Amar Sonar Bangla

"Amar Sonar Bangla" (Bengali: আমার সোনার বাংলা, lit. 'My Golden Bengal', pronounced [amar ʃonar baŋla]) is the national anthem of Bangladesh.^[1][2] An ode to Mother Bengal, the lyrics were written by Bengali polymath Rabindranath Tagore in 1905, while the melody of the hymn was adopted from the Baul singer Gagan Harkara's song "Ami Kothay Pabo Tare" (আমি কোথায় পাবো তারে) set to Dadra Tala.^[3][4][5] The modern instrumental rendition was arranged by Bangladeshi musician Samar Das.

Amar Sonar Bangla

English: My Golden Bengal
আমার সোনার বাংলা
National anthem of  Bangladesh
Lyrics	Rabindranath Tagore, 1905
Music	Gagan Harkara, 1889 (arranged by Samar Das, in 1972)
Adopted	10 April 1971 (provisional) 26 March 1972 (official)
Preceded by	Pakistan Zindabad
Audio sample
Official vocal version file help

U.S. Navy Band instrumental version

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Official music track

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Etymology

The word sonar literally means "made of gold", with sona meaning gold, and amar showing possession. It is used as a term of endearment meaning "beloved", but in the song the words sonar Bangla may be interpreted to express the preciousness of Bengal.

History

Main article: Partition of Bengal (1905)

 

Rabindranath Tagore, writer of the song

The song was written in 1905 during the first partition of Bengal, when the ruling British Empire had an undivided province of Bengal Presidency split into two parts; the decision was announced on 20 July by the then-Viceroy of India Lord Curzon, taking effect on 16 October. This divide of Bengal, being along communal lines–East Bengal and Assam having a majority of Muslims and West Bengal having a majority of Hindus–is claimed to have undermined India's national movement against the UK's imperialism and to have been politically motivated. Along with a host of others, songs such as this were meant to rekindle the unified spirit of Bengal, to raise public consciousness against the communal political divide. The lyrics first appeared in the September issues of Bongodorshon and Baul simultaneously, in 1905. The song along with the musical notation (referred to as swaralipi in Bengali), first appeared in the periodical musical journal Shongeet Biggnan Probeshika in the same month and year. Indira Devi, Tagore's niece, Satyendranath Tagore's daughter, jotted down the musical notation hearing it from Tagore himself (this was the common norm, Tagore singing the song, and someone formally jotting down the musical notations).

Official adaption

The first ten (10) lines of this song constitute Bangladesh's national anthem, adopted in 1971 during its liberation war. Only those lines are given in the following section. The instrumental orchestra rendition was composed by Samar Das.^[6]

Lyrics

Original poem

The following provides the lyrics of the "Amar Sonar Bangla" as written by Rabindranath Tagore. Only the first ten lines of this song currently constitute Bangladesh's national anthem.

