Rabindranath Tagore and the ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata’ controversy: A misleading story

A recent social media controversy has reignited the claim that India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana, was composed by Rabindranath Tagore to praise British King George V. This argument is not only absurd but also highlights the shallow interpretation of historical facts in the digital age. Analyzing this debate from an Indian perspective is crucial, as it reveals how historical narratives are often distorted and misrepresented.

Rabindranath Tagore was an integral part of India’s freedom movement. While he was awarded knighthood by the British government in 1915, he famously renounced it in 1919 as a protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Would a man who so openly opposed British rule compose a song in their honor? The answer is quite clear.

The controversy stems from the fact that Jana Gana Mana was written in December 1911, the same time when King George V visited India. However, a deeper look at historical facts dispels this myth:

1.Tagore’s Own Clarification: In 1939, Tagore himself clarified that the song was not written for any king or British authority but was an invocation to the “Bharat Bhagya Vidhata” (the shaper of India’s destiny). He emphasized that it referred to a divine force, not a human ruler.

2.Understanding the Full Lyrics: The entire composition of Jana Gana Mana (which consists of five stanzas) speaks about the soul of India, its people, and their destiny. If it were meant for George V, it would have explicitly mentioned his name rather than using the phrase Bharat Bhagya Vidhata.

3.British Government’s Response: The official anthem recognized by the British government at that time was “God Save the King.” If Jana Gana Mana were truly a song of praise for the British monarch, the colonial administration would have adopted it, which never happened.

In Indian philosophy and culture, Bhagya Vidhata (the maker of destiny) is a phrase commonly associated with the divine. Whether in Hinduism as Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva, in Islam as Allah, or in Christianity as God, this concept universally signifies a supreme power. Associating this phrase with a British king is a complete misrepresentation of its intended meaning.

In the digital age, misinformation spreads rapidly. We have seen similar distortions in the past—whether it was misinterpretations of Subhas Chandra Bose’s ideology, false claims about Bhagat Singh’s beliefs, or now, misleading narratives about Tagore’s Jana Gana Mana. These distortions not only mislead the public but also weaken our understanding of history.

Rabindranath Tagore’s Jana Gana Mana is a tribute to India’s spirit and its divine destiny. Linking it to a British monarch is not only historically inaccurate but also a distortion of India’s cultural and literary heritage. This controversy is yet another example of how social media sensationalism often overrides factual analysis. Tagore’s works remain a beacon of India’s soul, and it is our responsibility to protect them from being misused for narrow political or ideological agendas.