UPSC Prelims 2021 Q36: Modern History – Key Personalities & Ideologies
- (a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour Indian National Flag here.
- (b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led the Quit India Movement of Andhra region from here.
- (c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
- (d) Madame Blavatsky and Colonel Olcott set up headquarters of Theosophical Society first here.
Answer: (c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
Explanation
Madanapalle, Andhra Pradesh: Historical Significance
| Option | Claim | True? |
|---|---|---|
| a) Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour flag here | FALSE | Pingali Venkayya designed the flag in Machilipatnam / Vijayawada (Bezwada), 1921. |
| b) Pattabhi Sitaramaiah led Quit India from here | FALSE | Pattabhi Sitaramaiah's political base was Machilipatnam / Masulipatnam. |
| c) Rabindranath Tagore translated Jana Gana Mana into English here | TRUE | In February 1919, at Besant Theosophical College, Madanapalle (invited by Margaret Cousins), Tagore translated 'Jana Gana Mana' from Bengali to English as 'The Morning Song of India'. Adopted as National Anthem in 1950. |
| d) Theosophical Society HQ set up first here | FALSE | Theosophical Society's Indian HQ was set up at Adyar, Chennai (1882), by Blavatsky and Olcott. |
Answer: (c) Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem from Bengali to English here.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pingali Venkayya designed the tricolour at Machilipatnam/Vijayawada in 1921, not Madanapalle.
- (b) Incorrect. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah's base was Machilipatnam.
- (c) CORRECT. Rabindranath Tagore translated Jana Gana Mana from Bengali to English at Besant Theosophical College, Madanapalle, in February 1919 - titled 'The Morning Song of India'.
- (d) Incorrect. Theosophical Society Indian HQ was established at Adyar, Chennai (1882) by Blavatsky and Olcott.
Key point
Madanapalle (Andhra Pradesh) = where Tagore translated Jana Gana Mana into English (Feb 1919, Besant Theosophical College). Titled 'The Morning Song of India'. Later became National Anthem (1950).
Remember
Madanapalle in Andhra Pradesh is where Rabindranath Tagore translated the National Anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' from Bengali to English in February 1919 at Besant Theosophical College. He titled the English version 'The Morning Song of India'. Correct answer: (c).
Common mistakes
- Confusing Madanapalle with Machilipatnam (Pingali Venkayya's flag design location).
- Confusing Theosophical Society Indian HQ (Adyar, Chennai, 1882) with its founding (New York, 1875 by Blavatsky and Olcott).
- Not knowing Jana Gana Mana was written in 1911 (Kolkata Congress session) and translated at Madanapalle in 1919.
Exam tip
Places-events chain: Madanapalle (Jana Gana Mana English translation, 1919), Adyar/Chennai (Theosophical HQ, 1882), Machilipatnam (Pingali Venkayya's flag, 1921), Champaran (Gandhi first satyagraha, 1917). Match place to event carefully.
Sources
- Prasanta Kumar Pal — Rabijibani (biography of Rabindranath Tagore), Ananda Publishers
- Constituent Assembly of India — Constituent Assembly Debates (24 January 1950): adoption of Jana Gana Mana as the National Anthem