Bengali original^[7]^[8]^[9]	Romanisation of Bengali	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
আমার সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি। চিরদিন তোমার আকাশ, তোমার বাতাস, আমার প্রাণে বাজায় বাঁশি॥ ও মা, ফাগুনে তোর আমের বনে ঘ্রাণে পাগল করে, মরি হায়, হায় রে— ও মা, অঘ্রাণে তোর ভরা ক্ষেতে আমি কী দেখেছি মধুর হাসি॥ কী শোভা, কী ছায়া গো, কী স্নেহ, কী মায়া গো— কী আঁচল বিছায়েছ বটের মূলে, নদীর কূলে কূলে। মা, তোর মুখের বাণী আমার কানে লাগে সুধার মতো, মরি হায়, হায় রে— মা, তোর বদনখানি মলিন হলে, ও মা, আমি নয়নজলে ভাসি॥ তোমার এই খেলাঘরে শিশুকাল কাটিলে রে, তোমারি ধুলামাটি অঙ্গে মাখি ধন্য জীবন মানি। তুই দিন ফুরালে সন্ধ্যাকালে কী দীপ জ্বালিস ঘরে, মরি হায়, হায় রে— তখন খেলাধুলা সকল ফেলে, ও মা, তোমার কোলে ছুটে আসি॥ ধেনু-চরা তোমার মাঠে, পারে যাবার খেয়াঘাটে আমার সোনার বাংলা , সারা দিন পাখি-ডাকা ছায়ায়-ঢাকা তোমার পল্লীবাটে, তোমার ধানে-ভরা আঙিনাতে জীবনের দিন কাটে, মরি হায়, হায় রে— ও মা, আমার যে ভাই তারা সবাই, ও মা, তোমার রাখাল তোমার চাষি॥ ও মা, তোর চরণেতে দিলেম এই মাথা পেতে— দে গো তোর পায়ের ধুলা, সে যে আমার মাথার মানিক হবে। ও মা, গরিবের ধন যা আছে তাই দিব চরণতলে, মরি হায়, হায় রে— আমি পরের ঘরে কিনব না আর, মা, তোর ভূষণ ব'লে গলার ফাঁসি	Amar shonar Bangla, ami tomay bhalobashi. Cirodin tomar akash, tomar batash, amar prane bajay bãshi. O ma, phagune tor amer bone ghrane pagol kôre, Mori hay, hay re: O ma, Ôghrane tor bhôra khete ami ki dekhechi modhur hashi. Ki shobha, ki chaya go, ki sneho, ki maya go, Ki ãcol bichayecho bôṭer mule, nodir kule kule. Ma, tor mukher bani amar kane lage shudhar môto, Mori hay, hay re: Ma, tor bôdonkhani molin hole, o ma, ami nôyonjôle bhashi. Tomar ei khêlaghôre shishukal kaṭile re, Tomari dhulamaṭi ôngge makhi dhonno jibôn mani. Tui din phurale shondhakale ki dip jalish ghôre, Mori hay, hay re: Tôkhon khêladhula shôkol phele, o ma, tomar kole chuṭe ashi. Dhenu-côra tomar maṭhe, pare jabar kheyaghaṭe, Shara din pakhi-ḍaka chayay-ḍhaka tomar pollibaṭe, Tomar dhane-bhôra anginate jibôner din kaṭe Mori hay, hay re: O ma, amar je bhai tara shôbai, o ma, tomar rakhal tomar cashi. O ma, tor côronete dilem ei matha pete: De go tor payer dhula, she je amar mathar manik hôbe. O ma, goriber dhôn ja ache tai dibo côrontôle, Mori hay, hay re: Ami pôrer ghôre kinbo na ar, ma, tor bhushon bole gôlar phãshi.	[a.mar ʃo.nar baŋ.la ǀ a.mi to.maj bʱa.lo.ba.ʃi] [t͡ʃi.ro.din to.mar a.kaʃ ǀ to.mar ba.taʃ ǀ a.mar pra.ne ba.d͡ʒaj bã.ʃi ‖] [o ma ǀ pʰa.gu.ne tor a.mer bo.ne gʱra.ne pa.gol kɔ.re ǀ] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [o ma ǀ ɔ.gʱra.ne tor bʱɔ.ra kʰe.te a.mi ki de.kʰe.t͡ʃʰi mo.dʱur ha.ʃi ‖] [ki ʃo.bʱa ǀ ki t͡ʃʰa.ja go ǀ ki sne.ho ǀ ki ma.ja go ǀ] [ki ã.t͡ʃol bi.t͡ʃʰa.je.t͡ʃʰo bɔ.ʈer mu.le ǀ no.dir ku.le ku.le] [ma ǀ tor mu.kʰer ba.ni a.mar ka.ne la.ge ʃu.dʱar mɔ.to ǀ] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [ma ǀ tor bɔ.don.kʰa.ni mo.lin ho.le ǀ o ma ǀ a.mi nɔ.jon.d͡ʒɔ.le bʱa.ʃi ‖] [to.mar ei kʰɛ.la.gʱɔ.re ʃi.ʃu.kal ka.ʈi.le re ǀ] [to.ma.ri dʱu.la.ma.ʈi ɔŋ.ge ma.kʰi dʱon.no d͡ʒi.bɔn ma.ni] [tu.i din pʰu.ra.le ʃon.dʱa.ka.le ki dip d͡ʒa.liʃ gʱɔ.re ǀ] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [tɔ.kʰon kʰɛ.la.dʱu.la ʃɔ.kol pʰe.le ǀ o ma ǀ to.mar ko.le t͡ʃʰu.ʈe a.ʃi ‖] [dʱe.nu.t͡ʃɔ.ra to.mar ma.ʈʰe ǀ pa.re d͡ʒa.bar kʰe.ja.gʱa.ʈe ǀ] [ʃa.ra din pa.kʰi.ɖa.ka t͡ʃʰa.jaj.ɖʱa.ka to.mar pol.li.bʱa.ʈe ǀ] [to.mar dʱa.ne.bʱɔ.ra aŋ.i.na.te d͡ʒi.bɔ.ner din ka.ʈe] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [o ma ǀ a.mar d͡ʒe bʱa.i ta.ra ʃɔ.bai̯ ǀ o ma ǀ to.mar ra.kʰal to.mar t͡ʃa.ʃi ‖] [o ma ǀ tor t͡ʃɔ.ro.ne.te di.lem ei̯ ma.tʰa pe.te ǀ] [de go tor pa.jer dʱu.la ǀ ʃe d͡ʒe a.mar ma.tʰar ma.nik hɔ.be] [o ma ǀ go.ri.ber dʱɔn d͡ʒa a.t͡ʃʰe tai̯ di.bo t͡ʃɔ.ron.tɔ.le ǀ] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [a.mi pɔ.rer gʱɔ.re kin.bo na ar ǀ ma ǀ tor bʱu.ʃon bo.le gɔ.lar pʰã.ʃi ‖]	My golden Bengal, thee I love. Forever thy skies be, thine air like a flute set my heart in tune; O Mother, aroma of mango orchard in Falgun driveth me crazy, Ah, such miraculousness! O Mother, time seeth in Ogrohayon smiles sweet all through fields of paddy. What beauty, what shades, what affection, what tenderness; What a quilt thou hast spread at tip of banyans 'long ev'ry bank, O Mother, words from thy lips like nectar to my ears. Ah, such miraculousness! If sadness, o mother, cast a gloom on thy face, my eyes filled with tears. Spending my childhood in thy playhouse Thy soil o'er my body smeared, I consider myself privileged. Wonderful lamp at dusk thou lightest, Ah, such miraculousness! At once I quit playing and sprint back to thy lap, o mother. In cattle grazing field, on pier for crossing stream, Shaded village walkways, serene with calling birds Open porch with heaped ripe paddy, my life goeth on. Ah, such miraculousness! All thy shepherds and farmers are my brothers. This time I offer my head beneath thy feet, Bless me with thy dust, obliged shall I be to flaunt overhead. To thee I shall offer meagrely whatever I have at home, Ah, such miraculousness! Ne'er bothered to buy thee from others a hanging rope coronal guise.

