A Song is Born in Bengal
The story begins on December 11, 1911, when Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed a five-stanza poem in a highly Sanskritised form of Bengali called 'Sadhubhasa'. Titled 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata', it was originally written as a hymn for the Brahmo
Samaj, a monotheistic reformist movement. It was not a single verse but a longer spiritual composition reflecting on India's divine destiny. Just over two weeks later, on December 27, 1911, the song made its public debut. It was sung not by Tagore himself, but by his niece, Sarala Devi Chowdhurani, along with a group of students, on the second day of the Indian National Congress session in Calcutta.
The Persistent Controversy
The timing of the song's first performance created a controversy that would shadow it for decades. King George V was visiting India, and the Delhi Durbar had taken place just days earlier. Several pro-British newspapers in Calcutta reported that Tagore's song was an ode to the visiting monarch. This narrative was fueled by the fact that another song, 'Badshah Hamara' by Rambhaja Dutta Chowdhuri, was indeed sung in the King's honour at the same event. The Anglo-Indian press conflated the two, creating a persistent myth. Tagore repeatedly and indignantly refuted this claim. In a 1937 letter, he clarified that the 'Bhagya Bidhata' (Dispenser of Destiny) in his song was the eternal guide of India, not any earthly king like George V. He expressed that he would only be insulting himself to compose such a paean to a colonial ruler.
A Journey Towards National Stature
Despite the controversy, the song's influence grew. In 1919, Tagore visited the Besant Theosophical College in Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh, where he sang the song. The college principal was so enthralled that it was adopted as their prayer song, a practice that continues today. It was here that Tagore also created the official English translation, titled 'The Morning Song of India'. Its stature grew immensely when Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, while in Germany, chose a Hindi-Urdu version of the song, 'Subh Sukh Chain', as the anthem for the Indian National Army (INA) in 1941. This version was even played by the Hamburg Radio Symphony Orchestra in 1942, giving it an international stage. The song had begun to embed itself in the national consciousness, becoming a de facto anthem long before it was official.
The Final Decision
As India neared independence, the question of a national anthem became a formal point of discussion in the Constituent Assembly. The choice was not immediate. 'Vande Mataram', a powerful slogan from the freedom struggle, was a strong contender. Debates occurred where some members argued 'Vande Mataram' better represented the struggle, while others brought up the old, debunked controversy about 'Jana Gana Mana' being for a British king. However, 'Jana Gana Mana' had already achieved a certain status. It was sung unanimously to close the historic midnight session of the Constituent Assembly on August 14, 1947, marking India's freedom. On January 24, 1950, two days before India became a republic, the matter was settled. Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the President of the Constituent Assembly, announced that 'Jana Gana Mana' would be India's national anthem. He also declared that 'Vande Mataram' would be honoured equally and have the status of a national song.
