evidence: The national anthem of the Republic of India is "Jana Gana Mana." Rabindranath Tagore, a Bengali polymath, initially composed it as Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata. On January 24, 1950, the Constituent Assembly of India approved the first stanza of the hymn Bharoto Bhagyo Bidhata as the National Anthem. The national anthem is performed in a formal manner for 52 seconds. An abbreviated version of the first and last lines (which takes around 20 seconds to perform) is also performed on occasion. It was originally performed publicly on December 27, 1911, at the Indian National Congress’s Calcutta (now Kolkata) Session. [...] On January 24, 1950, the Constituent Assembly of India declared Jana Gana Mana to be India’s National Anthem. [...] One of the most powerful expressions of a country’s independence is the National Anthem. India is a country with many different languages and dialects. Jana Gana Mana is universally understood throughout India, fostering a sentiment of oneness among these disparate languages. Our National Anthem appropriately conveys the traditions and ideals that continue to serve as the country’s backbone. It contributes to the acceptance and assimilation of Indian culture, as well as its tolerance for plurality.