Eternal India Encyclopedia

Eternal India encyclopedia

NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Rashtra Mudra NATIONAL EMBLEM India's state emblem is a partial reproduction of the capital of the Mauryan King Ashoka's pillar at Sarnath near Varanasi discovered in 1905. It consists of an inverted lotus on which rests a plinth with the carvings of four racing animals, an elephant, a horse, a humped bull, and a lion, all separated by four chakras, each of 24 spokes; above this are the figures of the four lions seated back to back. Sarnath is the place where the Buddha preached his first sermon after enlightenment - an event reckoned as the turning of the wheel of law or dharma.

Adopted from the Lion Capital of Sarnath's Ashokan Pillar.

1. Top

: Three Lions (Awe, Majesty and Power) back to back in relief; (fourth Lion hidden from view)

: ‘ Dharma-Chakra ’ , the ‘Wheel of Law’, with 24 spokes in the centre with Bull (Hard work), on the right and Horse (Energy and Speed) on the left. : On the base is inscribed the motto- ‘Satyameva Jayate’ (Truth Alone Triumphs) taken from Mundaka Upanishad.

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Rashtra Geeth NATIONAL ANTHEM On January 24, 1950 the Constituent Assembly adopted Jana Gana Mana, composed by Rabindranath Tagore, as the National Anthem. Its President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, issued this statement: "The composition consisting of the words and music known as the Jana Gana Mana shall be used for official purposes as the National Anthem of India... and the song Vande Mataram which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with the Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it." Vande Mataram which occurs in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's novel Ananda Math (1882) became the song of the freedom movement. The first political occasion on which it was song was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. It was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore The only difficulty in adopting Vande Mataram as the National Anthem seems to have been that it did not lend itself to harmonisation. Experts were of the view that its melody was somewhat shapeless and too diffuse to stand harmonisation. Jana Gana Mana was first sung at a political occasion on December 27, 1911 on the second day of the Congress session. On the first day Vande Mataram had been sung as usual. Bharata Vidhata was the title under which the song was first published in the January 1912 number of Tattvabodhini Patrika of which Rabindranath Tagore was the editor. The poet himself translated it into English under the title "The Morning Song of India", In 1947, the Indian delegation to the United Nations was asked for their National Anthem to be played on a particular occasion. They referred the matter to the Government which as a provisional measure, decided in favour of Jana Gana Mana. It was played by the UN orchestra and was an instant success. Jawaharlal Nehru observed: "It was greatly appreciated and representatives of many nations asked for a musical score of this new tune which struck them as distinctive and dignified."