National Anthem of India : Jana Gana Mana : 52 seconds

The National Anthem of India was written by the great Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore.

Rabindranath Tagore (1861 – 1941) was a true son of India. A prolific writer with the unique ability to write for all mediums, his Bengali poem “Jana Gana Mana Adhi” was first performed in song in 1911. The first stanza of this song became the National Anthem in 1950. During his life, Tagore was an unsurpassed representative of his nation and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913.

The first stanza of this poem constitutes the full version of the National Anthem of India, “Jana Gana Mana”, which was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24th 1950.

The National Anthem of India is played or sung on various occasions. Instructions have been issued from time to time about the correct versions of the Anthem, the occasions on which these are to be played or sung, and about the need for paying respect to the anthem by observance of proper decorum on such occasions. The substance of these instructions has been embodied in this information sheet for general information and guidance.

The National Anthem of India reads as follows-

Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata
Panjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha
Dravida-Utkala-Banga
Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga
uchchala-jaladhi-taranga
Tava Subha name jage, tave subha asisa 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.

The above is the full version of the National Anthem and its playing time is approximately 52 seconds.

Click below to listen to the National Anthem (Vocal – Audio)
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The following is Tagore’s English rendering of the stanza –

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 Odisha and Bengal;
It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Himalayas,
mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges 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.

Mass Singing of the Anthem

  • On all occasions when the National Anthem is sung, the full version shall be recited accompanied by mass singing.
  • In all schools, the day’s work may begin with community singing of the anthem. School authorities should make adequate provision in their programmes for popularising the singing of the Anthem and promoting respect for the National Flag among students.
  • Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention.

(Source: Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs)