Mahadeep Singh Jamwal
The National Anthems are inspiration to the people of a country irrespective of religion they belong. It is one symbol/aspect of indoctrinating a nationalist attitude. It is symbol of nation’s pride. It’s our own national identity. The constant singing of our National Anthem is one of the potent factors in developing and enriching our patriotism. We nourish and stimulate our patriotism by the solemn singing together. The country feels proud of its National Anthems and at the same time feels proud of the composers of the Anthems. The proud India has the credit of composing of Anthems by great Indians, which stand adopted by other countries, more so the Anthems adopted are composed by Hindu composers. Many countries have legislated laws with regard to the insult of National Anthem and its regulation.
Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India written in Bengali attributed to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The Hindi version of it was adopted by the Constituent Assembly, as the National Anthem of India on 24th January 1950. It was first sung on 27th December 1911 at the Kolkata Session of the Indian National Congress. A formal rendition of the National Anthem takes fifty-two seconds. Bengali Romanization ‘Jonogonomono- odhinayoko joyo he, bharatobhaggobidhata – –‘, Hindi version as ‘Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He Bharata Bhagya Vidhata – -‘and it means ‘You are the ruler of the minds of all people, Dispenser of India’s destiny. This Anthem is claimed to be the best in the world and is the world’s popular National Anthem, it includes all religions as family members. Taranah-e-Pakistan ‘Zare Tere Hain Aaj Sitaron Se Tabnak, Roshan Haikehkashan Se Kahin aaj Teri Khak —-‘ it means ‘The grains of your soil are glowing today, brighter than the stars and the galaxy —-‘, is claimed to be the first National Anthem that was played in Pakistan’s National Radio on 14th August 1947 and composed by Jagannath Azad, at the request of Mohammad Ali Jinnah but it was relinquished in December 1948 being written by a Hindu, although it was never officially adopted as Pakistan’s National Anthem. However claim is historically unsubstantiated, disputed and controversial.
Pakistans ‘Qaumi Taranah’ (National Anthem) written by Hafeez Jullundhry was broadcasted publicly for the first time on Radio Pakistan on 13th August 1954, sung by Hafeez Jullundry himself. It was officially approved by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on 16th August 1954. The tune of the Taranah (Anthem) composed by the Pakistani musician and composer, Ahmed G. Chagla was approved by the National Anthem Committee of Pakistan in 1949, among hundreds of the tunes. The Anthem tune, without lyrics, was performed for the first time for a foreign Head of State visit of the Shah of Iran to Pakistan in Karachi on 1st March 1950 by a Pakistan Navy Band. It was later played for Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan during his official visit to the United States on 3rd May 1950. Later on based on the tune and out of seven hundred seventy three verses written by prominent poets, the lyric written by Ahmed G. Chagla was approved as ‘Qaumi Taranah’ (National Anthem) of the Pakistan. The Anthem ‘Pak Sarzamin Shad Bad Kishwar-I Hasin Shad Bad – – ‘ means ‘May The Holy Land, Stay Glad; Beauteous Realm, Stay Glad – – ‘. The running time of the Pakistan’s ‘Qaumi Taranah’ is 80 seconds. On 14th August 2011, five thousand eight hundred and fifty seven people gathered in a stadium in Karachi to sing the ‘Qaumi Taranah’ and set a new world record for most people gathered to sing a National Anthem simultaneously. Again on 20th October, 2012, 42,813 people gathered in a stadium in Lahore to sing the ‘Qaumi Taranah’ and set a new world record for most people gathered to sing a National Anthem simultaneously, which stand certified and recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. Pakistan’s National Anthem is very inspiring and it makes us believe for the best future and people.
“Amar Shonar Bangla” a Bengali song was written and composed by the Bengali poet and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1905. The Constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh, adopted first ten lines of this Bengali song, as the National Anthem of Bangladesh in 1972. ‘Amar Sonar Bangla Ami Tomay Bhalobashi- – -‘it means ‘My Bengal of Gold I Love You – – . The Anthem holds the world record of singing by 2, 54, 537 people together on 26th March 2014, and it stand recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records, on 9th April 2014. The event was organised by Ministry of Cultural Affairs Government of Bangladesh under a program ‘Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla’ on its 44th Independence Day.
The great personalities associated with National Anthems of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, Rabindranath Tagore and Jagannath Azad deserve a special sincere salute from the citizens of India.