UPSC Prelims 2007 Q63: Modern History – Early Nationalism & Indian National Congress (1885 - 1915)
The song ‘Amar Sonar Bangla’, written during the Swadeshi Movement of India, inspired the
Liberation Struggle of Bangladesh and was adopted as the National Anthem of Bangladesh. Who
wrote this song?
- (a) Rajni Kanta Sen
- (b) Dwijendralal Ray
- (c) Mukunda Das
- (d) Rabindranath Tagore
Answer: (d) Rabindranath Tagore
Explanation
"Amar Sonar Bangla" — Tagore's Swadeshi song
| Detail | Fact |
|---|---|
| Writer | Rabindranath Tagore |
| Year | 1905 — during the anti-Partition (Swadeshi) movement |
| Adopted by Bangladesh | 1971 — first 10 lines are the national anthem |
Tagore's three anthems:
| Country | Anthem | Tagore's role |
|---|---|---|
| India | Jana Gana Mana | Written by Tagore |
| Bangladesh | Amar Sonar Bangla | Written by Tagore |
| Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka Matha | Written by Ananda Samarakoon, a student at Santiniketan inspired by Tagore |
Other options were Swadeshi-era song-writers too — Rajanikanta Sen, D.L. Roy, Mukunda Das — which makes this a good trap.
Answer: (d) Rabindranath Tagore.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Rajanikanta Sen wrote Swadeshi songs like 'Mayer deya mota kapor', not Amar Sonar Bangla.
- (b) Incorrect. Dwijendralal Ray wrote 'Dhana Dhanya Pushpa Bhara'.
- (c) Incorrect. Mukunda Das was a 'jatra' performer who spread Swadeshi through folk drama.
- (d) CORRECT. Tagore wrote Amar Sonar Bangla (1905), adopted by Bangladesh in 1971.
Key point
Amar Sonar Bangla (1905) by Tagore = Bangladesh's national anthem. Tagore also wrote India's Jana Gana Mana.
Remember
Amar Sonar Bangla was written by Tagore in 1905.
Common mistakes
- Choosing D.L. Roy or Rajanikanta Sen because they also wrote Swadeshi songs.
- Thinking Tagore directly wrote Sri Lanka's anthem — it was Ananda Samarakoon, his student.
- Dating the song to 1947 or 1971. It was written in 1905 against the Partition of Bengal.
Exam tip
Tagore = 2 anthems directly (India, Bangladesh) + 1 by inspiration (Sri Lanka).
Sources
- Bipan Chandra — India's Struggle for Independence, Ch 10 (Swadeshi Movement)
- Sumit Sarkar — The Swadeshi Movement in Bengal
- Rabindranath Tagore — Amar Shonar Bangla (1905)