India: National Flag
Jana Gana Mana
India’s National Anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”, is a symbol of unity, pride, and national identity. Written by Rabindranath Tagore, the anthem has a rich history deeply intertwined with India’s struggle for independence and its cultural heritage. It enshrines and captures India’s cultural ethos of “Unity in Diversity”.
Origin and Composition
- Author: Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European Nobel laureate in Literature (1913), composed the song in Bengali.
- First Performance: It was first sung publicly on December 27, 1911, at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress.
- Original Version: The song was originally composed in Sanskritized Bengali and titled “Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata”, which translates to “The Dispenser of India’s Destiny.”
Significance During the Freedom Struggle
- The lyrics, penned in a time of colonial oppression, reflected the aspirations of a united India. While it praises India’s diverse cultural, geographical, and spiritual ethos, it also envisions a nation rising to its destined glory.
- It became a song of hope and unity among Indians during the independence movement, symbolizing resilience against British rule.
Click below to listen to the National Anthem (Orchestral Music – Audio)
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Click below to listen to the National Anthem (Vocal – Audio)
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