By George! Jana Gana is NRIs' pride

Most of the NRIs refute that national anthem was written in honour of King George V, writes K Bharthapudi.

Suresh Jadcherla, 25, from Columbus, Ohio, is one among hundreds of US-based NRIs receiving a blanket email, which claims that Indian national anthem was written "in honour of King George V and the Queen of England when they visited India in 1919."

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The email accuses that the anthem is a symbol of slavery, clinically diagnosing every stanza and concluding that "Jana Gana Mana…" is a brazen glorification of the fiends who abused India, and "does not indicate any love for the Motherland."

Further, the message urges recipients to "wakeup" and act to revoke Tagore's "Jana Gana Mana…" and adopting "Vandemataram…" as India's national anthem.

Though the factuality of the argument in the email — questioning the legitimacy of the anthem — firmly takes refuge under preposterousness, it is generating immense discussion among professional NRIs over the web, baring their cognizance toward the anthem and the nation at-large.

Jadcherla, for instance, is quick to refute the historicity of such argument.

"My strong feeling and good understanding is that it was not written in honour of King George V. It was written during the time when Bengal was first partitioned in 1905 by Lord Curzon. There was a great rage and resentment against the British then," he says.

Similarly, Vinay Gatti a mechanical engineer from Albany, NY, who seemed well versed with the Indian history dismisses angrily, saying "this is no song in praise of the damn king and queen of England" and argues that the anthem fully reflects geographical and cultural heritage of India.

While historical adepts like Gatti appear obstinate in putting the factual record in order, for compatriots like Phanidhar Kolusu, a 28 year-old software professional from California, it is the content of the anthem and not the historical context which really matters.

"In my case, I sing my national anthem and respect it and it inspires me because it is my national anthem and the moment it became India's national anthem it is to me in praise of my motherland," says Kolusu.

Vineet Chaparala, 25, a working professional from Illinois, says "Bhagya Vidhata of India who has from age after age held steadfast the reins of India's chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved.

That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George." For him the argument in the email is just a "smoke from an unknown fire."

Similarly, "whenever I sing it or hear it my eyes are filled with pride and my chest beams with pride as if some one is praising me, some one telling me that I mean a lot to him" says Pankaj Goel, 25, a software professional from New York City, who admits that he not only is unaware of the origins of the anthem, but also not aware of "the complete meaning of it."

But the national anthem doesn't fill the eye and doesn't beam the chest for everyone.

"As far as I am concerned singing our national anthem on special national days like Independence Day, Republic Day or in school assemblies looks like mandatory. It's just a rule to be followed, and is irrelevant whether people understand or know the significance of it," says Jeetender Adla, a Manhattan resident.

Further, "its better to have it and follow the tradition, and I think there is nothing we can do or change our national anthem "Jana Gana Mana" to other national songs if you like it or not," says 24 year-old Adla.