As India celebrated its 78th Independence Day, the Nobel Prize Foundation marked the occasion by sharing a special piece of history: a handwritten translation of India’s National Anthem, ‘Jana Gana Mana.’ This handwritten version is believed to be by Rabindranath Tagore himself, the renowned poet and composer of the anthem.
Tagore, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, originally composed ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in Bengali. The Nobel Prize Foundation, on its X (formerly Twitter) account, shared a picture of the translation, titled ‘The Morning Song Of India,’ along with the caption: “‘Jana Gana Mana’ is the national anthem of India, originally composed in Bengali by poet Rabindranath Tagore, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.”
The English translation reads: “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.” The translation continues, “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.”
Tagore composed the hymn, originally titled ‘Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata,’ on December 11, 1911. The Constituent Assembly of India officially adopted the first stanza of the song as the National Anthem on January 24, 1950. In 1947, India presented a recording of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ as its national anthem at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort, reflecting on the country’s progress and outlining future goals. His speech focused on the vision of a developed India by 2047, emphasizing the need for a secular civil code and addressing the concerning issue of crimes against women.
Expressing deep concern over the recent rise in violence against women, Modi called for swift action and stringent punishment for perpetrators. He urged state governments to address these crimes with the utmost urgency and stressed the importance of societal introspection to create a culture of deterrence. “Crimes against women should be probed swiftly, and stringent punishment given to those who commit such demonic acts,” Modi stated. “Today, from the Red Fort, I want to express my pain. As a society, we will have to think seriously about the atrocities against our mothers, sisters, and daughters. There is anger among common people because of this. I can feel that rage.”
Modi’s words resonated with the nation’s concern for women’s safety and highlighted the importance of achieving a just and equitable society as India continues to strive for progress and prosperity.
