Understanding the Real Intent Behind India's National Anthem: Jana Gana Mana

India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, is a rich and deeply meaningful song that speaks to the unity and destiny of the Indian people. There is a persistent misconception among many Indians, and even some non-Indians, that Rabindranath Tagore wrote this anthem for King George V, the British Emperor. However, this idea is a significant misunderstanding of the true purpose of the anthem and its historical context.

Tagore and the Origin of Jana Gana Mana

To dispel these misconceptions, it is essential to understand the origins of the song. Jana Gana Mana is derived from the great poetic work Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata, which consists of five stanzas. The first stanza of Jana Gana Mana was adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India as the national anthem.

It is dedicated to a supreme divine god who is seen as the dispenser of the destiny of India. The 3rd stanza of the song clearly mentions the words "eternal charioteer," Hai Chirasarathi, who leads his pilgrims through countless ages. This eternal charioteer is none other than Lord Krishna as mentioned in the Bhagavad Gita.

The entire song was composed without explicitly mentioning the name of Krishna but by presenting his ideals and description, and it asks him to lead India to unity and peace. This subtle and profound reference to the divine was Tagore's way of encapsulating the eternal essence of India's destiny and unity.

The Misunderstanding and Its Roots

The idea that Tagore wrote the anthem to glorify the British emperors gained traction in the early 20th century. For instance, in 1912, when the Indian National Congress sang the first stanza of the anthem during their convention on December 27th, the same year and month when King George V visited India, media reported it as. This led to subsequent perceptions and misunderstandings.

Tagore addressed this controversy in a letter to Pulin Bihari Sen, which can be found in his biography Rabindrajibani, volume II, page 339, by Prabhatkumar Mukherjee. His stance is clear: he did not write the anthem to glorify the British rulers, but rather to express the hope for India's unity and progress.

Modern Misleading Advertising Tactics

Another misconception often perpetuated is related to modern advertising, particularly in the context of coding education for children. One egregious example is the advertisement for Whitehat Jr., a coding education platform.

The Ad Campaign

The ad campaign begins with a bunch of men in suits fighting in front of a house, while the residents are quietly having a cup of tea. A neighbor walks by and asks what's happening, and a lady explains that they are fighting for investing in Whitehat Jr.'s Chintu's app. The neighbor is impressed, and a kid enters the scene, referred to as "Chintu," by parents. The neighbor is surprised to learn that the app was developed by a child.

The ad then transitions to a boy, Chintu, learning to code through Whitehat Jr. The background voice narrates, "Learn coding from Whitejr." This ad is commonly criticized for being irritating and misleading. Indian parents should be wary of such claims.

Coding and Aptitude

First and foremost, coding is about problem-solving skills and aptitude. Developing these skills naturally occurs with the guidance of parents and teachers. Learning to code is a continuous process; it involves finding solutions to real-world problems and understanding syntax only after grasping the core concepts.

Encouraging children to code by first memorizing syntax can hinder their natural ability to think creatively and find innovative solutions. The mind should be trained to create a mental flowchart and explore different paths to solve problems rather than focusing first on syntax.

Real-world interaction is far more valuable than syntax memorization. The more a child engages with the world and applies concepts, the better they will become at coding and problem-solving.

Conclusion

India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was written with profound meaning, not to glorify British emperors but to reflect the divine essence of India's unity and destiny. Similarly, coding education should focus on fostering problem-solving skills and natural aptitude rather than presenting it as a shortcut through misleading advertising. Understanding the true intentions behind such cultural and educational practices is crucial for a well-informed and discerning society.