National Symbols: National Anthem

"Jana Gana Mana" ("Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People")

Date of Adoption: January 24, 1950

Music by: Ram Singh Thakur

Lyrics by: Rabindranath Tagore

The national anthem of India was written and composed by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The lyrics mention all the various ethnic and cultural groups of India and posit that God is an invisible link that holds these groups together. Tagore is from the state of Bengal, and the song was originally written in Bengali before being translated into Hindi. The lyrics' pronunciation varies across the country due to local linguistic diversity, and the melody represents Indian traditional music.

The anthem was first sung on December 27, 1911, at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress. Ironically, on the same day, King George V made his first visit to India. The new country of India's Constituent Assembly officially adopted the song on January 24, 1950, three years after independence and two days before the Republic of India was declared.

Hindi Lyrics (Devanagari Script)

Transliteration

Jana-Gana-Mana-Adhinayaka, Jaya He
Bharata-Bhagya-Vidhata
Punjab-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha-
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
Ucchhala-Jaladhi Taranga
Tava Subha Name Jage
Tava Subha Ashisha Mage
Gahe Tava Jaya Gatha.
Jana-Gana-Mangala Dayaka, Jaya He
Bharata-Bhagya-Vidhata,
Jaya He, Jaya He, Jaya He,
Jaya Jaya Jaya, Jaya He

English Translation

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people,
Dispenser of India's destiny.
Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha,
Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
Mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by
The waves of the Indian Sea.
They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise.
The saving of all people waits in thy hand,
Thou dispenser of India's destiny,
Victory, victory, victory to thee.