India
"Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)

Words by: Rabindranath Tagore
Music by: Rabindranath Tagore
Adopted: 1950

India's various ethnic and cultural groups are honoured in the national anthem, and the melody is very reminiscent of Indian music as well. The words and music were written by Rabindranath Tagore, the same composer of the words and music of the national anthem of Bangladesh.

The subject of the song is the Universal Spirit that guides India (God), possibly as a unifying link to the varying ethnic groups of the nation. It was first used as a national anthem by the "Free State of India" (Axis-controlled India) from 1943-1945. it was officially adopted as India's national anthem two days before the republic was declared in 1950. At the time of adoption, another "national song" "Vande Mataram" was popular with the people and many government leaders, but the fact that Vandemataram personfied India as a Goddess was offensive to the monothestic Muslim population led to Janaganamana's adoption as the national anthem.

Special thanks to: Mani Varadarajan and Shailesh Parekh for some of this information.