Do you stand every time you hear our National Anthem?

You 're watching the Independance Day celebrations and the National Anthem is played. Are you aware that you should stand to attention?

The song Jana-Gana-Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore, was first sung on 27 December, 1911 at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress. On 24 January, 1950, the Constituent Assembly adopted the song as the National Anthem of India. The complete song consists of 5 Stanzas, The first stanza comprises the full version of the National Anthem. It reads:

Jana-Gana-Mana-adhinayaka, Jaya he Bharata-bhagya-vidhata Punjaba-Sindhu-Gujarata-Maratha Dravida-Utkala-Banga Vindhya-Himachala-Yamuna-Ganga Uchchala-Jaladhi-taranga Tava Shubha name jage Tava Shubha 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!

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, dispenser of India's destiny. Thy name rouses the hearts of Punjab, Sind, Gujrat and Maratha, Of the Dravida and Orissa and Bengal; It echoes in the hills of the Vindyas and Himalayas, mingles in the music of Jamuna and Ganges and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for thy blessing and sing thy praise. The saving of all people waits in thy hand, thou dispenser of India's destiny. Victory, victory, victory to thee.

The playing of the full version of the National Anthem is approximately 52 seconds.

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What's the difference between National Anthem and National Song?

You mean these two are seprate?

The song Vande Mataram, composed by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to our forefathers in their struggle for freedom. It enjoys equal status with Jana-Gana-Mana. The 1876 session of the Indian National Congress was the first political occasion when it was sung. The first Stanza reads:

Vande Mataram! Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam, Shasyashyamalam, Mataram! Shubharajyothsna pulakitayaminim Phullakusumita drumadala shobinim Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim, Sukhadam varadam, Mataram!

I bow to thee, Mother, richly-watered, richly-fruited cool with the winds of the south, dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother! Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom sweet of laughter, sweet of speech The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss.

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