"Jana Gana Mana" has always drawn us to remember the fight of our ancestors for freedom that we enjoy today. Composed by Rabindranath Tagore, it in praise of the nation and its greatness in diverse states.
The controversies around it are really unfortunate but there to stay and you may have to discuss it in group discussions.
To help you with the
Group Discussion on National Anthem, below are some facts, quotes, arguments to guide you through your preparation. Also find a list of various GD topics related to National Anthem that you can expect to see at your Group Discussion.
Some facts about National Anthem:
- The national anthem takes fifty-two seconds in a formal performance. A shortened version consisting of the first and last lines is also sometimes staged. It takes 20 seconds.
- Tagore wrote the anthem in high Bengali Sanskrit. It is taken from the first five stanzas of "Brahmo Hymn".
- There is absolutely no law which compels anyone to sing the national anthem. It is not considered disrespectful to the nation or to the anthem if a person chooses only to stand up in respectful silence.
- On 30 November 2016, Supreme Court of India ordered that National Anthem must be played before movies in theatres, in order to instil "committed patriotism and nationalism".
Possible group discussion topics on National Anthem:
1. Was our national anthem originally written for George, The Fifth?
2. Should it be mandatory to stand during national anthem in theatres?
3. Should playing national anthem at the start of every movie be mandatory?
4. Does the national anthem need changes in words regarding names of states?
5. Should the phrase "Bharat bhagya vidhata" be removed from our national anthem?
6. Do we need to prove our patriotism by singing or standing to the national anthem?
7. Claiming patriotism by national anthem is wrong.
8. Should the word Sindh be deleted and replaced with Kashmir in our national anthem?
9. NFL players kneeling during national anthem is not disrespectful of the nation.
10. Dividing people in the name of patriotism is the real motive behind forcing national anthem.
11. Not standing for the National Anthem doesn't make anyone less patriotic.
Some quotes you can use in group discussion on National Anthem:
"Patriotism cannot be our final spiritual shelter; my refuge is humanity. I will not buy glass for the price of diamonds, and I will never allow patriotism to triumph over humanity as long as I live."
- Rabindranath Tagore
Yes, one must stand for the National Anthem at movies:
1. It's just 52 minutes: And then you are going to be sitting for the next 2 and half hours or more. It's not too much to ask for.
2. Uncontroversial: Respect for the national anthem is not something you can choose to give or not to give.
3. Just a reminder: Because there are only two other occasions in the whole year when we choose to be patriotic.
4. Pride: Our freedom fighters paid the price for what we have. A moment to dwell upon it is not too much to ask for.
No, keep the moral policing away:
1. Defining patriotism by this: Because the 52 seconds will prove if we are patriotic enough to live or be lynched by moral police.
2. Moral policing: is wrong. The government cannot force the nation to play national anthem before the start of all crappy movies that Bollywood produce every week.
3. Diverting attention: There are so many things wrong with the world and this issue gets prime time attention.
4. Wear ethnic clothes to cinema: Because national anthem is being played and you cannot go to watch the national anthem in skirts and shorts.
Conclusion:
National Anthem is definitely one composition which makes every Indian feel connected with the country. This one composition has a tremendous power to fill every Indian with feelings of patriotism and deserves all the respect.
We hope that you find this
GD guide on National Anthem helpful for your preparation.
