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Replace words of Tagore’s ‘Jana Gana Mana’ with Netaji’s INA version — Swamy writes to PM

In a letter to PM Modi, Subramanian Swamy said some words in Tagore's national anthem raise 'unnecessary doubts' and was 'inappropriate for post-1947 independent India'.

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New Delhi: BJP leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy Tuesday suggested replacing the national anthem written by Rabindranath Tagore with the version adopted by Subhash Chandra Bose’ Indian National Army (INA) in 1943.

In a letter written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Swamy said words in Tagore’s national anthem, such as “Sindh”, raise “unnecessary doubts” and was “inappropriate for post-1947 independent India”.

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) December 1, 2020

Calling it a “demand of an overwhelming majority of the youths of India”, Swamy hoped that the government would carry out the necessary changes by 26 January 2021.

The MP also referred to the concluding remarks by former president Rajendra Prasad on 26 November 1949, in which he had said that words in the national anthem may be amended or replaced in future.


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The INA anthem

In his letter, Swamy also said that the anthem was adopted by Bose on 21 October 1943 after the British imperialist troops were evicted by the INA from Manipur.

The INA anthem, which is said to be the Hindustani version of the Bangla poem written by Tagore, is called ‘Subh Sukh Chain’. Bose, along with two of his generals Mumtaz Hussain and Colonel Abid Hasan Safrani, had translated Tagore’s poem and created the ‘Subh Sukh Chain‘ and Captain Ram Singh Thakur had given its tune. The 55-second-long anthem was also known as the ‘Qaumi Tarana’.

While Tagore’s version has five stanzas, the one adapted by Bose contains three. The first stanza of ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is used as the national anthem and should ideally be sung in 52 seconds. However, the first stanza of the INA anthem takes about 55 seconds to sing.

The Hindi version of the song is, however, not very different from the Bangla one and also has the word ‘Sindh’ in it.


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8 COMMENTS

  1. Yes i respect Mr. Subramanim swamy but changing the national anthem is an utter shame for the first Nobel prize winner of India & Asia Sir Robindronath Thakur if Modi government does changes the national anthem then it’s an insult to every Indian & Bengalis .

  2. If not for the word SINDH, the word HIND would not have existed and likewise the word HINDU. So, what is Swamy trying to prove?….that HINDUS don’t exist? or that BRAHMANISM is superior to HINDUISM?

  3. शुभ सुख चैन की बरखा बरसे , भारत भाग है जागा
    पंजाब, सिन्ध, गुजरात, मराठा, द्राविड़ उत्कल बंगा
    चंचल सागर, विन्ध्य, हिमालय, नीला जमुना गंगा
    तेरे नित गुण गाएँ, तुझसे जीवन पाएँ
    हर तन पाए आशा।
    सूरज बन कर जग पर चमके, भारत नाम सुभागा,
    जए हो! जए हो! जए हो! जए जए जए जए हो!॥
    The mention of “Sindh” is there in the INA version as well.

  4. Swamy is basically trying to divert the sentiments of the youth from the farmer’s Protest and other necessary topics. This is plain old political tactics played by every political party. A shame on him, being a stalwart of politics he should’ve known better.

  5. Swamy is a weekend Joker. He loves to come up with something silly and entertain us. And some people take that very seriously and start implementing it. Overall, his diversion tactics will work very well for the next one week.

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