Jana Gana Mana

This article is about the national anthem of India. For other uses, see Jana Gana Mana (disambiguation).

Jana Gana Mana <br/> जन गण मन <br/> জন গণ মন

English: The Minds of All People
Sheet music for "Jana Gana Mana"
National anthem of India
Lyrics	Rabindranath Tagore, 11 December 1911
Music	Rabindranath Tagore, 11 December 1911
Adopted	24 January 1950 (1950-01-24)
Audio sample
Instrumental version of Jana Gana Mana played by the US Navy (c. 1983) file help

Rabindranath Tagore, the author and composer of the national anthems of India and Bangladesh

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Rabindranath Tagore reciting "Jana Gana Mana"

"Jana Gana Mana" is the national anthem of the Republic of India. It was originally composed as "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata" in Bengali written by polymath, activist and country's first Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore<ref>"National anthem of India: a brief on 'Jana Gana Mana'". www.news18.com. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 18 August 2017. Quote: "Though written in Bengali, the language used was sadhu Bengali or tatsama Bengali which is heavily influenced by Sanskrit. Many of the words exist with the same meaning in different Indian languages and thus, all Indian people understand the words and meaning of the national anthem"</ref><ref>"National anthem of India: a brief on 'Jana Gana Mana'". News18 India. 14 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 April 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2020.</ref> on 11 December 1911.<ref name="auto">Rabindranath Tagore (2004). The English Writings of Rabindranath Tagore: Poems. Sahitya Akademi. pp. 32–. ISBN 978-81-260-1295-4. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 7 July 2019.</ref><ref name="auto3">Edgar Thorpe, Showick Thorpe. The Pearson CSAT Manual 2011. Pearson Education India. pp. 56–. ISBN 978-81-317-5830-4. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2019.</ref><ref name="bbc.co.uk">"BBC News - Does India's national anthem extol the British?". BBC News. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.</ref> The first stanza of the song "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata", originally composed as a Hindu religious hymn for the Brahmo Samaj<ref>Chaudhuri, Shatarupa (11 November 2025). "Indian National Anthem, History, Rabindranath Tagore, Lyrics, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 6 January 2026.</ref>, was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India as the National Anthem on 24 January 1950.<ref>"STATEMENT RE: NATIONAL ANTHEM". loksabha.nic.in. Lok Sabha. 24 January 1950. Retrieved 20 August 2023. The composition consisting of the words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations in the words as the Government may authorise as occasion arises</ref><ref>"CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY OF INDIA, the 24th January 1950" (PDF). eparlib.nic.in. Parliament Digital Library. 24 January 1950. Retrieved 20 August 2023.</ref><!--As per Constituent Assembly debates, order and adoption of the National Anthem--><ref>"ORDERS RELATING TO THE NATIONAL ANTHEM OF INDIA" (PDF). mha.gov.in. Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023. The composition consisting of the words and music of the first stanza of the late poet Rabindra Nath Tagore's song known as "Jana Gana Mana" is the National Anthem of India</ref> A formal rendition of the national anthem takes approximately 52 seconds. A shortened version consisting of the first and last lines (and taking about 20&nbsp;seconds to play) is also staged occasionally.<ref name="anthem">"National Anthem- National Identity Elements of India - Know India: National Portal of India". knowindia.gov.in (in हिन्दी). Archived from the original on 15 January 2013. Retrieved 11 April 2017.</ref> It was first publicly sung on 27 December 1911 at the Calcutta (present-day Kolkata) Session of the Indian National Congress.<ref>Chowdhury, Arunangsu Roy. "100 years since 'Jana Gana Mana' was born". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 2 February 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.</ref>

History

The National Anthem of India is officially titled "Jana Gana Mana". The song was originally composed in Bengali by India's first Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore on 11 December 1911.<ref name="knowindia.gov.in">"Home &#124; Know India: National Portal of India". knowindia.india.gov.in. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2021.</ref><ref name="cultural symbol">"Home". Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2022.</ref><ref name="auto2">Sabyasachi Bhattacharya (24 May 2017). Rabindranath Tagore: An Interpretation. Random House Publishers India Pvt. Limited. pp. 326–. ISBN 978-81-8475-539-8. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 16 August 2019.</ref> The parent song, "Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata", is a religious hymn originally composed for the monotheistic Brahma Samaj<ref>Chaudhuri, Shatarupa (11 November 2025). "Indian National Anthem, History, Rabindranath Tagore, Lyrics, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 6 January 2026.</ref> that has five verses of which only the first verse was adopted as the national anthem.

