India’s National Anthem
By Rummuser. Filed in Uncategorized |
The Loose Blog Consortium, LBC for short, has now got into its stride and the topics are getting to be tougher by each week. In many parts of India, the word ‘Loose’ indicates that a screw is loose for the person concerned, and I for one am now ‘loose’ alright. In Ashok’s language it is very elegantly called “thaley loozze” meaning “his head is screwed on loosely”. Ashok, I am sure will appreciate what I mean here. Far from implying that the other four bloggers in the consortium are also “loose”, let me direct you to Ashok, Conrad, Grannymar, Magpie and Marianna, in politically correct alphebetical order. By the time that this post appears, the racket of protests would have died down and you are bound to have a bouquet of flavours.
The English transliteration and translation of the original Bengali Poem by Nobel Laurette Rabindranath Tagore can be read in this very well brought out site.
I was four years old when India won its independence and it was not long afterwards that I learnt to sing it standing to attention and looking at the National Flag if there was one around.
I have never forgotten that lesson. Till today, I get goose pimples when I hear it. Brain washed jingoist that I am.
Sadly, I wish that I could say the same about many modern young Indians who think that it is jingoism to do that. It is supposed to be ‘uncool’ to do that. When national barriers are being broken a National Anthem is supposed to be hindering the process by encouraging jingoism. I have got into many tricky situations because of this casual attitude to the National Anthem.
Personally, I would have preferred the other short listed song called Vande Mataram, which was the unofficial Anthem till independence. The Indian National Congress, the then ruling party decided, for vote bank politics not to have it as the Muslims and some other minorities of India objected to it. You can read about the controversy in Wikipedia. I strongly believe that had it been chosen, many of the problems that we have now would not have come about. I shall write a separate post on that topic at an appropriate time.
For the purpose of this post, suffice it to say, I get all worked up whenever I hear it, I get emotional, maudlin and get goosepimples.
I AM STUCK ON OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, BECAUSE OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IS STUCK ON ME.
Friday, September 11th 2009 at 21:46 |
It seems we both have very similar feelings about our National Anthems, as you said on my blog. I think we are able to see the potential in our great nations, are patriotic, and see it as our patriotic duty to seek the best.
I also see us as viewing our nations as needing to be such responsible players in an ever-shrinking world with the potential to nurture and support one another rather than dominating one another. And we are not so naive to think that is accomplished by weakness, but rather by the strength and determination to declare peace. We want our National Anthems to reflect our best natures and intentions.
Friday, September 11th 2009 at 22:06 |
A thought briefly crossed my mind to ask you to sing the Indian National Anthem, record it, and post it on your blog. This thought immediately vanished, however, when I pondered having to do the same for the musically challenged US National Anthem. Then I was pondering having had the same feelings some years ago at my children’s school ceremony, except that I was living in Japan and the flag was the Japanese one. Confusion …
Here in the US, when we refer to someone as “loose”, it has a somewhat different meaning.
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:25
Thanks for not asking me to do it. I do not sing. I croak. Yes, I know what it means in the US when someone is called loose. I hope to write a post some day about the word!
Sammie from LearnToSing Reply:
October 9th, 2009 at 22:30
Frogs croak people do not.
And ‘loosening’ your vocal cords believe it or not may help your singing! (Not all connotations of the word “loose” are derogatory you know!)
Enjoyed your post and the comments. Hope to see your YouTube video soon!
Best Wishes,
Sammie
Rummuser Reply:
October 10th, 2009 at 17:04
Man, you must be kidding me! Right?
Friday, September 11th 2009 at 22:42 |
I love the Indian national anthem but that didn’t happen overnight. I took my two daughters to see a film last year and the programme commenced with a video of Indian soldiers at Siachen and the backround of the national anthem and I got this lump in my throat and my heart swelled with tender pride at the sight of our….OUR?….soldiers…? and I thought, ‘hey! What’s happened? I’m a foreigner, dammit! And I knew I wasn’t anymore…not completely anyway…
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:24
Welcome to the new world of globalized individuals. I know more people with similar emotions.
Saturday, September 12th 2009 at 00:45 |
Is it our age? I too was taught to stand up straight with hands by my side and no fidgeting, when the national Anthem of any country was played. It didn’t matter whether I liked or knew the anthem in question it was an unwritten form of respect just to stand.
