### The National Anthems: A Tale of Two Countries

In the study of national anthems across the globe, the intricacies of their origins reflect the diverse historical, cultural, and political tapestries of their respective nations. This document will explore the histories behind two distinct answers regarding the creation of national anthems, representing two different nations each with its own unique narrative.

#### Historical Context and Composition of National Anthems

##### Answer A: The music was composed in 1773, and the lyrics were written in 1814

One of the most prominent and storied national anthems that fits the description in Answer A is "The Star-Spangled Banner" of the United States. The anthem’s musical origins and lyrical composition spanned several decades, which reflects significant periods in American history.

###### Music Composition: 1773
The melody of the United States national anthem was originally used in an 18th-century British song called "To Anacreon in Heaven," composed by John Stafford Smith for the Anacreontic Society, a London-based gentlemen's club of amateur musicians. The tune was popular in both Britain and the American colonies.

###### Lyric Composition: 1814
The lyrics of "The Star-Spangled Banner" were penned by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812 between the United States and United Kingdom. Key wrote the poem after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by British ships in Baltimore Harbor and observing that the fort’s flag survived the attack. His poem, originally titled "Defence of Fort M'Henry," was later set to the tune of Smith's melody.

The combination of Smith’s music and Key’s lyrics did not immediately become the national anthem; it gained popularity over the years and was officially designated as the U.S. national anthem by a congressional resolution on March 3, 1931, signed into law by President Herbert Hoover.

##### Answer B: The national anthem was composed in 1935

Turning to the second answer, this description corresponds to the national anthem of India, "Jana Gana Mana." The context and period of its composition are markedly different from that of the U.S. anthem, reflecting the subcontinent’s unique cultural and political history.

###### Composition: 1911; Official Adoption: 1950
"Jana Gana Mana" was composed by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911. While the song was first publicly sung on December 27, 1911, at the Calcutta Session of the Indian National Congress, it was not adopted as the national anthem until after India gained independence from British rule. The song was officially adopted as the Indian national anthem on January 24, 1950.

The lyrics of "Jana Gana Mana" are written in highly Sanskritized Bengali and encompass a broad salute to the ruler of India. The ruling discussed in the song is interpreted by many to celebrate the eternal spirit of all of India, rather than the British monarchy, as was initially supposed. Tagore, a Nobel laureate and a pivotal figure in modern Indian literature and music, composed the song to underscore the unity and plurality of India.

#### Conclusion

The histories of national anthems such as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "Jana Gana Mana" are deeply embedded in the respective national identities of the United States and India. Both anthems were composed during significant historical epochs—the formation and consolidation of nation-states—and they continue to evoke a profound sense of national pride and unity. While the U.S. anthem was patched together over a period marked by war and burgeoning national identity, India’s anthem was a part of its struggle for independence and subsequent realization of sovereignty. Each anthem carries with it stories not only of its creation but also of its role in nation-building and identity formation.