Lyrics as sung

The following are the lyrics of the national anthem as sung, which differ slightly from the original poem.^[10]

Bengali	Romanisation of Bengali	IPA transcription^[a]	English translation
আমার সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি। 𝄆 চিরদিন তোমার আকাশ, 𝄇 তোমার বাতাস, আমার প্রাণে ও মা, আমার প্রাণে বাজায় বাঁশি॥ সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি। ও মা, ফাগুনে তোর আমের বনে ঘ্রাণে পাগল করে, মরি হায়, হায় রে— ও মা, ফাগুনে তোর আমের বনে ঘ্রাণে পাগল করে, ও মা, অঘ্রাণে তোর ভরা ক্ষেতে কী দেখেছি আমি কী দেখেছি মধুর হাসি॥ সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি। কী শোভা, কী ছায়া গো, কী স্নেহ, কী মায়া গো— কী আঁচল বিছায়েছ বটের মূলে, নদীর কূলে কূলে। মা, তোর মুখের বাণী আমার কানে লাগে সুধার মতো, মরি হায়, হায় রে— মা, তোর মুখের বাণী আমার কানে লাগে সুধার মতো, মা, তোর বদনখানি মলিন হলে, আমি নয়ন ও মা, আমি নয়নজলে ভাসি॥ সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালোবাসি।	Amar shonar Bangla, ami tomay bhalobashi. 𝄆 Chirôdin tomar akash, 𝄇 Tomar batash, amar praṇe O ma, amar praṇe bajay bãshi. Shonar Bangla, ami tomay bhalobashi. O ma, phagune tor amer bône ghraṇe pagôl kôre, Môri hay, hay re: O ma, phagune tor amer bône ghraṇe pagôl kôre, O ma, Ôghrane tor bhôra khete kī dekhechhi Ami kī dekhechhi môdhur hashi. Shonar Bangla, ami tomay bhalobashi. Kī shobha, kī chhaya go, kī snehô, kī maya go, Kī ãchôl bichhayechhô bôṭer mule, nôdir kule kule. Ma, tor mukher baṇī amar kane lage shudhar môto, Môri hay, hay re: Ma, tor mukher baṇī amar kane lage shudhar môto, Ma, tor bôdônkhani môlin hôle, ami nôyôn O ma, ami nôyônjôle bhashi. Shonar Bangla, ami tomay bhalobashi.	[a.mar ʃo.nar baŋ.la ǀ a.mi to.maj bʱa.lo.ba.ʃi] 𝄆 [t͡ʃi.ro.din to.mar a.kaʃ] 𝄇 [to.mar ba.taʃ ǀ a.mar pra.ne] [o ma ǀ a.mar pra.ne ba.d͡ʒaj bã.ʃi ‖] [ʃo.nar baŋ.la ǀ a.mi to.maj bʱa.lo.ba.ʃi] [o ma ǀ pʰa.gu.ne tor a.mer bo.ne gʱra.ne pa.gol kɔ.re ǀ] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [o ma ǀ pʰa.gu.ne tor a.mer bo.ne gʱra.ne pa.gol kɔ.re ǀ] [o ma ǀ ɔ.gʱra.ne tor bʱɔ.ra kʰe.te ki de.kʰe.t͡ʃʰi] [a.mi ki de.kʰe.t͡ʃʰi mo.dʱur ha.ʃi ‖] [ʃo.nar baŋ.la ǀ a.mi to.maj bʱa.lo.ba.ʃi] [ki ʃo.bʱa ǀ ki t͡ʃʰa.ja go ǀ ki sne.ho ǀ ki ma.ja go ǀ] [ki ã.t͡ʃol bi.t͡ʃʰa.je.t͡ʃʰo bɔ.ʈer mu.le ǀ no.dir ku.le ku.le] [ma ǀ tor mu.kʰer ba.ni a.mar ka.ne la.ge ʃu.dʱar mɔ.to ǀ] [mo.ri haj ǀ haj re ǀ] [ma ǀ tor mu.kʰer ba.ni a.mar ka.ne la.ge ʃu.dʱar mɔ.to ǀ] [ma ǀ tor bɔ.don.kʰa.ni mo.lin ho.le a.mi nɔ.jon] [o ma ǀ a.mi nɔ.jon.d͡ʒɔ.le bʱa.ʃi ‖] [ʃo.nar baŋ.la ǀ a.mi to.maj bʱa.lo.ba.ʃi]	My golden Bengal, thee I love. 𝄆 Forever thy skies be, 𝄇 Thine air, my heart O Mother, like a flute set my heart in tune; Golden Bengal, thee I love. O Mother, aroma of mango orchard in Falgun driveth me crazy, Ah, such miraculousness! O Mother, aroma of mango orchard in Falgun driveth me crazy, O Mother, seeth in Ogrohayon all through fields of paddy. Time seeth smiles sweet. Golden Bengal, thee I love. What beauty, what shades, what affection, what tenderness; What a quilt thou hast spread at tip of banyans 'long ev'ry bank, O Mother, words from thy lips like nectar to my ears. Ah, such miraculousness! O Mother, words from thy lips like nectar to my ears. If sadness, cast a gloom on thy face, my eyes O mother, my eyes filled with tears. Golden Bengal, thee I love.

