>>>The day after the session the nationalist Indian papers normally -- and
>>>accurately -- reported that a Tagore composition had been sung. The Bengalee
>>>-- along with other Indian newspapers as well as the report of the Indian
>>>National Congress - reported that it was a "patriotic song">>>>
Why do you want to distort the facts?
Tagore was requested to write a welcome song to be sung during the visit of
King George V and in the night he sat and wrote the song and gave it to the
organisers. The media report of the next day clearly showed that it was a song
by Tagore to welcome King George V.
All these controversies justifying the song as a patriotic one and not for King
george V arose after 1948/50 when it was chosen as the National Song by Nehru,
the reason being it was more tuned to Western scales and rhythm than the
earlier popular VandeMatharam.
Tagore's patriotism is never under question. During his period it was a custom
all over India to read a "Mangalapatra" or a Welcome/ Congratulatory address in
a poetuc forn tuned musically to recited at functions, even in marriages..etc.
This was such an occasion and tagore obliged.
The subsequent stanza-s of jana Gana Mana= Aharaha Thava..etc. were added later
and the version in Sanskrit has been popular all over India which is no
different from literary Bengali
Read the following:
Yeats was a great Irish poet. He was a friend of Tagore's, and a great admirer
of his works. He wrote a beautiful introduction to Tagore's Gitanjali.
Once an Indian disciple of Tagore met Yeats. In a letter to Lady Gregory in
America, Yeats mentioned that he had told him that Sarojini Naidu's brother was
unhappy that Tagore wrote a poem welcoming King George V. He also narrated to
her an appetising story he had from the disciple warning her that it was
strictly off the record. It concerns the circumstances in which Janaganamana
was composed:
"The National Congress people asked Tagore for a poem of welcome. He tried to
write it, but could not. He got up very early in the morning and wrote a very
beautiful poem, not one of his best, but still beautiful. When he came down, he
said to one of us, 'Here is a poem which I have written. It is addressed to
God, but give it to Congress people. It will please them. They will think it is
addressed to the King.' All Tagore's own followers knew it meant God, but
others did not." (The Indian Express, June 3, 1968)
The Calcutta Congress session began on December 26, 1911. The proceedings on
the first day began with Vandemataram. The second day was entirely devoted to
things connected with the welcoming of King George V, and this day the song
Janaganamana was sung, and at the closing ceremony Rajbhuja Dutt Choudhary's
'Badshah Hamara' was sung. On the third day Saraladevi sang her own composition
'Namo Hindustan'.
The news papers reports had the following comments on Janaganamana:
"The Bengali poet Babu Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him
specially to welcome the Emperor." (Statesman, Dec.28, 1911)
"The proceedings began with the singing by Babu Rabindranath Tagore of a song
specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor." (Englishman, Dec.28).
"When the proceedings of the Indian National Congress began on Wednesday 27th
December 1911, a Bengali song in welcome of the Emperor was sung. A resolution
welcoming the Emperor and Empress was also adopted unanomously." (Indian, Dec.
29, 1911)
In the eyes of many leaders of the day, loyalty to the nation and loyalty to
the Emperor were identical. King George V had proclaimed on Dec.12 the
annulment of the partition of Bengal. There was therefore nothing unnatural or
extraordinary in a Bengali poet, Rabindranath Tagore, composing or singing a
song in praise of the Emperor out of gratitude. But differences of opinion were
bound to arise when the question of its adoption as the national anthem came
up. The choice of a national anthem should undoubtedly be one which can be a
fountain of inspiration by the sanctity of its origin.
Rabindranath Tagore did not contradict newspaper reports which characterised
Janaganamana as a song composed in honour of King George V. Gradually the tide
of nationalism began to affect the old values. Loyalty to the country and
loyalty to the King became irreconcilable. Honour, devotion and love of the
country not only ceased to co-exist with honour, devotion and love of King
Emperor, but mutually antagonistic.
Also the British government which was charging people with sedition for singing
Vande Mataram extended high regard to Janaganamana. It was sung in Government
schools, and in scout groups which fostered loyalty to the British throne. At
the time British quit India, a fighter plane was presented by England to India,
and on this occasion Janaganamana was sung. The British also praised the song.
S kumar