The lyrics of the song first appeared in 5 stanzas in Bengali magazine in an issue of Tatwabodhini Patrika. The melody of the song, in the Alhaiya Bilaval raga, was composed as a Brahmo hymn by Tagore himself with possibly some help from his musician grand-nephew Dinendranath Tagore. The final form of the song before the first public performance was set on 11 December 1911.<ref name="artsandculture.google.com">"10 things to know about Indian national Anthem". Archived from the original on 21 July 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.</ref><ref name="cultural symbol"/><ref name="book reference">Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi (2011). Home. Penguin Books India. ISBN 9780670084555. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2017.</ref>

The song was first publicly sung on the second day of the annual session of the Indian National Congress in Kolkata on 27 December 1911 by Rabindranath Tagore's niece in her school assembly.<ref>"News On AIR - News Services Division, All India Radio News". newsonair.gov.in. Retrieved 13 February 2023.</ref> Then, it was followed in January 1912 at the annual event of the Adi Brahmo Samaj,<ref>"Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 9 October 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2011.</ref><ref name = "Sabyasachi Bhattacharya">Bhattacharya, Sabyasachi (2011). Rabindranath Tagore: an interpretation. New Delhi: Viking, Penguin Books India. p. 206. ISBN 978-0670084555. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2017. Incidentally a myth regarding this song needs to be refuted and laid to rest. It is on record that the song was written on 11 December 1911. On 12 December 1911, the Delhi Durbar met to honour King Emperor George V. Obviously, a poem written on 11 December could not be intended for an event the following day. The song was first sung at the twenty-seventh session of the Indian National Congress, Calcutta on 28 December 1911 as the opening song at the beginning of the day's proceedings. Thereafter, it was also sung at the foundation day anniversary of Adi Brahma Samaj in February 1912 and included in their collection of psalms, Brahma Sangit.</ref> However, it was largely unknown except to the readers of the Adi Brahmo Samaj journal, Tattwabodhini Patrika. The poem was published in January 1912, under the title "Bharat Bhagya Bidhata" in the Tatwabodhini Patrika, which was the official publication of the Brahmo Samaj with Tagore then the Editor.<ref>"National Identity". Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.</ref>

In 1917, the song was again performed at the Congress conference and this time in aid of instrumental music by the Mahraja Bahadur of Nattore.<ref name="friday">Chowdhury, Arunangsu Roy (27 December 2011). "Home". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 11 May 2022.</ref>

Outside of Calcutta, the song was first sung by the bard himself at a session in Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle, Madras (current Andhra Pradesh) on 28 February 1919 when Tagore visited the college and sang the song. The song enthralled the college students and Margaret Cousins, then vice-principal of the college (also an expert in European music and wife of Irish poet James Cousins). Based on the notes provided by Tagore himself, the song was preserved in 1919 in Western notation at Madanapalle by Margaret Cousins and her students. The whole episode was recorded by James Cousins in his autobiography "We Two Together":<ref name="we two together">"Home". 1950.</ref> <blockquote>In a voice surprisingly light for so large a man, he sang something like a piece of geography giving a list of countries, mountains and rivers; and in the second verse, a list of the religions in India. The refrain to the first made us pick up our ears. The refrain to the second verse made us clear our throats. We asked for it again and again, and before long we were singing it with gusto: Jaya hai, Jaya hai, Jaya hai, Jaya JayaJayaJaya hai (Victory, victory, victory to thee). We had no idea who or what was to have the victory. The next day Rabindranath gave the swarams(notes) of "Jana gana" to Mrs.Cousins so that the melody should have accurate permanent record. He also made the translation of the song into English as 'The Morning Song of India'.</blockquote>

Thus, Margaret Cousins became probably the first person to transcribe and preserve Tagore's composition in Western sheet music notation at Madanapalle based on the notes provided by Tagore himself. And soon it took its place in the "daily deciation" of the combined school and college of Besant Hall in Madanapalle and is still sung to this date. It was also here that the song was first translated into English by Tagore as "The Morning Song of India".<ref name="we two together"/>

The song was selected as the national anthem by Subhas Chandra Bose while he was in Germany. On the occasion of the founding meeting of the German-Indian Society on 11 September 1942 in the Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg, "Jana Gana Mana" was played for the first time by the Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra as the national anthem of India.<ref>Sugata Bose (14 August 2017). "The History of Patriotism: When Mahatma Gandhi refused to stand up in respect for the national song". Quartz India. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 17 February 2020.</ref> The musical notations for this interpretation of the song were prepared by B.L. Mukherjee and Ambik Majumdar.<ref>Mitra, Anirban (15 August 2020). "How – and Why – 'Jana Gana Mana' Became India's National Anthem". The Wire. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2023.</ref>

