JANA GANA MANA OR VANDE MATARAM

There was a competition between Jana Gana Mana and Vande Mataram for classifying as national anthem. Many texts are being circulated in the social media creating doubts and controversies like Jana Gana Mana was originally sung in praise of George V or that it was adjudged as best national anthem in the world recently etc. Though the websites like ‘satyashodh’ are offering evidences to dispel these hoax and irresponsible statements, very less percentage of browsers have access to these well-researched and substantiated articles. In his article on “100 years of our National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana, posted on December 29, 2011 by VIDUR (Kamal Nayan Chaturvedi) stated:

It is unfortunate that our National Anthem is mired in controversies. The poem was composed in December 1911, precisely at the time of the Coronation Durbar of George V, and “Bharat Bhagya vidhata” and “Adhinayaka” is considered by some to be in praise of King George V and not God. The composition was first sung during a convention of the then loyalist Indian National Congress in Calcutta on Dec. 26, 1911.It was sung on the second day of the convention, and the agenda of that day devoted itself to a loyal welcome of George V on his visit to India. The event was reported thus in the British Indian press: On December 28, 1911 the media reported that “the Bengali Poet Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor.” (Statesman, Englishman, Indian)

Many historians aver that the newspaper reports cited above were misguided. The confusion arose in British Indian press since a different song, “Badshah Humara” written in Hindi by Rambhuj Chaudhary, was sung on the same occasion in praise of the monarch. The nationalist Indian press stated this difference of events clearly:-

“The proceedings of the Congress party session started with a prayer in Bengali to praise God (song of benediction). This was followed by a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V. Then another song was sung welcoming King George V.” (Amrita Bazar Patrika, Dec 28, 1911)

“Annual session of Congress began by singing a song composed by the great Bengali poet Ravindranath Tagore. Then a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V was passed. A song paying a heartfelt homage to King George V was then sung by a group of boys and girls. (The Bengalee, Dec, 28, 1911)

In the back drop of these controversies some sections of people raised questions against making Janagna Mana national anthem instead of Vande Mataram. They argued that Vande Mataram is the real national anthem as opposed to Jana Gana Mana. Some said the true meaning makes Vande Mataram the national anthem,” The sentiments in Jana Gana Mana have been expressed keeping the state in view, while the sentiments expressed in Vande Mataram denote the nation’s character and style. This is the difference between the two songs. Both deserve respect, ‘Vande Mataram’, literally, “I praise thee, Mother”, is a poem by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. A hymn to the ‘Mother Land’, it played a vital role in the Indian independence movement. During the preIndependence days such religious sentiments were introduced into the demands for national anthem. While some said that Vandematharam song was antiMuslim, the leaders explained how it was not so. Gandhi and Nehru clarified with their profound statements. In an article in Harijan dated July 1, 1939, Mahatma Gandhi wrote:

“…No matter what its source was and how and when it was composed, it had become a most powerful battle cry among Hindus and Musalmans of Bengal during the partition days. It was an anti-imperialist cry. As a lad, when I knew nothing of Anandamath or even Bankim, its immortal author, Vande Mataram had gripped me, and when I first heard it sung it had enthralled me. I associated the purest national spirit with it. It never occurred to me that it was a Hindu song or meant only for Hindus… It stirs to its depth the patriotism of millions in and outside Bengal. Its chosen stanzas are Bengal’s gift among many others to the whole nation.”

Jawaharlal Nehru spoke eloquently before the legislative committee of the Constituent Assembly on August 25, 1948:

“It is unfortunate that some kind of argument has arisen as between Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana. Vande Mataram is obviously and indisputably the premier national song of India, with a great historical tradition, and intimately connected with our struggle for freedom. That position it is bound to retain and no other song can displace it. It represents the position and poignancy of that struggle, but perhaps not so much the culmination of it. In regard to the national anthem tune, it was felt that the tune was more important than the words… It seemed therefore that while Vande Mataram should continue to be the national song par excellence in India, the national anthem tune should be that of Jana Gana Mana, the wording of Jana Gana Mana to be suitably altered to fit in with the existing circumstances.”