story of national anthem

The Story of National Anthem – The controversy : 

Jan 24, 1950 – Jana Gana Mana selected as the National Anthem; Vandemataram the national song

The Constituent Assembly, after a long debate finally choose Jana gana mana adhinayak … as the national Anthem of India. For generations to come the song will continue to infuse new spirit in the veins of every Indian.

same day yet another song Vandemataram was given at par status and adopted as National Song of India. In fact generations of freedom fighters who died dreaming for Independent India were almost sure that one day it will be our national anthem.

Both songs had patrons, both had polarization and both team battled hard to see their get the grand position. And when the resolution was adopted, it was thought that it is a perfect win-win situation and will settle the issue once and for all. It just didn’t happen.

Unfortunately the two team still do bat; still throwing the mud balls, not realizing that they are insulting The Indian Nation.

December 1911

Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore, wrote the song Jana gana mana adhinayak. The song was sung by Gurudev himself on December 27th, 1911, on the second day of Indian National Congress Convention, Calcutta. Same day Indian National congress also extended their welcome to then Visiting King George V.  Few other poets actually composed song in praise of the Monarch and they too were recited the same day.

The event were highlighted in the leading dailies in the following manner:

December 28th,1911 – The Statesman

The Bengali poet Babu Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor."

December 28th, 1911 – Englishman

"The proceedings began with the singing by Babu Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor."

December 29th, 1911 – Indian

"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."

They suggested the song was in honour of the the Monarch. That the word Adhinayak (the leader) and Bharat Bhagya Vidatha (the master of India’s destiny) referred to the Monarch. Incidentally the same press also attributed authorship of Vandemataram to Rabindra Nath Tagore and reported Jana-gana-mana as a Hindi song.

It was also later confirmed that some members of Indian National congress had approached Gurudev and requested him to write something in honour of the Monarch.

1937 – 1940 and onwards

The controversy, started when Jana-gana-mana became a  candidate for National anthem. There were  unfortunate controversies surrounding the most popular Indian song Vandemataram that forced the search for an alternatives song. It must emphasised that the controversy related to vandemataramwere both unfortunate and unjustifiable. It had sentiments and endorsement of millions of Indians both living and dead of all religions, sects and sections. It appears quite natural that the patrons of the vandemataram vented the anger against the other alternative that was being considered. However, it was carried out in as dirty a manner as the other one carried against Vandemataram.

Jana-gana-mana was condemned as being a praise for monarch and thus unsuitable for being the national anthem for India. So the news papers were dug out in an attempt to justify their stand and disgrace Jana-gana-mana. Worst the controversy was still being populated in year 2009 and on.

December 1911

A High official in Indian National Congress approaches Gurudev and requests him to write something in the praise of Visiting Monarch. Gurudev felt quite disturbed at the very idea.

It seem quite natural. You are asked to do a job against your conscience. And what do you do? You revolt and do something magnificent and exactly opposite way.

This is what Gurudev did. He wrote a poem in praise of God – The real monarch. And the song was sung.


( source: http://india.vnc.in/the-story-of-national-anthem-the-controversy.html  )