Indian National Anthem: A Retrospect

We Nepalese and Indian people do not want any kind of communist authoritarianism, they aspire only full democracy. The concerns of the Nepalese and Indian people are political stability, peace and good governance. There are some confusion between Nepal and India. It should be solved cordially for the sake of the prestige of both countries.

by Dirgha Raj Prasai

(August 26, Kathmandu, Sri Lanka Guardian) I am always in fever of Sovereign-India with Hindu Nation as Nepal. We have two pious Hindu countries in the world-Himabatkhanda and Bharatkhanda. Kailash-Mansarowar to Hinda-Mahasagar is the original place of Hindus and Hinduism. The Bramhaputra in east, Hindukush in west, north Kailash-Mansarowar and the south Ganga River is the boundary of Himabatkhanda(Nepal) and Ganga to Hinda-Mahasagar is Bharatkhanda (India). Kailash-Mansarowar is the pious land of the lord Shiva. We Nepalese and Indian people do not want any kind of communist authoritarianism, they aspire only full democracy. The concerns of the Nepalese and Indian people are political stability, peace and good governance. There are some confusion between Nepal and India. It should be solved cordially for the sake of the prestige of both countries.

In the context of Indian history moreover during the regime of Muslims in India, English imperialist-East India Company invaded India with Christianity. They came first as traders. Secondly they came carrying Bible and of course thirdly, the came with the sword building their own military force secretly. The objective was to take over India and everybody knows they succeeded. The British bribed the military by paying salaries to fight for them to control Muslims. Many Sikhs and other Indians joined the British military. This was betraying to own race - Hindus. This is actual history.

The present national anthem of India represents the past depressed time of India by British. The great laureate and poet of India, Rabindra Nath Tagore had composed a song "Jaana Gaana Maana Adhinayaka Jaya He Bharat Bhagya Bidhata….." to welcome the British Emperor George-V in 1911 AD. After the independence of India (1947), the song accepted as the national anthem. Yes, the song was highly appreciated as a welcome song at that time. But, why it was accepted in 'Independent-India' as a national anthem? This indicates that the Indian mentality has been influenced by the British imperialism.

It may be that former Indian PM Nehru was Indian by body, but was an Englishman at heart. The British Emperor George V traveled to India with the queen at 1911, the King and Queen traveled to Delhi Durbar where George wore the newly-created Imperial Crown of India at the ceremony and declared the shifting of the capital of India from Calcutta to Delhi. On 15 December of same year, he laid the foundation stone of New Delhi with Queen Mary. They traveled throughout Nepal in the invitation of Chandra Shamshre, then PM of Nepal, and George took an opportunity to indulge in hunting tigers, shooting at Nepalese Tarai- Southern part of Nepal. But, it would be good that as an independent nation to choose another national anthem for India.

An Indian scholar Bhagavaandaas Tyaagi mentions- 'Many historians aver that the newspaper reports cited above were misguided. The confusion arose in British Indian press since a different song, "Badshah Humaara……." written in Hindi by Rambhuj Chaudhary, was sung on the same occasion in praise of the monarch. The nationalist Indian press stated this difference of events clearly- the proceedings of the Congress party session started with a prayer in Bengali to praise God (song of benediction). This was followed by a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V. Then another song was sung welcoming King George V." (Amrita Bazar Patrika, Dec.28, 1911)

Mr. Tyaagi quoting the Bengalee, Dec. 28, 1911, further says 'The annual session of Congress began by singing a song composed by the great Bengali poet Babu Ravindranath Tagore. Then a resolution expressing loyalty to King George V was passed. A song paying a heartfelt homage to King George V was then sung by a group of boys and girls.' Even the report of the annual session of the Indian National Congress of December 1911 stated this difference: "On the first day of 28th annual session of the Congress, proceedings started after singing Vande Mataram……. On the second day the work began after singing a patriotic song by Babu Ravindranath Tagore. Messages from well wishers were then read and a resolution was passed expressing loyalty to King George V. Afterwards the song composed for welcoming King George V and Queen Mary was sung." 

In the context of Indian national Anthem An Indian scholar S.C. Gupta writes-'As I have made a Thorough study of our "Jana Gana Mana...." and "Vande Mataram... "National Songs, hence, please allow me to state the following facts: Gandhiji, showing the weakness before the Muslims, agreed that "Vande Mataram…….." our Most Patriotic National Song may not be sung from any Congress platforms till its dispute is resolved with Muslims. As a result our Most Nationalist and Patriotic Song was not sung from any Congress Platforms in between 1930-1937.

In 1937, Gandhi , showing his weakness towards the Muslims , resolved the dispute by agreeing to Muslims that this whole song will not be sung in its full form, but its First Four lines only , which formed the basis of division of Bharat Varsh, in spite of the fact that Vande Mataram …… was nothing more than the most patriotic song sung in the praise of one's motherland sincerely. This most patriotic & nationalist song is not a simple patriotic song but it is a mantra which provides immense energy to its singer that's why all Satyagrahies and Krantikaries before they were hanged or tortured by the then cruel & brute British forces & their Indian stooges always recited " Vande Mataram... while fighting with the British for our freedom.

Of course, history is misguided due to dirty politics played by leaders and traitors in the country. Britishers before leaving India had given away millions of hectares land, property and money to Indian politicians. Many of their children are ruling over India. Probably it would be the main cause of all the ills and corruption in India. The present government of India is not willing to change the national anthem. The government is guided by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi who probably does not want to do so. Therefore Indian nationalists should initiate the advocacy towards changing their national anthem. The India city Bombay had changed to Mumbai, so on Madras to Chennai, and Calcutta to Kolkata. Then, why not national anthem, a song devoted to British Emperor be changed?

The Writer can be reached at dirgharajprasa@gmail.com

Tell a Friend