- I will not resort to wild guess to call Rabindranath a liar. I will rather believe what he himself said about the history of the song. He emphatically said more than once that it was not addressed to King George V. We need solid evidences to prove that Rabindranath is contradicting himself. Anti-imperialist spirits of Rabindranath are well known.
- He has talked about "Jeeban-debata", not "Jeeban-debee". So, I would not be surprised that he used the word "Adhinayak", not "Adhinayika". Also in the song, he has compared the "Adhinayaka" with mother.
- Also, he invoked Hindu mytholgy by using the words like "Ratha", "Sarathi", "Shankha", etc. This reminds us of Mahabharat's Krishna. Land itself is like the mother, but the guide is a male deity---the theme goes pretty well with the tradition. Moreover, he has the attributes of the mother.
- There are many evidences to support the view that Rabindranath was not dishonest about his borrowings from folk songs.
- To me, Rabindranath was a man. He was not infallible. I have criticized him a lot. But, before I call him a liar, I will do some extra research to let the whole world know about by belief. I will be waiting for more evidences in support of Dr. Majid's conviction.
From: Farida Majid <farida_majid@hotmail.com>
To: mukto-mona Yahoogroups <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 3:59 PM
Subject: RE: [mukto-mona] Tagore wrote Jana Gana Mana For Lord Krishna - Logically Proved.
To: mukto-mona Yahoogroups <mukto-mona@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 5, 2011 3:59 PM
Subject: RE: [mukto-mona] Tagore wrote Jana Gana Mana For Lord Krishna - Logically Proved.
What an Imperialist-piyari British rule panderer! Rabindranath's 'jana gana mana' song was actually not too far from these sentiments. Rabindranath had to deny the song's association with King George V's visit to India when confronted. He bald faced lied. What else could he do? I have studied Rabindranath at length and know that he is clever about being dishonest. Let us think culturally. Traditionally in Bengal, a patriotic song or hym to the land of one's birth is addressed to "Mother" -- the land being a female figure of feritility even in the Muslim tradition. Bankim's 'Bande Mataram' is a typical model that was followed by many authors and composers including Muslim poets like Kazi Nazrul. In Iqbal's 'saare Jahan se accha' you don't get the image of Hindustan figuring as a dominant male. [That is the reason I strongly oppose the accusation of Bankim's 'Bande Mataram' being a communal song -- all 'saat koti' santaan of mother Bengal could be of any religion] Suddenly, out of nowhere comes this weird, dangerous component of an idea of a MALE leader, or a commander -- adhinayaka -- a decider on behalf of jana-gana's mind! Wow! That is against the concept of any religion. Hindu or Muslim prayers to God are done in supplication --lead us from darkness to light; or cleanse us of impurities; bestow prosperity on us; or lead us on the the straight path and not on the path of those you have cursed, etc. Man's mind has the free-will, it is liable to go astray, hence the prayer to the deity for assistance in leading to Truth and righteousness. But the idea of a dominant male commander of people's mind is utterly bewildering! Rabindranath had often expressed satisfaction of being under the British rule in many of his prose writings. This is the fist time in history, he says, that all of India is under one rule and one umbrella. His songs and literature is strewn with his intense Raja-preeti. 'Jana-gana-mana' is actually a Raja-vandana, a foreign Raja to whom all the provinces, rivers and seas of India are subservient. Contrast jana gana mana with Amar Sonar Bangla, which is composed eariler in a very different mood and with a very different political background of protessting the partitioning of Bengal by the British. Here Rabindranath is addressing the Mother, which is perfectly natural. Moreover, instead of a Brahmo samaj hymn tune he adopts a baul tune from a popular song that he heard from Gagon Harkara, the postman in Shelaidoho in East Bengal. Rabindranath used to love to sing the song himself. The American poet, Ezra Pound heard him sing the song in 1912 at the home of the artist Rothenstein in London. More later. Farida Majid
To: mukto-mona@yahoogroups.comFrom: jnrsr53@yahoo.comDate: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 16:36:04 -0700Subject: Re: [mukto-mona] Tagore wrote Jana Gana Mana For Lord Krishna - Logically Proved.
| This is what I think – most of Tagore's writing is directed to an imaginary deity. He never revealed what it was. As far as I know -Tagore never mentioned any particular deity in his writings. He was, obviously, aware the existence of this extraordinary spirit, and knew that the source was within him, not anywhere else, meaning it did not come from the sky. He mostly communicated with this spirit through his poems. We all have our own spirit within ourselves. We feel its presence, but cannot give a form to it. That is the God, I believe. This particular poem in question was about praising the King of Bharat, and you cannot depict a King without a chariot. Chariot was not the vehicle of Shree Krishna; he rode one with Arjun as the Charioteer during the Kurukhetra War. So, Chariot does not explain the fact. And conch was like the bugle in those days. You said – your mental speculation is based on eternal truth. I think - the truth is – we don't know the truth. You think India is still under British rule, because our thoughts are still controlled by British. Let's make a mental picture of India in 2011, without the British rule. Shall we? What do you see? I see a nation somewhere in 12th or 13th century. Let me know what you see. Therefore, if you ask me – I am thankful to British for their help in rebuilding India with their modern amenities, education systems, and judiciaries. Yes, they took some wealth back to England. Why not? You do not expect everything for free. Do you? After all, they came to India for business and occupied India for 200 years. They could have taken everything without investing a penny in India. It seems to me that your thoughts are blinded by propaganda, so you are unable to see the benefits of the British rule. Now, about mythological characters – my thought process is not influence by British. When I was born, British left India. If you use rational thinking, you will see the same. Let me give you a specific example of a mythological character. I was watching television the other day, and they were showing Durga Puja festivities in Kolkata. In just one Puja, they spent 40 million rupees to build the deity, and, so far, they already spent about 100 million rupees for this Puja. As soon as this Puja will be over, the same TV station will start showing us starving people dying on the street of Kolkata. Do you think Durga-Ma will relieve their pain and suffering? Now, tell me - what else we could do with that money. How about homeless/destitute senior citizen centers or boarding school for orphans? Don't you think that would please God more? I think so. Anyway, these are my personal views, not influenced by anybody or anything. Thanks for initiating the discussion, and exchanging your thoughts. Jiten Roy
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