasions for which the Government of India has issued special orders.

5.When a band plays the national anthem, it should be preceded by a roll of drums to let the audience know that the national anthem is about to be played.

6.The audience must stand to attention if the national anthem is being sung or played at any occasion. But if the national anthem is played during a newsreel or documentary then the audience doesn't have to stand since that would interrupt the exhibition of the film. This would just create confusion and disorder rather than maintain the dignity of the anthem.

7.As applicable to hoisting the national flag, people should use their good sense to not indulge in indiscriminate singing or playing of the national anthem.