Before it officially became the national anthem of India in 1950, "Jana Gana Mana" was heard in the 1945 film Hamrahi.<ref>"100 Years Of Bollywood-Humrahi (1945)". indiavideo.org. Invis Multimedia Pvt. Ltd. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2018.</ref> It was also adopted as a school song of The Doon School, Dehradun in 1935.<ref>Srivastava, Sanjay (2005). Constructing Post-Colonial India. London: Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 9781134683581. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 15 September 2020. Since its inception, the School adopted strictly non-denominational prayers and hymns and does not serve beef and pork. In fact the School adopted 'Jana Gana Mana' as its School song in 1935 well before it became National Anthem in 1947.</ref>

On the occasion of India attaining freedom, the Indian Constituent Assembly assembled for the first time as a sovereign body at midnight on 14 August 1947; the session closed with a unanimous performance of "Jana Gana Mana".

The members of the Indian delegation to the General Assembly of the United Nations held in New York in 1947 gave a recording of "Jana Gana Mana" as the country's national anthem. The song was played by the house orchestra in front of a gathering consisting of representatives from all over the world.

Code of conduct

The National Anthem of India is played or sung on various occasions. Instructions have been issued from time to time about the correct versions of the anthem, the occasions on which these are to be played or sung and the need for paying respect to the anthem by observance of proper decorum on such occasions. The substance of these instructions has been embodied in the information sheet issued by the government of India for general information and guidance. The approximate duration of the full version of the National Anthem of India is 52 seconds; the shorter version is approximately 20 seconds.<ref name="anthem"/>

Lyrics

Original Bengali composition

The poem was composed in a literary register of the Bengali language called Sadhu Bhasha, which is heavily Sanskritised (i.e. mainly uses tatsama words).

Bengali script	ISO 15919 transliteration	IPA transcription
<poem> জনগণমন-অধিনায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! পঞ্জাব সিন্ধু গুজরাট মরাঠা দ্রাবিড় উৎকল বঙ্গ বিন্ধ্য হিমাচল যমুনা গঙ্গা উচ্ছলজলধিতরঙ্গ তব শুভ নামে জাগে, তব শুভ আশিষ মাগে, গাহে তব জয়গাথা। জনগণমঙ্গলদায়ক জয় হে ভারতভাগ্যবিধাতা! জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় হে, জয় জয় জয় জয় হে॥</poem>	<poem>Jana-gaṇa-mana-adhināẏaka jaẏa hē Bhārata-bhāgya-bidhātā! Pañjāba Sindhu Gujarāṭa Marāṭhā Drābiṛa Uṯkala Baṅga Bindhya Himācala Yamunā Gaṅgā Ucchala-jaladhi-taraṅga Taba śubha nāmē jāgē, Taba śubha āśiṣa māgē, Gāhē taba jaẏa-gāthā. Jana-gaṇa-maṅgala-dāẏaka jaẏa hē Bhārata-bhāgya-bidhātā! Jaẏa hē, jaẏa hē, jaẏa hē, jaẏa jaẏa jaẏa jaẏa hē.</poem>	] [ˈbʱa.ɾo.t̪oˑ ˈbʱa.ɡːoˑ ˈbi.d̪ʱa.t̪aˑ ǁ] [ˈpɔn.dʒa.boˑ ˈʃin̪.d̪ʱuˑ ˈɡu.dʒoˌɾa.ʈoˑ ˈmo.ɾa.ʈʰaˑ |] [ˈd̪ɾa.bi.ɽoˑ ˈut̪.kɔ.loˑ ˈbɔŋ.ɡoˑ ‖] [ˈbin̪.d̪ʱoˑ ˈɦi.maˌtʃɔ.loˑ ˈdʒo.mu.naˑ ˈɡɔŋ.ɡaˑ |] [ˈut̚.tʃʰɔ.loˑ ˈdʒɔ.lo.d̪ʱiˑ ˈt̪o.ɾɔŋ.ɡoˑ ‖] [ˈt̪ɔ.boˑ ˈʃu.bʱoˑ ˈna.meˑ ˈdʒa.ɡeˑ] [ˈt̪ɔ.boˑ ˈʃu.bʱoˑ ˈa.ʃi.ʃoˑ ˈma.ɡeˑ] [ˈga.ɦeˑ ˈt̪ɔ.boˑ ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ˈɡa.t̪ʰaˑ ‖] [ˈdʒɔ.noˑ ˈɡɔ.noˑ ˈmoŋ.ɡɔ.loˑ ˈd̪ae̯.ɔ.koˑ dʒɔe̯.oˑ ɦeˑ |] [ˈbʱa.ɾo.t̪oˑ ˈbʱa.ɡːoˑ ˈbi.d̪ʱa.t̪aˑ ‖] [ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ɦeˑ | ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ɦeˑ | ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ɦeˑ |] [ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ˈdʒɔe̯.oˑ ɦeˑ ‖]</poem>

