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{{#seo:
|title=The songs of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
|titlemode=append
|keywords=Prabhat Samgiita,Prabhata Samgiita,Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar,Anandamurti,Ananda Marga
|description=An introduction to Prabhat Samgiita, the 5018 songs of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar. Also known as "Songs of the New Dawn". Spelling variant is Prabhata Samgiita.
}}{{Infobox Prabhat Samgiita General
| abbreviation =
| short_description = The 5,018 songs composed by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
| alternative_names = Songs of Prabhat, Songs of a New Dawn, Songs of Awakening
| motto =
| logo = 
| country =
| language = Mostly Bengali, but also Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Magahi, Maithili and Angika, as well as various dialects
| website = 
}}
'''Prabhat Samgiita''' is the collection of songs given by [[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar]] from September of 1982 until October of 1990 (the last eight years of his life).{{sfn|Subramanya, Mysore|2008}} For each of the 5,018 songs, Sarkar himself composed the lyrics and put them to melody (sometimes classic, sometimes blended, often original).{{sfn|The Telegraph (Calcutta)|20/09/2004}} With such a large and distinctive body of work, it may be argued that Sarkar did not just give a collection of songs but indeed a new [[:wikipedia:Genre|genre]] of music.

== History ==
The first song of Prabhat Samgiita was given on 1982 September 14. The last song was given on 1990 October 20 (less than 24 hours before Sarkar's decease).<ref name="(Acharya.)1990">{{cite book|author=Sugatananda Avt (Acharya.)|title=Sambhavami, a Short Biography of Shrii Shrii Anandamurtijii|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=dD3kAAAAMAAJ|year=1990|publisher=Ācārya Sugatānanda Avadhūta|isbn=978-3-921769-28-7|page=33}}</ref>

== Etymology ==
In Bengali, the word ''Prabhát(a)'' (প্রভাত - pɾɔbhat̪) means ''dawn'', ''morning'' or ''daybreak''.{{sfn|Biswas, Sailendra}} The word ''Saḿgiit(a)'' (সংগীত -  ʃɔŋɡgit̪), also spelled as ''Sauṋgiit(a)'' (সঙ্গীত -  ʃɔŋɡit̪){{sfn|Sarkár, Prabhát Raiṋjan|21/10/2007}} means ''song'' and ''music''.{{sfn|Biswas, Sailendra}} Thus, ''prabhát(a) saḿgiit(a)'' or ''prabhát(a) sauṋgiit(a)'' etymologically means "morning song"{{sfn|Biswas, Sailendra}} or "songs of dawn".{{sfn|Avadhuta, Divyachetananda Acharya|19/06/2009}} This is borne out by the [http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/biswas-bengali_query.py?qs=%E0%A6%B8%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A4&searchhws=yes Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary], which defines the conjoint word (প্রভাতসংগীত) as "a morning song, a matin". A less literal and somewhat fanciful interpretation "Prabhat Samgiita" is "songs of a new dawn".{{sfn|Subramanya, Mysore|2008}}{{sfn|Sarkar, Subhas|12/09/2011}} However, if ''Prabhat'' is recognized as the name of the composer, then the etymology of the two words is largely irrelevant. In that case, consistent with other similar collections of music like the songs of [[:wikipedia:Rabindra Sangeet|Rabindranath Tagore]], [http://dsalsrv02.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/app/biswas-bengali_query.py?qs=%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AC%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0&searchhws=yes Rabindra Samgiita] (রবীন্দ্রসংগীত), ''Prabhat Samgiita'' would simply mean "Songs of Prabhat". As nothing like all or even the majority of these songs would rightly be classified as morning music, it is the latter interpretation that makes most sense.

== Name and variants ==
Prabhat Samgiita is commonly translated as either "Songs of [[Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|Prabhat]]" or "Songs of a New Dawn"{{sfn|Sarkar, Subhas|12/09/2011}}{{sfn|Sarkár, Subhas|31/12/2010}}{{sfn|The Hindu|21/03/2008}} However, while ''prabhát'' does mean "daybreak" or "dawn", it does not mean "new dawn". And, in light of other similar collections (for example, [[wikipedia:Meera|Meera Bhajans]], [[wikipedia:Rabindra Sangeet|Rabindra Sangeet]], and [[wikipedia:Nazrul Geeti|Nazrul Geeti]]), the former definition (Songs of Prabhat) seems the most appropriate.

Prabhat Samgiita has many spelling variants. There are many reasons for this. Currently, there is not just one commonly accepted Bengali-English transliteration. And, even were there only one accepted transliteration, multiple possibilities would still exist. In addition, the word ''saḿgiita'' has two different spellings in Bengali.

