Amar Shonar Bangla (My Golden Bengal) is a song written and composed by the poet Rabindranath Tagore. The word Shonar literally means 'made of gold', but in the song Shonar Bangla expresses the preciousness of Bengal. The song was written in 1906 during the period of Bangabhanga (Bangla Bôngobhôngo - 1905 Partition of Bengal) - when Bengal was divided in two halves by the British government based on religion. This song, along with a host of others, was written to rekindle the unified spirit of Bengal.

It is said that the music of this song was inspired by the Baul singer Gagan Harkara's song "Kothay Pabo Tare".

The first 10 lines of this song constitute the national anthem of Bangladesh. It was adopted in 1972 after the independence of Bangladesh. The English translation was done by Syed Ali Ahsan.










































English translation

My Bengal of Gold

My Bengal of Gold (Precious),
I love you.

Forever your skies, your air set my heart in tune
As if it were a flute.

In spring, O mother mine, the fragrance from your mango groves
Makes me wild with joy
Ah, what a thrill!
In autumn, O mother mine,
In the full blossomed paddy fields
I have seen spread all over sweet smiles.

Ah, what a beauty, what shades, what an affection
And what a tenderness!
What a quilt have you spread at the feet of Banyan trees
And along the banks of rivers!

O mother mine, words from your lips
Are like nectar to my ears.
Ah, what a thrill!
If sadness, O mother mine, casts a gloom on your face,
eyes are filled with tears!