Official lyrics

Official Government of India text in Devanagari<ref>"भारत के राष्ट्रगान के संबंध में आदेश" [Order relating to the national anthem of India] (PDF). mha.gov.in. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2018.</ref>	Official romanisation<ref name="Orders">"Orders relating to the national anthem of India" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 June 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.</ref><br /><small>(bold indicates long vowels)</small>	Devanagari transliteration<br /><small>(ISO 15919)</small>	IPA transcription
जन-गण-मन-अधिनायक जय हे<br> भारतभाग्यविधाता ।<br> पंजाब-सिन्धु-गुजरात-मराठा<br> द्राविड़-उत्कल-बंग<br> विन्ध्य हिमाचल यमुना गंगा<br> उच्छल जलधि तरंग<br> तव शुभ नामे जागे, तव शुभ आशिष मागे<br> गाहे तव जयगाथा ।<br> जन-गण-मंगलदायक जय हे भारतभाग्यविधाता ।<br> जय हे, जय हे, जय हे, जय जय जय जय हे ।<br>	Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he<br> Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.<br> Panjaba-Sindh-Gujarata-Maratha<br> Dravida-Utkala-Banga<br> Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga<br> Uchchhala-jaladhi-taranga<br> Tava subha name jage, tava subha asisa mage<br> gahe tava jaya-gatha.<br> Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.<br> Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he, jaya jaya jaya jaya he.<br>	Jana-gaṇa-mana adhināyaka jaya hē Bhārata-bhāgya-vidhātā.<br> Paṁjāba-Sindhu-Gujarāta-Marāṭhā, Drāviṛa-Utkala Baṁga<br> Vindhya Himācala Yamunā Gaṁgā, Ucchala jaladhi taraṁga<br> Tava śubha nāmē jāgē, tava śubha āśiṣa māgē<br> gāhē tava jaya gāthā.<br> Jana gaṇa maṁgala-dāyaka jaya hē, Bhārata bhāgya vidhātā.<br> Jaya hē, jaya hē, jaya hē, jaya jaya jaya jaya hē.	[ˈdʒɐ.nɐ ˈɡɐ.ɳɐ ˈmɐ.nɐ ɐ.d̪ʱi.ˈnɑː.jɐ.kɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː] [ˈbʱɑː.ɾɐ.t̪ɐ ˈbʱɑːɡ.jɐ ʋɪ.ˈd̪ʱɑː.t̪ɑː ǁ]<br><!-- -->[pɐn.ˈdʒɑː.bɐ ˈsɪn̪.d̪ʱʊ ɡʊ.dʒɐ.ˈɾɑː.t̪ɐ mɐ.ˈɾɑː.ʈʰɑː |] [ˈd̪ɾɑː.ʋɪ.ɽɐ ˈʊt̪.kɐ.lɐ ˈbɐŋ.ɡɐ]<br><!-- -->[ˈʋɪn̪d̪ʱ.jɐ ɦɪ.ˈmɑː.tʃɐ.lɐ jɐ.mʊ.ˈnɑː ˈɡɐŋ.ɡɑː |] [ˈʊt.tʃʰɐ.lɐ ˈdʒɐ.lɐ.d̪ʱi t̪ɐ.ˈɾɐŋ.ɡɐ]<br><!-- -->[ˈt̪ɐ.ʋɐ ˈʃʊ.bʱɐ ˈnɑː.meː ˈdʒɑː.ɡeː] [ˈt̪ɐ.ʋɐ ˈʃʊ.bʱɐ ˈɑː.ʃɪ.ʂɐ ˈmɑː.ɡeː]<br><!-- -->[ˈɡɑː.ɦeː ˈt̪ɐ.ʋɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈgɑː.t̪ʰɑː ‖]<br><!-- -->[ˈdʒɐ.nɐ ˈɡɐ.ɳɐ ˈmɐŋ.ɡɐ.lɐ ˈd̪ɑː.jɐ.kɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ɦeː |] [ˈbʱɑː.ɾɐ.t̪ɐ ˈbʱɑːɡ.jɐ ʋɪ.ˈd̪ʱɑː.t̪ɑː ‖]<br><!-- -->[ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː | ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː | ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː |] [ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː ‖]<br>

Official English lyrics

The English version was translated by Rabindranath Tagore himself on 28 February 1919 at the Besant Theosophical College.<ref name=":0">Refer to The Morning Song of India  – via Wikisource.</ref><ref>Tagore, Rabindranath. "'The Morning Song of India', English Translation of 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'". Google Arts & Culture. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2021.</ref>

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,

dispenser of India's destiny.

Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat and Maratha;

of the Dravida, Orissa and Bengal.

It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of the Yamuna and Ganges

and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Ocean.

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.

Literal translation

Victory to the Lord of the minds of all the people,

The dispenser of India's destiny!

Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha,

Dravida, Utkala, Bengal;

The Vindhyas, Himalayas, Yamunas, the Ganges,

The wavering waves of the ocean all arise in your auspicious name,

Seek your auspicious blessings, sing your victory lore.

Victory to the graciousness of the people,

The dispenser of India's destiny!

Victory! Victory! Victory!

Victory, victory, victory, victory to you!

Abridged version

A short version consisting of the first and last lines of the National Anthem is also played on certain occasions.<ref>"National Identity Elements - National Anthem - Know India: National Portal of India". knowindia.gov.in. Archived from the original on 1 October 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2018.</ref><ref name="Orders" />

Devanagari script<ref>"भरत के राष्ट्र गान के संबंध में आदेश" [Order relating to the national anthem of India] (PDF). mha.gov.in. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2018.</ref>	Official romanisation<ref name="Orders" /><br /><small>(bold indicates long vowels)</small>	Latin transliteration<br /><small>(ISO 15919)</small>	IPA transcription
<poem> जन-गण-मन अधिनायक जय हे भारत भाग्य विधाता । जय हे, जय हे, जय हे, जय जय जय जय हे ।</poem>	<poem>Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he Bharat-bhagya vidhata. Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he, jaya jaya jaya jaya he.</poem>	<poem>Jana-gaṇa-mana adhināyaka jaya hē Bhārata-bhāgya-vidhātā. Jaya hē, jaya hē, jaya hē, jaya jaya jaya jaya hē.</poem>	<poem>[ˈdʒɐ.nɐ ˈɡɐ.ɳɐ ˈmɐ.nɐ ɐ.d̪ʱi.ˈnɑː.jɐ.kɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː] [ˈbʱɑː.ɾɐ.t̪ɐ ˈbʱɑːɡ.jɐ ʋɪ.ˈd̪ʱɑː.t̪ɑː ǁ] [ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː | ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː | ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː |] [ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈdʒɐ.jɐ ˈɦeː ‖]</poem>

Raga

"Jana Gana Mana" is sung in the Alhaiya Bilaval raga,<ref>"Lesser known facts on Jana Gana Mana, India's National Anthem". 27 December 2016. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2020.</ref> whereby the tivra Madhyama svara is employed.

Other transcriptions

Urdu (Nasta'liq)	Gujarati	Kannada	Tamil	Telugu
<poem dir="rtl">جنَ گنَ منَ ادھی نایکَ جَیَ ہے بھارتَ بھاگیہ وِدھاتا پنجابَ سندھَ گجراتَ مراٹھا دراوڈَ اُتکلَ وَنگَ وندھیہ ہماچلَ یمونا گنگا اُچھلَ جلَدھی ترنگَ توَ شُبھَ نامے جاگے توَ شُبھَ آشش ماگے گاہے توَ جَیَ گاتھا جنَ گنَ منگلَ دایک جَیَ ہے بھارتَ بھاگیہ وِدھاتا جَیَ ہے، جَیَ ہے، جَیَ ہے جَیَ جَیَ جَیَ جَیَ ہے</poem>	<poem>જન ગણ મન અધિનાયક જય હે ભારત ભાગ્ય વિધાતા। પંજાબ સિંધુ ગુજરાત મરાઠા દ્રાવિડ઼ ઉત્કલ બંગ વિંધ્ય હિમાચલ યમુના ગંગા ઉચ્છલ જલધિ તરંગ તવ શુભ નામે જાગે તવ શુભ આશિષ માગે ગાહે તવ જયગાથા। જન ગણ મંગલ દાયક જય હે ભારત ભાગ્ય વિધાતા। જય હે। જય હે। જય હે। જય જય જય જય હે॥</poem>	<poem>ಜನ-ಗಣ-ಮನ-ಅಧಿನಾಯಕ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಭಾರತ-ಭಾಗ್ಯ-ವಿಧಾತಾ | ಪಂಜಾಬ್-ಸಿಂಧು-ಗುಜರಾತ-ಮರಾಠಾ ದ್ರಾವಿಡ-ಉತ್ಕಲ-ಬಂಗಾ || ವಿಂಧ್ಯ-ಹಿಮಾಚಲ-ಯಮುನಾ-ಗಂಗಾ ಉಚ್ಛಲ-ಜಲಧಿ-ತರಂಗಾ | ತವ ಶುಭ ನಾಮೇ ಜಾಗೇ ತವ ಶುಭ ಆಶಿಷ ಮಾಗೇ ಗಾಹೇ ತವ ಜಯಗಾಥಾ || ಜನ-ಗಣ-ಮಂಗಲದಾಯಕ ಜಯ ಹೇ ಭಾರತ-ಭಾಗ್ಯ-ವಿಧಾತಾ | ಜಯ ಹೇ, ಜಯ ಹೇ, ಜಯ ಹೇ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಜಯ ಹೇ ||</poem>	<poem>சன கண மன அதிநாயக செய கே பாரத பாக்கிய விதாதா. பஞ்சாப சிந்து குசராத்த மராட்டா திராவிட உத்கல வங்கா. விந்திய இமாச்சல யமுனா கங்கா உச்சல சலதி தரங்கா. தவ சுப நாமே சாகே, தவ சுப ஆசிச மாகே, காகே தவ செய காதா. சன கண மங்கள தாயக செயகே பாரத பாக்கிய விதாதா. செய கே, செய கே, செய கே, செய செய செய, செய கே.</poem>	<poem>జన గణ మన అధినాయక జయ హే భారత భాగ్య విధాతా। పంజాబ సింధు గుజరాత మరాఠా ద్రావిడ ఉత్కళ వంగ। వింధ్య హిమాచల యమునా గంగా ఉచ్ఛల జలధి తరంగ। తవ శుభ నామే జాగే తవ శుభ ఆశిష మాగే గాహే తవ జయ గాథా। జన గణ మంగళ దాయక జయ హే భారత భాగ్య విధాతా। జయ హే। జయ హే। జయ హే। జయ జయ జయ జయ హే।।</poem>

