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.