Rajen Upadhyay

Jahan Bagcha Teesta Rangeet was the national song of independent kingdom of Sikkim. The song in Nepali was passionately sung during the last decade of monarchy in the erstwhile tiny Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim. The song praised our motherland and its natural beauty.

The National Song of the independent Sikkim carries with it the much coveted sensibilities of the noblest souls. It not only praises the Sikkimese motherland but also ignites the mind set of every individual to strive for the nation building process. The reference made to various flowers exhibits the assimilation of different ethnic cultures in the kingdom of Sikkim. The monarchs are placed at the loftiest position and they have been termed as the savior indicating the loyalty of the subjects. This is also seen that people’s temperament to get overwhelmed with the sense of patriotism and dedication is not superficial but eternal.

The urge to remain over entangled with the pious land shows the keen desire that bred in every heart. But the Teesta, which is not only a river but a source of energy and zeal, has been given the pinnacle position. It wipes away every possible mischief and sin from each of the Sikkimese populace and it is here that the final culmination of the greatness of the river and its bearing with the land of Sikkim is connected.

The lyrics of the song was written by Sanu Lama and the music composed by Dushyant Lama. It was first sung on the birth anniversary of Late Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal on 4th of April 1970 at Gangtok by the melody queen of Nepali Music Aruna Lama along with Dawa Lama and Mani Kamal Chettri. (http://sikhim.blogspot.com)

After the merger of Sikkim with India in 1975, the song was banned by the Indian Government to curtail the rising tide of nationalism among Sikkimese nationalists. Later it was re-released with the replacement of two words in the 4th Stanza where it says Janma Bhumi (Motherland) that had original word Raja and Rani (King and Queen).

JANHA BAGCHA TEESTA RANGIT, JAHAN KANCHENDZONGA SEER
YEHI HO HAMRO DHANA KO DESH, TAPAWAN HO PYARO SIKKIM

INTERLUDE

PHULCHAN YEHA AANGANAI MAA, CHAAP , GURANS, SUNAKHARI
SWARGASARI SUNDAR DESH, HAMRA PYARA PYARA RAJA RANI
JANHA BAGCHA……

BATASHLE BOKCHAA YEHA, TATHAGAT KO AAMAR WAANI

SHRADHA, BHAKTI GARCHAU SADHA, YEHI MATOKAA PHOOL RAHAU HAMI.

JANHA BACHA…..

BUDHAM SARANAM GACHAMI, DHARMAM SARANAM GACHAMI, SANGHAM SARANAM GACHAMI.

JANHA BAGCHA…

The English translation of the Sikkimese National Song is as under:-

Where Teesta and Rangeet flow ahead,
Where Kanchenjunga is placed as the head,
This is our country of rice,
The pious Sikkim is our land so nice.
Where Teesta and Rangeet flow ahead,
Where Kanchenjunga is placed as the head,

Here the beautiful flowers blooming at our courtyard look so genuine,
It’s almost like a celestial abode by dint of our king and queen.
Where Teesta and Rangeet flow ahead,
Where Kanchenjunga is placed as the head,

The air carries here immortal preaching words of Buddha, who did the ultimate toil,
We adore and worship it always as we pine to remain as the flowers of this soil,
Where Teesta and Rangeet flow ahead,
Where Kanchenjunga is placed as the head.

I will take retreat to Buddha, I will take retreat to Dhamma I will take retreat to Sangha.

The Song in new version is available on

The above post has been published on Rajen Upadhyaya’s blog

About the author:

Rajen Upadhyay from Namchi, Sikkim is an Assistant Professor of History in the Namchi Government College. A passionate reader and sports enthusiast Rajen is working to revive the History of Sikkim. You can read his blog sikkim-historyhunter

Read other posts by Rajen Upadhyaya:

Letter of Namchi Kazi to Sikkim Durbar 1937
Revenue System of Sikkim and Royal Declaration of Maharaja Sir Tashi Namgyal
The Charismatic Figure of Sikkim: Maharaja Sidkeong Namgyal
Sikkim at the Delhi Durbar of 1903

 

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