Jana-Gana-Mana

Jana-Gana-Mana is the national anthem of India. It is the first of five stanzas of a poem by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, written in the bengali language.

A formal rendition of the national anthem takes approximately 52 seconds. A short version consisting only the first and last lines (playing time approximately 20 seconds) is also played on certain occasions.

There is some controversy surrounding the appropriateness of this poem to be the national anthem of independent India. This poem was sung during a welcome to King George V on his visit to India in 1911.

However, Tagore is said to have written the poem in honour of God. In particular, given the great patriotism of Tagore, and his involvement in the freedom struggle, people are skeptical that the "protector" refers to the British monarch.

Original text:

Jana Gana Mana
Adhinayaka jaya hey,
Bharata bhagyavidhata.
Punjaba, Sindhu, Gujarata, Maratha,
Dravida, Utkala, Banga,
Vindhya, Himachala, Yamuna, Ganga,
Uchchala jaladhi taranga
Tava shubha naamey jaagey,
Tava shubha aashis maagey,
Gahe tava jayagatha.
Jana gana mangaladhayak jaya hey
Bharat bhagyavidhata.
Jaya hey, Jaya hey, Jaya hey,
Jaya jaya jaya jaya hey!

Translation:

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha, of the Dravida and Orissa (Utkala) and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
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.

External links

• Times of India: How Jana Gana Mana became national anthem (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/articleshow?art_id=18949608)

• http://www.freeindia.org/vmataram/genesis_of_janaganamana.shtml