Gallery

<gallery> File:The Morning Song of India.png|Tagore's translation of "Jana Gana Mana" on 28 February 1919, at the Besant Theosophical College File:English translation of Jana Gana Mana in Tagore's handwriting page 1.jpg|Page 1 of Tagore's translation of "Jana Gana Mana" on 28 February 1919, at the Besant Theosophical College File:English translation of Jana Gana Mana in Tagore's handwriting page 2.jpg|Page 2 of Tagore's translation of "Jana Gana Mana" on 28 February 1919, at the Besant Theosophical College </gallery>

Controversies

Historical significance

The composition was first sung during a convention of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta on 27 December 1911.<ref>"Tagore and Jana Gana Mana". Monish R. Chatterjee. Archived from the original on 17 September 2008. Retrieved 14 August 2008.</ref> It was sung on the second day of the convention. The event was reported as such in the British Indian press: <blockquote> "The Bengali poet Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor." (Statesman, 28 December 1911)<br />"The proceedings began with the singing by Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor." (Englishman, 28 December 1911)<br />"When the proceedings of the Indian National Congress began on Wednesday 27 December 1911, a Bengali song in welcome of the Emperor was sung. A resolution welcoming the Emperor and Empress was also adopted unanimously." (Indian, 29 December 1911) </blockquote>

Many historians aver that the newspaper reports cited above were misguided. The confusion arose in the Indian press since a different song, "Badshah Humara" written in Hindi by Rambhuj Chaudhary,<ref>"India: Are we still singing for the Empire?". Pradip Kumar Datta. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2015.</ref> was sung on the same occasion in praise of George V. The nationalist press in India stated this difference of events clearly: <blockquote> "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, 28 December 1911)<br />"The annual session of Congress began by singing a song composed by the great Bengali poet Rabindranath 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, 28 December 1911) </blockquote>

Even the report of the annual session of the Indian National Congress of December 1911 stated this difference: <blockquote> "On the first day of 28th annual session of the Congress, proceedings started after singing Vande Mataram. On the second day the work began after singing a patriotic song by Babu Rabindranath Tagore. Messages from well-wishers were then read and a resolution was passed expressing loyalty to King George V. Afterwards the song composed for welcoming King George V and Queen Mary was sung." </blockquote>

On 10 November 1937, Tagore wrote a letter to Pulin Bihari Sen about the controversy. That letter in Bengali can be found in Tagore's biography Rabindrajibani, volume II page 339 by Prabhatkumar Mukherjee. <blockquote> "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 Bidhata [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."<ref>Mitra, Anirban; Bhattacharyya, Souvik (22 June 2015). "Tagore and that song". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.</ref><ref>"BBC World Asia". BBC News. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 21 July 2021.</ref></blockquote>

