The Indian National Anthem

What is a National Anthem?

According to Wikipedia:

A national anthem (also "national hymn", "song" etc.) is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nation's government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people.

Although National Anthems gained prominence in Europe in the 19th Century, the oldest national anthem in the world is the Duch National anthem "Het Wilhelmus" which was written between 1568 and 1572 during the Dutch Revolt.

History of the National Anthem

The song 'Jana Gana Mana' composed by Rabindranath Tagore was adopted as the Indian national anthem on 24 January 1950. It was first sung on 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress.

National Anthem Lyrics

The anthem is written in highly Sanskritized Bengali and is part of a Brahmo poem. Only first of five stanzas of the hymn were made part of the anthem. A formal rendition of the national anthem takes fifty-two seconds.

The Anthem Reads:

Jana gana mana adhinayaka jaya he Bharata bhagya vidhata Punjaba Sindha Gujarata Maratha Dravida Utkala Banga Vindhya Himachala Yamuna Ganga Ucchala jaladhi taranga Tava subha name jage Tava subha asisha mage Gahe tava jaya gatha Jana gana mangala dayaka jaya he Bharata bhagya vidhata Jaya he jaya he jaya he Jaya jaya jaya jaya he!

The following is the english translation of the anthem:

Thou art the rulers 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 and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga 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.