Thus we have the word ''prabhát'' that can be spelled as:
*''Prabhat'', ''Prabhát'', ''Prabhāt'', ''Prabhata'', ''Prabháta'', ''Prabhāta''

And we have the word ''saḿgiita'' that can be spelled as:

*''Sangit'', ''Sangeet'', ''Sangiit'', ''Samgiit'', ''Saḿgiit'', ''Saṃgīt'', ''Sauṋgiit'', ''Saŋgīt'' and all of these with an "a" at the end:

*''Sangita'', ''Sangeeta'', ''Sangiita'', ''Samgiita'', ''Saḿgiita'', ''Saṃgīta'', ''Sauṋgiita'' and ''Saŋgīta''

If combined, all these variations could create a huge number of spelling variants for Prabhat Samgiita, however not all combinations are used. Subhas Sarkar mainly prefers the variant Prabháta Saḿgiita and sometimes uses Prabhāta saṃgīta.{{sfn|Sarkár, Subhas|31/12/2010}} There is no consistency of spelling, even within the same newspapers. ''The Hindu'', an Indian English newspaper, often spells Prabhat Samgiita{{sfn|Avadhuta, Divyachetananda Acharya|19/06/2009}}{{sfn|The Hindu|21/03/2008}}{{sfn|The Hindu|15/09/2009}} however also spells Prabhat Sangit{{sfn|The Hindu|15/06/2007}} and also Prabhat Sangeet.{{sfn|The Hindu|20/09/2004}} ''The Times of India'', another Indian English newspaper, uses both Prabhat Samgiita{{sfn|Sarkar, Subhas|12/09/2011}} and ''Prabhat Sangeet''.{{sfn|The Hindu|27/09/2009}} Most other newspapers spell ''Prabhat Sangeet'', though some articles prefer ''Prabhat Sangit'' and Prabhata Samgiita. Publications of [[Ananda Marga Pracaraka Samgha]] usually goes by the spelling ''Prabháta Saḿgiita'' and also often by ''Prabhát Saḿgiita'' and ''Prabhát Saḿgiit''.{{sfn|Sarkar, Prabhat Ranjan|1987}} Older publications, however, tend to use the variant ''Prabhát Sauṋgiit'' or ''Prabháta Sauṋgiita''.{{sfn|Sarkár, Prabhát Raiṋjan|21/10/2007}} Finally there are instances of unusual spellings as well, such as ''Prabhat Sangeeth''{{sfn|Subramanya, Mysore|2008}} and ''Prabhat Samhitta''.{{sfn|Afternoon (newspaper)|07/06/2011}}

== Composition, collection, and releases ==
Sarkar composed the first song of Prabhat Samgiita, ''Bandhu he niye calo'', on 14 September 1982{{sfn|Sarkár, Prabhát Raiṋjan|21/10/2007}} at Deoghar, India.{{sfn|The Telegraph (Calcutta)|20/09/2004}} He continued composing songs until his death on 21 October 1990.{{sfn|Sarkar, Subhas|12/09/2011}} During that eight years, he composed a total of 5,018 songs,{{sfn|Ghista, Garda|30/11/2006}} including both lyrics and tune.{{sfn|Afternoon (newspaper)|07/06/2011}}{{sfn|The Statesman|07/10/2011}}{{sfn|Ujjawala, Jha|20/11/2011}} The last song, ''Ámrá gaŕe nova gurukul'', was composed on 20 October 1990, one day before his death.{{sfn|Sarkár, Prabhát Raiṋjan|30/04/2003}} [[Renaissance Artists and Writers Association]] (RAWA), has sponsored many performances and recordings of selected songs. These performances have featured artists such as Ashwini Bhide-Deshpande, Rashid Khan, Kavita Krishnamurthy, Manoj Kumar, Vithal Rao, Shruti Sadolikar, Haimanti Sukla and Archana Udupa.

Sarkar composed songs in eight different languages: Bengali, Hindi, English, Sanskrit, Urdu, Magahi, Maithili and Angika.{{sfn|Sarkár, Subhas|31/12/2010}} Sarkar held that songs should be performed in their original language to preserve the composer's rhythm, melody, and meaning. Hence, no permission was given by Sarkar for performance of his songs in any language other than the language in which he composed them.

== Themes ==
Sarkar's songs cover a multitude of themes. There are devotional songs, mystical songs, and revolutionary songs. There are folk songs, children's songs, and ballads. There are wedding songs, birthday songs, and festival songs. Regardless of the theme, in every song there is a strong spiritual undercurrent, expressive of Sarkar's personal philosophy of [[Neohumanism]].

== List of songs ==
{{Main article|List of songs of Prabhat Samgiita}}

As Sarkar never gave titles to his songs, the songs are referenced by their first line. In other words, the first line of each song is treated as the song's title.

