INDEPENDENCE DAY

Thou art the ruler of the minds of all people, Thou dispenser of India's destiny. Thy name rouses the hearts of the Punjab, Sind, Gujarat and Maratha, of Dravid, Orissa and Bengal. It echoes in the hills of the Vindhyas and Hinlalayas, mingles in the music of the Jamuna and Ganges and is chanted by the waves of the Indian Sea. They pray for thy blessings and sing thy praise. The saving of all people waits in thy hand, Thou dispenser of India's destiny.    Victory, Victory, Victory to thee.

  जन गण मन जन-गण-मन अधिनायक जय हे भारत-भाग्य-विधाता ।  पंजाब सिंध गुजरात मराठा  द्राविड़ उत्कल बंग ।  विंध्य हिमाचल यमुना गंगा,  उच्छल जलधि तरंग ।  तव शुभ नामे जागे,  तव शुभ आशिष माँगे;  गाहे तव जय गाथा ।  जन-गण मंगलदायक जय हे,  भारत-भाग्य-विधाता ।  जय हे, जय हे, जय हे,  जय जय जय जय हे ।।

In a source book in Indian philosophy Dr. S Radhakrishnan said ," The three strata of development are  found in the thought of the hymns of the Rig veda". The Rig Veda has many moving passages celebrating nature's beauty. Here is Macdonell's translation of a hymn on the dawn: This light has come, of all the lights the fairest: The brilliant brightness has been born effulgent, Urged onward for god Savitar's (sun's) uprising, Night now has yielded up her place to morning. Bringing a radiant calf she comes resplendent: To her the Black One has given up her mansions. Akin, immortal, following each other, Morning and Night fare on, exchanging colours. The sisters' pathway is the same, unending: Taughy by the gods alternately they tread it. Fair-shaped, of form diverse, yet single-minded, Morning and Night clash not, nor do they larry. Bright leader of glad sounds she shines effulgent: Widely she has unclosed for us her portals. Pervading all the world she s...