PS I’m not Loose, if I was the joints wouldn’t ache!
gaelikaa Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 06:42
One of my friends in Ireland, someone in my own age group, said he would never attend a function where the National Anthem was played. ‘Why?’ I asked. He said ‘Ah! If you as much as flinch a muscle during the National Anthem, you’re brought out and kneecapped!’
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:19
I wish we had such policing here too!
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:22
It sure is our age. Those good old days!!
Saturday, September 12th 2009 at 02:10 |
Well done Rummy!
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:21
Thank you.
Saturday, September 12th 2009 at 04:58 |
I appreciate your posts and your viewpoints. I always learn something here. I look forward to your post on how you think a different anthem would have alleviated some of your country’s problems.
Did you mean that the “youngsters” feel that it’s uncool to be moved by the national anthem?
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:21
I believe that my choice of the Anthem would have had more emotional appeal than the one finally chosen.
No, I believe that the younger generation think that it is uncool to make a big deal of the National Anthem.
Saturday, September 12th 2009 at 07:31 |
I too feel a thrill at hearing our National Anthem although God Bless America is my favorite and easier to sing. As an teacher of young children, i would have to lead them in the Flag Salute and a patriotic song. I sing about as good as the average cat on a back fence, so I am afraid that my young charges and I made up with gusto and pure brassiness what we (I) lacked in talent.
My small town held a parade recently and I was happy to see young parents making a big point of standing with their hand on their heart as the flag passed by. They also made certain even the youngest followed their example.
Yes, we too have the few who think it uncool. Lt’s just hope they grow up. . . miracles happen.
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:19
Our next week’s LBC subject is Hope and Renewal!
Maria Reply:
September 15th, 2009 at 05:33
I have written about hope and renewal. When do I post?
Saturday, September 12th 2009 at 08:23 |
I AM STUCK ON OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM, BECAUSE OUR NATIONAL ANTHEM IS STUCK ON ME. I’m surprised. You get U.S. commercials too.
Let’s all sing:
I’m stuck on band-aids,
’cause band-aids are stuck on me.
Rummuser Reply:
September 12th, 2009 at 20:18
BHB, I have never heard of this jingle. That was pure inspiration after a lot of sweat!
Sunday, September 13th 2009 at 00:08 |
Tagore? A personal hero…
I’d love to hear the tune.
I too was brought up to stand to attention when the NA was played. I find it hard today but if I was at a function or ceremony where another nation’s anthem was played I’d have no difficulty standing for that, out of respect.
Rummuser Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 16:53
I admire you for your straight shooting. I stand up for all NAs whenever I hear them.
Sunday, September 13th 2009 at 09:16 |
Hi Dad,
Your post sent shivers down my spine. As a child I too hated having to stand and learn to sing the national anthem along with countless other peers. Also the marching, and pretty much any form of discipline. I don’t quite agree with your opinion that youngsters think the national anthem is uncool. I remember lots of times growing up that it was just the ‘done thing’ to be anti-establishment or to reinforce the generation gap. I did my fair share of scorning our national anthem. Now I am proud to sing along, and definitely proud of my nation! These days in most multiplexes, they play the national anthem before every movie. Pretty much everyone stands up and sings along with gusto, including a lot of foreigners (apropos Gaelikaa). I never fail to get a shiver down my spine doing so, but what makes a lot of sense is that India rocks! Economically, technologically, spiritually and in myriad other ways, we just are a force to be reckoned with.
As an aside – you know I am not a big fan of Hindi cinema or music, and each time we go to the discotheque, I find more and more that all the foreigners actually know the lyrics to Bollywood music! They sing along, leaving me and my girlfriend just a tad bereft! We grew up on a steady stream of western music, though in no way does that make us any less Indian, nor any less patriotic.
Rummuser Reply:
September 13th, 2009 at 16:50
I have just learnt something new about you Ranjan. This is great information. I did not know that you felt this way. I am happy.
Monday, September 21st 2009 at 23:24 |
even i learnt much with your excellent post…thanks to make us know this
Rummuser Reply:
September 23rd, 2009 at 19:08
I am glad that you liked it. You have got a great site. I wish that I knew Telugu.
Thursday, November 5th 2009 at 19:39 |
The national anthems all around the world were written too many years ago, and they are not very well suited to current times. Often commemorate events that have already become outdated.