Again in his letter of 19 March 1939, Tagore writes:<ref name="autogenerated1">"BBC News – Indian anthem Jana Gana Mana turns 100". Bbc.co.uk. 27 December 2011. Archived from the original on 9 January 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2012.</ref> <blockquote> "I should only insult myself if I cared to answer those who consider me capable of such unbounded stupidity as to sing in praise of George the Fourth or George the Fifth as the Eternal Charioteer leading the pilgrims on their journey through countless ages of the timeless history of mankind." (Purvasa, Phalgun, 1354, p. 738.) </blockquote>

These clarifications by Tagore regarding the controversy occurred only after the death of King George V in 1936. Earlier, in 1915, after Tagore was awarded the Nobel Literature Prize, George V had conferred a knighthood on him, which he renounced in 1919 in protest over the Jallianwala Bagh massacre; writing a letter addressed to the viceroy of India Lord Chelmsford: "The time has come when badges of honour make our shame glaring in their incongruous context of humiliation, and I for my part wish to stand, shorn of all special distinctions, by the side of my country men."<ref>"Letter from Rabindranath Tagore to Lord Chelmsford, Viceroy of India". Digital Anthropology Resources for Teaching, Columbia University and the London School of Economics. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2021.</ref><ref>"Tagore renounced his Knighthood in protest for Jalianwalla Bagh mass killing". The Times of India. The Times of India, 13 April 2011. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2021.</ref>

Singing

In Kerala, students belonging to the Jehovah's Witnesses religious denomination were expelled by school authorities for their refusal to sing the national anthem on religious grounds, although they stood up when the anthem was sung.<ref>"Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors vs State Of Kerala & Ors on 11 August, 1986". Indian Kanoon. Archived from the original on 15 August 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2017.</ref> The Kerala High Court concluded that there was nothing in it which could offend anyone's religious susceptibilities, and upheld their expulsion. On 11 August 1986,<ref>"India Supreme Court's Landmark Judgment—Pillar of Free Speech". JW. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.</ref> the Supreme Court reversed the High Court and ruled that the High Court had misdirected itself because the question is not whether a particular religious belief or practice appeals to our reason or sentiment but whether the belief is genuinely and conscientiously held as part of the profession or practice of religion. "Our personal views and reactions are irrelevant." The Supreme Court affirmed the principle that it is not for a secular judge to sit in judgment on the correctness of a religious belief.<ref name="jehovah_national_anthem">"To sing or not to sing Vande Mataram". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 6 October 2021. Retrieved 16 December 2013.</ref>

The Supreme Court observed in its ruling that:<ref>"Bijoe Emmanuel & Ors V. State of Kerala & Ors [1986] INSC 167". Indian kanoon. 11 August 1986. Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.</ref>

There is no provision of law which obliges anyone to sing the National Anthem nor is it disrespectful to the National Anthem if a person who stands up respectfully when the National Anthem is sung does not join the singing. Proper respect is shown to the National Anthem by standing up when the National Anthem is sung. It will not be right to say that disrespect is shown by not joining in the singing. Standing up respectfully when the National Anthem is sung but not singing oneself clearly does not either prevent the singing of the National Anthem or cause disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing so as to constitute the offence mentioned in s. 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.

In some states, the anthem must be played before films are played at cinemas. On 30 November 2016, to instil "committed patriotism and nationalism", the Supreme Court ordered that all cinemas nationwide must play the national anthem, accompanied by an image of the flag of India, before all films. Patrons were expected to stand in respect of the anthem, and doors to a cinema hall were expected to be locked during the anthem to minimise disruption.<ref>"National Anthem must be played before movies in theaters, rules Supreme Court". The Indian Express. 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref> The order was controversial, as it was argued that patrons who chose not to participate would be targeted and singled out, as was the case in an incident publicised in 2015 which purported to show a group of patrons (alleged by the YouTube uploader to be Muslims) being heckled by others. On 10 February 2017, two Kashmiris (which included an employee of the state government) were arrested under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act for not standing during the anthem at a cinema, in the first such arrest of its kind made by a state government. On 3 July 2023, an executive magistrate in Srinagar sent 11 men to jail for a week, allegedly not rising for the anthem at a 25 June event in the presence of J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.<ref>"In J&K, 11 sent to jail after they did not rise for anthem at police event". The Indian Express. 7 July 2023. Archived from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2023.</ref> Other incidents of violent outbreaks associated with the policy were also reported.<ref>"J&K: In a first, state govt employee amongst two arrested for not standing during national anthem". The Indian Express. 11 February 2017. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref><ref>"India anthem not mandatory in cinemas". BBC News. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref><ref>"Patriotism debate over national anthem". BBC News. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref>

