Its quite common among us Indians to babble on subjects little known to us. People who talk of Nehru in not so favorable terms, especially about his plans for India – have little knowledge of the socio-political situation of India at the time of Independence; his vast knowledge as exemplified by his two epics – ‘Discovery of India’ and ‘Glimpses of World History’(which BTW are one of the most authoritative works of history and regarded worldwide); and are unable to compare the two states – Pakistan and India liberated on the same ‘night’ but our neighbours not having the IITs, SAILs, BHELs and the contributions (of these institutions established by Nehru) to India’s development. Similar is the case with Gandhi and Netaji. People just love to talk.
Without knowing for example, that Tagore was the greatest writer in modern Indian literature, poet, novelist, educator, and an early advocate of Independence for India, was instrumental in setting up Universities (not limited to Santiniketan whose illustrious alumni include the other Nobel laureate of India – Amartya Sen), and gave up his Knighthood to protest the Jallianwala Bagh incident. Much of Tagore’s ideology come from the teaching of the Upanishads.
I am not sure how many of the above even understand and appreciate poetry. Have anyone of you even attempted writing one in your childhood? To imagine that the names of every Indian state should be captured in a poem to express the expanse of our motherland! Crib and question the artistic ability of the only Indian blessed with a Nobel in literature! Its both irritating and amusing at the same time. I wonder who these critics are who have today tried to measure-up Tagore – a name revered by the greatest litterateurs of the world.
Glorifying our pasts seems to be the favorite pastime for us, since we are a frustrated with our politicians lacking vision for the future – without a true attempt to research the real history of our civilization, dominated and enslaved by centuries of Muslim and British rule. Today some religious radicals talk of racial conservatism without realizing how open our culture was before these invasions. They would cover the temple architectures with burkhas if they had their way. The best works on Indian history (atleast those easily accessible) are those written by the British – obviously through their looking glasses.
The complete poem goes thus. At places Tagore refers to "the Mother" (Was George a transgender!)
Jono gono mono odhinayoko joyo he,
Bharoto bhag-go bidhata Panjab Sindh Gujorata Moratha, Drabido Uthkolo Bongo Bindhdho Himacholo Jomuna Gongo, Uchchholojolodhitorongo Tobo shubho name jage, Tobo shubho ashish mage Gahe tobo joyo gatha Jono gono mongolo dayoko joyohe, Bharoto bhag-go bidhata Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he. Ohoroho tobo ahban procharito, Shunithob udaro bani Hindu Buddho Shikh Jeino Parshiko, Musolman Krishtani Purab poshchim ashe, Tobo shinghashono pashe Premohar hoy gãtha Jono gono oik-ko bidhayoko joyo he, Bharoto bhag-go bidhata Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he. Potono obhbhudhoyo bondhur pontha, Jugo Jugo dhabito dathri He chirosharothi, tobo rotho chakre, Mukhuritho poth dinratri Daruno Biplob majhe, Tobo shongkhodhoni baje Shonkoto dukkho tratha Jono gono potho porichayoko joyo he, Bharoto bhag-go bidhata Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he. Ghor timir ghono nibir nishithe, Pirit murchhito deshe Jagroto chilo tobo obicholo mongolo, Notonoyo ne onimeshe Duhshopne atangke, Roksha korile ongke Snehomoyi tumi mata Jono Gono Duhkho Troyoko joyo he, Bharoto bhag-go bidhatha Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he. Ratri probhatilo udilo robichhobi, Purbo udoyo giri bhale Gahe bihongom pun-no shomiron, Nobo jibono rosh dhale Tobo korunaruno rage, Nidritho bharot jage Tobo chorone not matha Joyo Joyo Joyo He, Joyo Rajeshor Bharoto bhag-go bidhata Joyo he joyo he joyo he Joyo joyo joyo joyo he. |
Oh! the ruler of the minds of people, Victory be to You,
Dispenser of the destiny of India! Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dravid (South India), Orissa, and Bengal, The Vindhya, the Himalayas, the Yamuna, the Ganges, And the oceans with foaming waves all around. Wake up listening to Your auspicious name, Ask for Your auspicious blessings, And sing to Your glorious victory. Oh! You who impart well being to the people, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! Your call is announced continuously, We heed Your gracious call The Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs, Jains, Parsees, Muslims, and Christians, The East and the West come together, To the side of Your throne And weave the garland of love. Oh! You who bring in the unity of the people! Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! The way of life is somber as it moves through ups and downs, But we, the pilgrims, have followed it through ages. Oh! Eternal Charioteer, the wheels of your chariot Echo day and night in the path In the midst of fierce revolution, Your conch shell sounds. You save us from fear and misery. Oh! You who guide the people through torturous path, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! During the bleakest of nights, When the whole country was sick and in swoon Wakeful remained Your incessant blessings, Through Your lowered but winkless eyes Through nightmares and fears, You protected us on Your lap, Oh Loving Mother! Oh! You who have removed the misery of the people, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! The night is over, and the Sun has risen over the hills of the eastern horizon. The birds are singing, and a gentle auspicious breeze Is pouring the elixir of new life. By the halo of Your compassion, India that was asleep is now waking On your feet we now lay our heads Oh! Victory, victory, victory to you, the Supreme King, Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India! Victory, victory, victory to You! |
1. http://www.sacw.net/DC/CommunalismCollection/ArticlesArchive/pkDatta092004.html
2. http://www.countercurrents.org/comm-chatterjee310803.htm
3. http://www.lehigh.edu/~amsp/2004/09/national-anthem-throwdown-jana-gana.html
4. Wikipedia entry on Jana gana mana
5. http://rabindranathtagore.quickseek.com/
In a letter to Pulin Behari Sen, Tagore later wrote, "A certain high official in His Majesty's service, who was also my friend, had requested that I write a song of felicitation towards the Emperor. The request simply amazed me. It caused a great stir in my heart. In response to that great mental turmoil, I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata (ed. God of Destiny) of India who has from age after age held steadfast the reins of India's chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George. Even my official friend understood this about the song. After all, even if his admiration for the crown was excessive, he was not lacking in simple common sense."
Hope some sense dawns on our confused brethren. Let me also repeat those golden words from Geetanjali:
Where the mind is without fear
and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been
broken up into fragments
by narrow domestic walls; …
Where the clear stream of reason
has not lost its way into the
dreary desert sand of dead habit; …
Into that heaven of freedom,
my Father, let my country awake.
Let not your reason and intellect be lost in the dreary desert sands ...
Fellow Indians:
Be proud to be Indian, but please try to know your country first.