I-Day rally focuses on getting anthem words right

A group is celebrating the 72nd Independence Day by promoting the correct pronunciation of the national anthem.

Volunteers will lead the singing at 72 locations in the western neighbourhoods of Bengaluru, with stress on how the words are enunciated.

About 100 organisations are backing the initiative — ‘Jana Mana Gana Gaana: National Anthem Awareness Campaign’.
 Schools and colleges, NGOs and Kannada groups are among those participating in the singing.

Indira Foundation president V Lokesh Gowda came up with the idea. The foundation is collaborating with the National Anthem Awareness Campaign Committee.

“It’s the first such attempt in the country. Nobody has led citizens’ groups to sing the anthem with the proper pronunciation,” Gowda told DH.

Many people get the words wrong, and so don’t understand the significance of the anthem, he said.

“Our aim is also to promote singing of the anthem in the prescribed 52 seconds,” Gowda explained.

The committee has roped in former Lokayukta N Santosh Hegde, writers Doddarange Gowda and Go Ru Chennabasappa, and poet and Rajya Sabha member L Hanumanthaiah to participate in the event. Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce president Chinne Gowda is also backing the initiative.

The hosts have identified 28 prominent locations for the campaign, music composer K M Indra told DH.

A chariot will carry teams of musicians who play keyboards, rhythm pads, flutes and guitars. Each team will have six singers, three men and three women, to sing the anthem, Indra, who is also the secretary of the campaign committee, told DH.

Representatives of associations will receive the chariot, while volunteers quickly hand out sheets with the words in Kannada and English.

The event begins at the New Baldwin School Ground at Hegganahalli at 8 am and ends at the Ayyappa Temple Circle at the 8th Mile at 4 pm.