Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Who is “Bharata Bhagya Bidhata” in our national anthem?

We sing Jana Gana Mana, our national anthem in the glory of our motherland. How many of us know the exact meaning of the song? Let’s see, what it means. (Source- Wikipedia)

Oh! the ruler of the minds of people, Victory be to You,
Dispenser of the destiny of India!
Punjab, Sindh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Dravid (South India), Orissa, and Bengal,
The Vindhya, the Himalayas, the Yamuna, the Ganges,
and the oceans with foaming waves all around.
Wake up listening to Your auspicious name, Ask for Your auspicious blessings,
And sing to Your glorious victory.
Oh! You who impart well being to the people!
Victory be to You, dispenser of the destiny of India!
Victory to You!


I wonder, who is the “Dispenser of the destiny of India” or the Bhagya bidhata of Bharata? There has been a controversy as to in whose praise the song was written? Some sources claim that, the song was first sung during the session of the Indian National Congress held on 27 December 1911 which welcomed the King George V and the Queen of England upon their arrival to India. The sources say that, the “Dispenser of the destiny of India” is non-other than the King himself. However, Tagore proclaimed that the song was not in the praise of the king. Rather it was a prayer written for the religious movement called Bramhoism. Jana gana mana is the first stanza of the Bramho hymn. Which one is correct? I wish that, the first one should definitely not be correct.  

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