| National Anthem
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 - Full & Short Versions
The composition consisting of the words and music of the first stanza
of the late poet Rabindra Nath Tagore's song known as "Jana
Gana Mana" is the National Anthem of India. It reads as follows:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Punjab-Sindh-Gujarat-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!
The above is the full version of the Anthem and its playing time
is approximately 52 seconds (Download
National Anthem)
A short version consisting of the first and last
lines of the National Anthem is also played on certain occasions.
It reads as follows:
Jana-gana-mana-adhinayaka, jaya he
Bharata-bhagya-vidhata.
Jaya he, jaya he, jaya he,
Jaya jaya jaya, jaya he!
Playing time of the short version is about 20 seconds.
The following is Tagore's English rendering of the anthem:
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 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.
The occasions on which the full versions or the short version will
be played have been indicated at the appropriate places in these
instructions.
Playing of the Anthem
The full version of the Anthem shall be played on the following
occasions:
Civil and Military investitures;
When National Salute (which means the Command "Rashtriya Salute
Salami Shastr" to the accompaniment of the National Anthem
is given on ceremonial occasions to the President or to the Governor/Lieutenant
Governor within their respective States/Union Territories;
During parades irrespective of whether any of the dignitaries referred
to in (ii) above is present or not;
On arrival of the President at formal State functions and other
functions organized by the Government and mass functions and on
his departure from such functions;
Immediately before and after the President addresses the Nation
over All India Radio;
On arrival of the Governor/Lieutenant Governor at formal State functions
within his State/Union Territory and on his departure from such
functions;
When the National Flag is brought on parade;
When the Regimental Colours are presented;
For hoisting of colours in the Navy.
The short version of the Anthem shall be played when drinking toasts
in Messes.
The Anthem shall be played on any other occasion for which special
orders have been issued by the Government of India.
Normally the Anthem shall not be played for the Prime Minister,
though there may be special occasions when it may be played.
When the National Anthem is played by a band, the Anthem will be
preceded by a roll of drums to assist the audience to know that
the National Anthem is going to be played, unless there is some
other specific indication that the National Anthem is about to be
played, as for example, when fanfares are sounded before the National
Anthem is played, or when toasts are drunk to the accompaniment
of the National Anthem or when the National Anthem constitutes the
National Salute given by a Guard of Honour. The duration of the
roll, in terms of marching drill, will be 7 paces in slow march.
The roll will start slowly, ascend to as loud a volume as possible
and then gradually decreases to original softness, but remaining
audible until the seventh beat. One beat rest will then be observed
before commencing the National Anthem.
Mass Singing of the Anthem
The full version of the Anthem shall be played accompanied
by mass singing on the following occasions:
On the unfurling of the National Flag, on cultural occasions or
ceremonial functions other than parades. (This could be arranged
by having a choir or adequate size, suitably stationed, which would
be trained to coordinate its singing with the band etc. There should
be an adequate public audition system so that the gathering in various
enclosures can sing in unison with the choir);
On arrival of the President at any Government or Public function
(but excluding formal State functions and mess functions) and also
immediately before his departure from such functions.
On all occasions when the National Anthem is sung, the full version
shall be recited accompanied by mass singing.
The Anthem may be sung on occasions which, although not strictly
ceremonial, are nevertheless invested with significance because
of the presence of Ministers etc. The singing of the Anthem on such
occasions (with or without the accompaniment of an instruments)
accompanied by mass singing is desirable.
It is not possible to give an exhaustive list of occasions on which
the singing (as distinct from playing) of the Anthem can be permitted.
But there is no objection to the singing of the Anthem accompanied
by mass singing so long as it is done with due respect as a salutation
to the motherland and proper decorum is maintained.
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.
General
Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall
stand to attention. However, when in the course of a newsreel or
documentary the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not
expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt
the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion
rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem.
As in the case of the flying of the National Flag, it has been left
to the good sense of the people not to indulge in indiscriminate
singing or playing of the Anthem.
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