== References ==

=== Footnotes ===
{{reflist|group=note}}

=== Citations ===
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

=== Sources ===

* {{citation|title=The Gujarat Genocide: A Case Study in Fundamentalist Cleansing |last=Ghista |first=Garda |location= |publisher=AuthorHouse |year=30/11/2006 |pages=174|url=http://books.google.co.il/books?id=T-CazvdstPcC&pg=PA174&redir_esc=y |ISBN=9781425944537}}.
* {{cite book|last=Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar|first=Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan|title=Saḿgiita: Song, Dance and Instrumental Music|publisher=Ananda Marga Publications|location=Kolkata, India|year=1987|edition=1st Edition|isbn=81-7252-250-9|accessdate=06/02/2013}}
* {{cite book|last=Sarkár|first=Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan|title=Prabhát Sauṋgiit (10th Vol.)|publisher=Ananda Marga Publications|location=Kolkata, India|date=30/04/2003|edition=2nd Edition|pages=xxviii|isbn=81-7252-214-2|accessdate=13/02/2013|language=Bengali}}
* {{cite book|last=Sarkár|first=Shrii Prabhát Raiṋjan|title=Prabhát Sauṋgiit (1st Vol.)|publisher=Ananda Marga Publications|location=Kolkata, India|date=21/10/2007|edition=3rd|pages=1|isbn=81-7252-255-X|accessdate=01/02/2013|language=Bengali}}
* {{cite book|last=Sarkár|first=Subhas|title=Prabháta Samgiita: A Literary and Philosophical Appreciation|publisher=Ananda Marga Publications|date=31/12/2010|edition=1st|isbn=978-81-7252-260-5|oclc=704229361|url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/prabhata-samgiita-a-literary-and-philosophical-appreciation/oclc/704229361}}
* {{cite news|last=Afternoon (newspaper)|url=http://www.afternoondc.in/film-review/top-cultural-icon-feted/article_26683|title=Top cultural icon feted|date=07/06/2011|publisher=Afternoon (newspaper)|accessdate=5 February 2013}}
* {{cite news|last=Avadhuta|first=Divyachetananda Acharya|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2009/06/19/stories/2009061950100300.htm|title=Friday Review Delhi - Songs of dawn|date=19/06/2009|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=5 February 2013}}
* {{cite web|last={{aut|Biswas}}|first={{aut|Sailendra}}|url=http://dsal.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/romadict.pl?query=%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%8D%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A4&table=biswas-bengali|title=Samsad Bengali-English Dictionary|publisher=[http://dsal.uchicago.edu/dictionaries/ Digital Dictionaries of South Asia]|language=Bengali/English|accessdate=7 February 2013}}
* {{cite web|last={{aut|Jha}}|first={{aut|Ujjawala}}|url=http://www.docstoc.com/docs/104328504/Shri-Shri-Anandamurti-Ujjawala-jha|title=Shri Shri Anandamurti: A 20th Century Indian Philosopher|date=20/11/2011|publisher=Centre of Advanced Study in Sanskrit, University of Pune|pages=2|accessdate=1 February 2013|location=Pune, India}}
* {{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-12/holistic-living/30144778_1_humanism-prabhat-samgita-shri-shri-anandamurti|title=Songs of a new dawn|last=Sarkár|first=Subhas|date=12/09/2011|publisher=The Times of India|accessdate=6 February 2013}}
* {{citation|last={{aut|Subramanya}}|first={{aut|Mysore}} |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Content/Mar172008/arts2008031757962.asp|title=DANCE/MUSIC REVIEW - Prabhat Sangeeth |year=17/03/2008 |publisher= Deccan Herald |accessdate=1 February 2013}}.
* {{cite news|last=''The Hindu''|title=Prabhat Samgiita Divas celebrated|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/09/15/stories/2009091557350400.htm|accessdate=13 February 2013|newspaper=The Hindu|date=15/09/2009|location=New Delhi}}
* {{cite news|last=''The Hindu''|title=Music and memories|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2007/06/15/stories/2007061550170300.htm|date=15/06/2007|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=1 February 2013}}
* {{cite news|last=''The Hindu''|title=Metro cultural round-up|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/09/20/stories/2004092001980200.htm|date=20/09/2004|publisher=The Hindu|accessdate=1 February 2013}}
* {{cite news|last=''The Hindu''|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-09-27/faith-and-ritual/28101854_1_beauty-divine-music-music-heals|title=Divine music that evokes blissful experience|date=27/09/2009|publisher=''The Times of India''|accessdate=1 February 2013}}
* {{cite news|last=The Hindu|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/03/21/stories/2008032151150300.htm|title=Friday Review Bangalore - Music for humanity|date=21/03/2008|publisher=''The Hindu''|accessdate=5 February 2013|location=Bangalore, India}}
* {{cite news|last=The Statesman|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&show=archive&id=385734&catid=47&year=2011&month=10&day=7|title=Driven by devotion - Meena Banerjee was mesmerised by a few pleasant surprises|date=07/10/2011|publisher=''The Statesman''|accessdate=6 February 2013}}
* {{cite news|last=''The Telegraph (Calcutta)''|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040920/asp/jamshedpur/story_3778537.asp|title=Homage to spiritual guru|date=20/09/2004|accessdate=1 February 2013|location=Calcutta, India}}

== External links ==
{{Portal|Prabhat Samgiita}}

* [http://www.prabhatasamgiita.net/ prabháta-saḿgiita.net]
* [http://songsofprsarkar.net/ Prabhat Samgiita]

[[bn:প্রভাত সঙ্গীত]]
[[Category:Did you know articles]]
[[Category:Nonliterary works of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar]]
[[Category:Prabhat Samgiita]]