A cinema club in Kerala (whose film festival was required to comply with the order, leading to several arrests) challenged the order as an infringement of their fundamental rights, arguing that cinemas were "singularly unsuited for the gravitas and sobriety that must accompany the playing of the national anthem", and that the films screened would often "be at odds with sentiments of national respect".<ref>Biswas, Soutik (25 October 2017). "Film fans challenge India's anthem order". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref> In October 2017, Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud questioned the intent of the order, arguing that citizens "don't have to wear patriotism on our sleeve", and that it should not be assumed that people who do not stand for the anthem were any less patriotic than those who did. In January 2018, the order was lifted, pending further government discussion.<ref>"Playing of national anthem in cinema halls not mandatory: Supreme Court". The Times of India. 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref><ref>"India anthem not mandatory in cinemas". 9 January 2018. Archived from the original on 4 June 2018. Retrieved 19 February 2019.</ref><ref>"India anthem not mandatory in cinemas". BBC News. 2018. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.</ref>

In October 2019, a video of a Bengaluru couple being bullied for not standing up during the national anthem in a movie hall went viral. They were questioned "Are you Pakistani?". There was a debate on the issue; some lawyers recalled Article 21, some people called it a way to gain media attention and some recommended attending the movie after the national anthem is played to avoid any problems. But after the debate, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier order making it mandatory for cinema halls to play the National Anthem.<ref>"India national anthem no longer compulsory in cinemas". 9 January 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2024.</ref><ref>"Row over youth castigated for not standing up during national anthem in cinema hall". National Herald. 28 October 2019. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 5 February 2020.</ref>

Regional aspects

Another controversy is that only those provinces that were under direct British rule, i.e. Punjab (Punjab Province), Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha (Bombay Presidency), Dravida (Madras Presidency), Utkala (Orissa) and Bengal (Bengal Presidency), were mentioned. None of the princely states – Jammu and Kashmir, Rajputana, Central India Agency, Hyderabad, Mysore or the states in Northeast India (erstwhile Assam), which are now parts of India, were mentioned. However, opponents of this proposition claim that Tagore mentioned only the border states of India to include complete India. Whether the princely states would form a part of an independent Indian republic was a matter of debate even until Indian independence.

In 2005, there were calls to delete the word "Sind" and substitute it with the word Kashmir. The argument was that Sindh was no longer a part of India, having become part of Pakistan as a result of the Partition of 1947. Opponents of this proposal hold that the word "Sind" refers to the Indus River and Sindhi culture and that Sindhi people are a part of India's cultural fabric. The Supreme Court of India declined to change the national anthem and the wording remains unchanged.<ref>Shan, Kohli (2010). "Parody of National Anthem: Ram Gopal Varma Ki Nayi Aag" (PDF). NUJS Law Review. 3 (2). Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 June 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2024.</ref>

On 17 December 2013, MLA of Assam, Phani Bhushan Choudhury cited an article in The Times of India published on 26 January 1950, stating that originally the word "Kamarup" was included in the song, but was later changed to "Sindhu" and claimed that Kamarup should be re-included.<ref name=at1712>"State to seek newspaper clarification on report. Staff Reporter. Assam Tribune, 17-12-2013". Archived from the original on 15 August 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2021.</ref> To this, the then minister Rockybul Hussain replied that the state government would initiate steps in this regard after a response from the newspaper.<ref name=at1712/> The debate was further joined by the then minister Ardhendu Dey, mentioning "Sanchayita" (edited by Tagore himself) etc. where he said Kamarup was not mentioned.<ref name=at1712/>

In 2017 the state government of Jharkhand under the Bharatiya Janata Party proposed making the singing of the national anthem compulsory in Madrasas. This was met with opposition from a section of Muslim clerics because it allegedly violated the basic principles of the Islamic centres of learning.<ref>"Muslim clerics in Jharkhand oppose govt move on national anthem in madrasas". Hindustan Times. 10 November 2017. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2019.</ref>

Notable events

Guinness World Record

As of the last retrieval, Jana Gana Mana holds the record of the most people singing a national/regional anthem simultaneously.<ref>"Most people singing a national/regional anthem simultaneously". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2025.</ref>

See also

• "Amar Shonar Bangla" – the national Anthem of Bangladesh, also written by Rabindranath Tagore
• "Banglar Mati Banglar Jol" – the state song of West Bengal, also written by Rabindranath Tagore
• National Pledge
• "Saare Jahan Se Achcha" – an ode to Hindustan
• "Vande Mataram" – the national song of India

External links

• THE NATIONAL ANTHEM - FULL AND SHORT VERSIONS
• Know India: National anthem, Government of India website
• The Morning Song of India  – via Wikisource.English translation of the hymn "Jana Gana Mana" in Tagore's handwriting