Notable performances and covers

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs planned to stage an event on Bangladesh's 44th independence day, in a bid to have the world record of the most people singing a national anthem simultaneously. Consequently, on 2 March, the ministry launched a program titled "Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla" whose main objective was to hold an event with the cooperation of Bangladesh Armed Forces where approximately 300,000 people would sing the national anthem.^[11] Several popular Bangladeshi musicians and cultural groups later joined the program.^[12]

The record was broken at 11:20 on 26 March 2014 by 254,537 participants at Dhaka's National Parade Ground. The event was attended by the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, and all the members of the cabinet.^[13] After receiving the required evidence, the Guinness Book of World Records approved the record on 9 April 2014.^[14] The record was broken by India on 21 January 2017.^[15]

See also

•  Bangladesh portal

• Notuner Gaan, the national march of Bangladesh, written by Kazi Nazrul Islam.
• Ekusher Gaan, a song in the memory of the martyrs of the Bengali language movement
• Jana Gana Mana, national anthem of India, also written by Rabindranath Tagore
• Banga Mata
• Joy Bangla

Notes

1. See Help:IPA/Bengali and Bengali phonology.

References

1. . Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Archived from the original on 2014-10-06.
2. . NationalAnthems.me. Archived from the original on 2018-05-26. Retrieved 9 August 2011.
3. Folk singer, Swapan Basu, demonstrates the similarity in a live recitation (0:43/8:46 to 1:21/8:46)
4. Chakrabarti, Santosh (2004). Studies in Tagore: Critical Essays. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 108. ISBN 9788126903405.
5. "Rabindranath Tagore - Essays - Creative Unity - An Indian Folk Religion ()". tagoreweb.in. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
6. Komol, Khalid Hasan (2012). "Das, Samar". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
7. "Rabindranath Tagore - Songs - স্বদেশ - আমার সোনার বাংলা". tagoreweb.in. from the original on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
8. . www.netrokona.gov.bd. Archived from the original on 2020-07-30. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
9. . www.parjatanbd.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-11. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
10. Gaan Bangla TV (2021-03-25). "আমার সোনার বাংলা | দেশ বরেণ্য ৫০ জন শিল্পীর কন্ঠে জাতীয় সংগীত | National Anthem of Bangladesh". YouTube. Archived from the original on 2022-04-25. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
11. "Logo of 'Lakho Konthe Sonar Bangla' unveiled". The Independent. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
12. . New Age. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
13. . New Age. Archived from the original on 7 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
14. "Guinness accepts national anthem record". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
15. "Most people singing a national/regional anthem simultaneously". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 22 September 2021.

External links

•   Works related to My Golden Bengal at Wikisource