History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. VI.] THE NATIONAL ANTHEM. 289

to say that, long before the idea of translating the National Anthem into Indian languages was mooted in England, he felt the want of some kind of general prayer for Her Majesty the Queen for the use of his schools. He adapted one of the patriotic songs in Gujarati to the tune of the British National Anthem. It was, however, reserved to another Parsi gentleman, Mr. Kaikhosru Naorozji Kabraji, who has devoted considerable attention to the study and cultivation of native music, to give us in Gujarati, the language spoken by the Parsis and also by the Hindus of Gujarat, a translation of the British National Anthem. He has succeeded in preserving in his version the noble sentiments expressed in the original anthem, at the same time that he has adapted it to the British music.

When their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Connaught landed in Bombay in the autumn of 1883 the National Anthem was sung in Gujarati by a choir of Parsi children. We give here the text of the National Anthem with its Gujarati translation in Roman letters :—

ne Send her victorious,

Emne kar jayvant mas, God save our Empress-Queen ;

: Happy and glorious Raksh Dev Tun Mah-Rani ; ? eh DAE Sukh Kirti no de yas,

Long to reign over us, Lambay Raj bahu varas,

Long live our gracious Queen ; Bahu jivjo praudh Rani ;

God save the Queen. God save the Queen. Raksh Dey Rani. Raksh Dev Rani.

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