Rabindranath in the role of blind singer by Abanindranath TagoreVictoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata
India's National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', is an adoption from the writings of the poet and playwright, Rabindranath Tagore.
Tagore Sw Robinoranath 1861-1941 Indian Poet Of AuthorLIFE Photo Collection
The lines of India's National Anthem are taken from Rabindranath Tagore's song,'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'.
Tagore Sw Robinoranath 1861-1941 Indian Poet Of AuthorLIFE Photo Collection
The original was written in Bengali and the full song has 5 stanzas. The text was first published in 1905, in an issue of Tatwabodhini Patrika.
Town Hall, Calcutta (1850s) by Captain R. B. HillThe Metropolitan Museum of Art
In 1911, the session held by Indian National Congress, in Calcutta, on 27th December, became the first location where the song was sung publicly – and Tagore sang it himself.
'The Morning Song of India', English Translation of 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata' (1919-02-28) by Rabindranath Tagore
On February 28th, 1919, Tagore wrote down an English interpretation of the full Bengali song, and titled it'The Morning Song of India'.This was requested by Dr. Cousins of theBesant Theosophical College at Madnapalle, where Tagore was visiting.
Dinendranath in the role of ‘Sardar’ (1916) by Abanindranath TagoreVictoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata
The melody for the full song, slow-paced, and in ragaAlhaiya Bilawal, is attributed to Rabindranath himself. Rabindranath's grand-nephew, Dinendranath Tagore, a great musician himself, may have helped conceive it. Another harmonised score was created when the song was played by Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra in Germany in 1942.
Making of the Indian Constitution (1946-1950) (1946-12-09/1950-01-24)Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
On 24 January 1950 (before India's first Republic Day on 26th), the first stanza of Tagore's "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata" was officially declared as the National Anthem of India by theConstituent Assembly of India.
LIFE Photo Collection
Subhash Chandra Bose was key in making the selection of the national anthem.Subsequently, he adapted from Tagore's original, another version of the song with Hindi and Urdu words, called‘Shubh Sukh Chain’.
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata (1964) by TIFR ArchivesTata Institute of Fundamental Research
The artist, Maqbool Fida Hussain, created an artwork, the title of which is derived from the lines of the National Anthem 'Bharata Bhagya Vidhata'.
Reception area of Tata Institute of Fundamental Research by TIFR ArchivesTata Institute of Fundamental Research
This 45-feetmural is still seen on the wall at Tata Fundamental Institute of Research, in Mumbai.
Rabindranath in the role of ‘blind singer’ (1916) by Abanindranath TagoreVictoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata
For certain tributary occasions, just the opening and closing line of the anthem is sung as a shorter version.
Celebrate India's 74th Independence Day
Sing 'Jana Gana Mana' with millions of others virtually!A specially designed experiment in collaborationwith Prasar Bharati (the national broadcaster of India), and Virtual Bharat using artificial intelligence (AI) will convert your singing into the sounds of selected Indian musical instruments.Explore the experience at g.co/SoundsofIndia
Between August 1st to 10th, users from across India contributed their voicesthrough the AI experiment. The result was aunique re-creation of the national anthem.
~ Discover more about Rabindranath Tagore or about the Tagore brothers with Victoria Memorial Hall.
~ Explore musical instruments and the legends of Indian music with Indian Music Experience Museum
~ Learn more about the story behind MF Husain's mural at Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.
~ Listen to the anthem's tune on violin played by Master Fazil Afzaal of Dilli Gharana at six years of age.
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As a seasoned enthusiast with a deep understanding of the topic, I'll delve into the fascinating journey of the Indian National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana,' and provide insights into the concepts embedded in the article.
The inception of the anthem lies in the literary brilliance of Rabindranath Tagore, an iconic poet and playwright of India. Born in 1861, Tagore wrote the original song, 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata,' in Bengali, consisting of five stanzas. This profound piece of art first saw the light of day in 1905 when it was published in Tatwabodhini Patrika.
In a historic moment during the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta in 1911, Rabindranath Tagore publicly sang the song himself. Later, on February 28th, 1919, at the request of Dr. Cousins of the Besant Theosophical College, Tagore penned down an English interpretation titled 'The Morning Song of India.'
The melodic composition of the anthem, attributed to Rabindranath himself, is set in the slow-paced raga Alhaiya Bilawal. Interestingly, it is believed that Dinendranath Tagore, Rabindranath's grand-nephew and a notable musician, might have played a role in conceptualizing the melody. Notably, in 1942, the Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra in Germany created a harmonized score for the anthem.
The anthem gained official status on January 24, 1950, when the Constituent Assembly of India declared the first stanza of Tagore's "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata" as the National Anthem, just two days before India's first Republic Day on January 26th.
The article also highlights the pivotal role played by Subhash Chandra Bose in the selection of the national anthem. Bose later adapted another version of the song, titled 'Shubh Sukh Chain,' incorporating Hindi and Urdu words.
The cultural impact of the anthem extends to the realm of art, with renowned artist Maqbool Fida Hussain creating an artwork titled 'Bharata Bhagya Vidhata' inspired by the anthem's lines. This 45-feet mural is displayed at the Tata Fundamental Institute of Research in Mumbai.
The closing part of the article mentions an innovative experience titled 'Sounds of India,' a collaboration between Google Arts & Culture, Prasar Bharati, and Virtual Bharat. This experiment, utilizing artificial intelligence, invited users to sing 'Jana Gana Mana,' transforming their voices into the sounds of selected Indian musical instruments.
In summary, the article offers a comprehensive exploration of the rich history, cultural significance, and artistic influences of India's National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana,' from its origin in Rabindranath Tagore's poetic genius to its contemporary resonance in art and technology.
