Meaning of our National Anthem?

[Ilavenil]

I was wondering how many of you know the meaning of our National Anthem. I have seen Americans shedding tears when they sing their National Anthem. Come to think of it, even I get emotional when I sing our Naional Anthem, but, that is purely because of respect, not because I understand what I sing. I am not talking here about the meaning of name of places like Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maratha... So, I just wanted to know if I am left alone or there are many others who sing without knowing what it really means. If someone knows, can you kindly post the meaning here.

I know that it was written by Rabindranath Tagore in honor of King George V and the Queen of England when they visited India in 1919. To honor their visit Pundit Motilal Nehru had the five stanzas included, which are in praise of the King and Queen.

But, I want meaning, word by word. Thanks.

[Ilavenil]

21 views and only 2 voted. Come on guys, you don't have to reply and express your views, just answer the poll please.

[Sandeep]

National Anthem Lyrics

Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga.
Tava shubha name jage,
Tava shubha asisa mage,
Gahe tava jaya gatha,
Jana-gana-mangala-dayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!

The following is Tagore’s English rendering of the anthem :

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
dispenser of India’s destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind,
Gujarat and Maratha,
Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges and is
chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea.
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.

[Tamil_Socrates]

its better to remove "Sindh" and add india occupied kashmir,andhaman and nicobar islands...

[Ilavenil]

Thanks Sandeep. Now I can sing with all my heart.

[tamilnadu]

although tagore was bengali, the song is heavily weight around hindi belt. only places mentioned outside is bengal (where is assam, manipur, nagaland?) and dravidam (did he know there are four dravidian nations with with distinct national and cultural identities?)

[Sandeep]

although tagore was bengali, the song is heavily weight around hindi belt. only places mentioned outside is bengal (where is assam, manipur, nagaland?) and dravidam (did he know there are four dravidian nations with with distinct national and cultural identities?)

Hindi belt is UP, Bihar, MP, Uthranchal, Jharkand, Delhi, Chathesgar none of which is mentioned in the anthem.

Punjab - Punjabi,
Sind - Urdu,
Gujarat - Gujarathi
Maratha - Marathi,
Orissa - Oriya and
Bengal - Bengali
And Dravida - Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu.

I dont find any place with Hindi mentioned at all.

[Sandeep]

its better to remove "Sindh" and add india occupied kashmir,andhaman and nicobar islands...

Though you are technically correct, i dont think we need to change the national anthem.

[Badri]

I thought there was actually a move in the Supreme Court to remove Sind, because it no longer has any reference. I remember reading somewhere the SC asking the Central Govt to come back with a response. Any idea?

[Sandeep]

Yes that write.

SC is considering a Public Interest Litigation and had asked the Govt. on its view. But the Govt didnt respond to SC. To which SC wondered if "govt is interested at all in this".

The fact it most Indians dont care if Sind is present or not in the National Anthem. So the govt is also not interested