Raj was a curious boy who loved to learn new things. He was especially fascinated by the history and culture of his country, India. He often asked his grandfather, who was a retired teacher, to tell him stories about the past.
One day, Raj asked his grandfather, "Dada, how was our national anthem created and selected? Who wrote it and why?"
His grandfather smiled and said, "Well, my dear Raj, that's a long story. But I will try to tell you in a simple way. Our national anthem is called Jana Gana Mana, which means 'Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People'. It was written by a great poet and Nobel laureate named Rabindranath Tagore in Bengali language in 1911. He was also a musician and composed the tune for the song."
"Wow, he must have been very talented," Raj exclaimed.
"Yes, he was. He wrote many poems, songs, stories, plays, essays, and novels. He also founded a school and a university called Shantiniketan, where he taught his students to appreciate nature, art, and humanity. He was a visionary who dreamed of a free and united India," his grandfather continued.
"So how did his song become our national anthem?" Raj asked.
"Well, it was not an easy process. There were many other songs that were proposed as the national anthem, such as Vande Mataram, Sare Jahan Se Achha, and Jhanda Uncha Rahe Hamara. Some people argued that Tagore's song was too long, too difficult to sing, or too loyal to the British crown. Some people even doubted that he wrote it himself," his grandfather explained.
"Really? Why would they think that?" Raj wondered.
"Because the song was first sung at a session of the Indian National Congress in Calcutta in 1911, where the British King George V and Queen Mary were present as guests. Some people thought that Tagore wrote the song to praise them. But that was not true. Tagore later clarified that he wrote the song as a tribute to God, who is the true ruler of all people and nations," his grandfather said.
"Oh, I see. So how did it get accepted as the national anthem?" Raj asked.
"It took many years and debates. Finally, in 1950, after India became independent from British rule, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted the first stanza of Tagore's song as the national anthem on 24 January 1950. The rest of the verses are still part of the original song, but they are not sung officially," his grandfather said.
"I see. So what does the first stanza mean? Can you explain it to me?" Raj requested.
"Of course. Let me recite it for you and then translate it into Hindi," his grandfather said.
He then sang the anthem with emotion and pride:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Uchchhala-jaladhi-taranga
Tava shubha name jage
Tava shubha ashisha mage
Gahe tava jaya-gatha
He then translated it as:
Hey Prabhu! Tum sabhi ke manon ka adhipati ho
Bharat ki bhagya rekha tumne hi banayi hai
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravid-Utkal-Bangal
Vindhya-Himalaya-Yamuna-Ganga
Unche-sagar ki lehren
Tere shubh naam se jag uthta hai
Tere shubh ashirwad se sabhi mangal paate hain
Tere jaya-gaan hum gaate hain
He then explained it as:
O Lord! You are the master of all minds
You have shaped the destiny of India
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-Maratha
Dravid-Utkal-Bangal
Vindhya-Himalaya-Yamuna-Ganga
The waves of the high seas
They wake up with your auspicious name
They receive blessings from your auspicious wishes
They sing your songs of victory
"Do you understand now?" his grandfather asked.
"Yes, Dada. It is a beautiful song that celebrates our diversity and unity. It praises God who guides us and protects us. It expresses our gratitude and devotion to Him," Raj said.
"That's right, my dear Raj. And do you know how to respect our national anthem?" his grandfather asked.
"Yes, Dada. I learned it in school. We have to stand up straight and still when the anthem is played or sung. We have to sing along with it or listen to it attentively. We have to face the national flag or the source of the anthem. We have to not talk or laugh or do anything else that distracts us from the anthem. We have to not wear any headgear or cover our face during the anthem. We have to not play the anthem for commercial or entertainment purposes. We have to not disrespect the anthem in any way," Raj said.
"Very good, Raj. You have learned well. These are some of the general rules and guidelines that we have to follow while singing or listening to our national anthem. They show our love and respect for our country and our God," his grandfather said.
"Thank you, Dada, for telling me this story. I feel proud to be an Indian and a follower of Tagore. I will always remember his words and his message," Raj said.
"You are welcome, Raj. I am glad you enjoyed it. Now, let us sing the anthem together once more and feel its spirit in our hearts," his grandfather said.
They then sang the anthem with joy and pride, feeling a bond with each other and with their country.
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