CELEBRATING 67 YEARS OF INDIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM

24TH January 1950,”Jana Gana Mana” was officially declared as India’s National Anthem.

The National Anthem reminds me of assembly in school days and the yell of “Jai Hind!” after the singing of National Anthem.When I hear the national anthem, I'm overwhelmed as it fills me with a sense of pride.I get goosebumps every time I hear national anthem and it brings tears in my eyes thinking of our freedom fighters, both the known faces and those countless unknown faces.

There are certain rules that prescribed in our constitution to sing National Anthem.

1.    It should get over in a stipulated time frame over apprx 52 sec. 

2.   You should stand up, with your shoulders held straight, and head held high, showing your utmost respect for the nation.

3.    Whenever the Anthem is sung or played, the audience shall stand to attention.

4.   However, when in the course of a news reel or documentary the Anthem is played as a part of the film, it is not expected of the audience to stand as standing is bound to interrupt the exhibition of the film and would create disorder and confusion rather than add to the dignity of the Anthem. 

5. As in the case of the flying of the National Flag, it has been left to the good sense of the people not to indulge in indiscriminate singing or playing of the Anthem. 

6. A short version consisting of the first and last lines of the National Anthem is also played on certain occasions Approx 20 sec. Usually the short version of the Anthem shall be played when drinking toasts in Messes. 

7. Though some peoples confuse that it can't be sung after sunset and so, i believe like a true patriot you can sing it any time, with full respect and proud in your heart.  

Now a days a lot of controversies about National Anthem.So many questions, that why should one have to follow the rules while singing National Anthem. I dont  have time to controversy about the topic.

The rules are just another way of showing respect towards your country.But I wish to say that Patriotism means its a strong feeling and sense of pride towards our country, what you yourselves feel inside is true patriotism. As a school child, the law never forced me to stand up when my teacher entered the classroom. The law doesn’t force us to touch our elders’ feet to show our respect.The law never forced to stand when a seniors or elders enters a room. Neither does the law force us to breathe or bathe or love or laugh. But we do it all, regardless, because respect comes from within and it’s a noble feeling, irrespective of whether it is an emotional expression or a biological need.This analogy might not be entirely perfect for the topic at hand, but the point is that we do a lot of things, happily, that the law does not force us to.Showing respect to the National Anthem is one of those.

Whether the law makes it compulsory or not is beside the point. I have seen even foreigners stand up when the Indian national anthem is played.It’s not about the law, folks, as some lawyers would have us believe: it’s about the sentiment, which a simple act like merely standing up when the national anthem is being played, that shows your respect for the motherland and for the thousands of martyrs who laid their lives for the very democracy.