Who composed the national anthem?

Appeared in: NORCET 1 - 2020

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore, who composed India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana'.
The song was originally composed in Bengali under the title 'Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata'.
The first stanza was adopted as the National Anthem by the Constituent Assembly of India on January 24, 1950.
Tagore also holds the unique distinction of composing the national anthem for another country, Bangladesh ('Amar Shonar Bangla').

Option A: Mahatma Gandhi was a pivotal leader in India's freedom struggle and is known as the 'Father of the Nation', but he was not a composer and did not write the national anthem.
Option C: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed 'Vande Mataram', which is the National Song of India, not the National Anthem.
Option D: Madan Mohan Malviya was a prominent educator, politician, and founder of the Banaras Hindu University. He was not involved in the composition of the national anthem.

Visual 1: Infographic: A comparative chart showing the key differences between India's National Anthem ('Jana Gana Mana') and National Song ('Vande Mataram'), including their composers, origins, and significance. This would help visually distinguish between the two.
Visual 2: Image: Portraits of Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee side-by-side, with captions identifying their respective compositions ('Jana Gana Mana' and 'Vande Mataram').

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain General Knowledge: Indian National Symbols as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
While this is a general knowledge question, being a well-rounded professional includes having a basic understanding of national history and culture.
Awareness of national symbols fosters a sense of identity and civic responsibility, which are valuable traits in any profession, including nursing.
What if the question asked about the National Song? In that case, the correct answer would be Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, highlighting the importance of precise knowledge.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from general knowledge.
First, read the question carefully to identify the key requirement: 'Who composed the national anthem?'.
Recall or access knowledge about India's national symbols.
Differentiate between the National Anthem ('Jana Gana Mana') and the National Song ('Vande Mataram'), as their composers are often confused.
Evaluate each option: Rabindranath Tagore is the composer of the National Anthem. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed the National Song. Mahatma Gandhi and Madan Mohan Malviya are famous for other contributions.
Select the option that correctly identifies the composer of the National Anthem.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 1 - 2020

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.