Independence….

August 15 - Independence day.

30 States, 1618 languages, 6400 castes, 6 religions, 29 major festivals and one country. We always are proud to say that we are an Indian. It’s a great feeling to remember the sacrifices of our Armed forces, freedom fighters on this day.

Have you ever thought about this……..

Right from our school days we have been singing Jana Gana Mana or Vande Mataram but do we know the exact meaning of these two songs?

The Jana Gana Mana was composed by Shri Rabindranath Tagore and first sung at the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress on December 27th, 1911. It was adopted as the National Anthem of India on 24th January, 1950 by the Constituent Assembly. The first stanza (out of five stanzas) of the song forms the National Anthem.

” Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Punjab Sindh Gujarat Maratha
Dravida Utkala Banga
Vindhya Himachal Yamuna Ganga
Ucchala Jaladhi Taranga
Tubh Shubha Name Jage
Tubh Shubha Ashisha Mange
Gahe Tubh Jaya Gata
Jan Gan Mangaldayak Jay He
Bharat Bhagya Vidhata
Jaye He ! Jaye He ! Jaye He !
Jaye,Jaye,Jaye,Jaye He “

Translation of our national anthem in English:

Thou are the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India’s destiny.The name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha. Of the Dravid and Orissa and Bengal. It Echoes in the hills of Vindhyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of Yamuna and Ganga and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for your blessing and sing thy praise. The salvation of all peaople is thy hand, thou dispenser of India’s destiny. Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.

Next our National Song that is Vande Mataram…..

Vande Mataram was written by Bakimchandra Chatterjee in his novel Anandamath in 1882. This song became the mantra of the freedom struggle. Countless freedom fighters went to their gallows shouting Vande Mataram.

 Vande Mataram
Sujalam, suphalam,
malayja shitalam,
Shasyashyamalam
Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Shubhrajyotna
pulakitayaminim
Phullakusumita drumadala
shobhinim
Suhasinim sumadhura
bhashinim,
Sukhadam varadam,
Mataram!
Vande Matram!

English Translation of Vande Matram (By Aurobindo Ghosh)

Mother, I bow to thee!  
Rich with thy hurrying streams,  
bright with orchard gleams,  
Cool with thy winds of delight,  
Dark fields waving Mother of might,  
Mother free.    

Glory of moonlight dreams,  
Over thy branches and lordly streams,    
Clad in thy blossoming trees,  
Mother, giver of ease  
Laughing low and sweet!  
Mother I kiss thy feet,  
Speaker sweet and low!  
Mother, to thee I bow. 

There are lots more to know …
http://www.indianchild.com/national_anthem.htm 

JaiHind !!!!