The Indian National Song

The Indian National Song
VANDE MATARAM

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom. It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana. The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. The song first appeared in his book ''Anandamatha'', published in 1882 amid fears of a ban by the British Raj, though the song itself was actually written six years prior in 1876. "Vande Mataram" was the national cry for freedom from British oppression during the freedom movement. Large rallies, fermenting initially in West Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta, would work themselves up into a patriotic fever by shouting the slogan "Vande Mataram," or "Hail to the Mother(land)!". The British, fearful of the potential danger of an incited Indian populace, at one point banned the utterance of the motto in public forums and jailed many freedom fighters for disobeying the proscription. To this day, "Vande Mataram" is seen as a national mantra describing the love of patriots for the country of India.

While Vande Mataram was treated as the national anthem of India for long, ultimately Jana Gana Mana, was chosen as the national anthem of independent India. The choice was slightly controversial, since the Vande Mataram was the one song that truly depicted the pre-independence national fervour. The song was rejected on the grounds that Muslims felt offended by its depiction of the nation as "Ma Durga", a Hindu goddess; thus equating the nation with the Hindu conception of shakti, divine feminine dynamic force; and by its origin as part of ''Anandamatha'', a novel they felt had an anti-Muslim message.

Dr Rajendra Prasad, who was presiding the Constituent Assembly on January 24 1950, made the following statement which was also adopted as the final decision on the issue:

''The composition consisting of words and music known as Jana Gana Mana is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations as the Government may authorize as occasion arises, and the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honored equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. I hope this will satisfy members.''

The following is the text of its stanza

vande maataram..
vande maataram..
maataram..

sujalaam sufalaam malayaj sheetalaam
sasyashyaamalaam maataram
vande..

shubhrajyotsna pulakit yaaminiim
phulla kusumita drumadal shobhiniim
suhaasinim sumadhura bhaashhinim
sukhadaam varadaam
maataram.. vande maataram

sapta koti kantha kalakala ninaada karaale
nisapta koti bhujaidhruta kharakarvaale
sapta koti kantha kalakala ninaada karaale
nisapta koti bhujaidhruta kharakarvaale
ka bola ka noma eith bole
bahubal dhaariniin namaami taariniim
ripudalavaariniin maataram
vande maataram ...

tumi vidyaa tumi dharma, tumi hridi tumi marma
tvan hi praanaah shariire
baahute tumi maa shakti,
hridaye tumi maa bhakti,
tomaarai pratimaa gadi mandire mandire
vande maataram..

tvan hi durgaa dashapraharanadhaarinii
kamalaa kamaladala vihaarinii
vaanii vidyaadaayinii, namaami tvaam
namaami kamalaan amalaan atulaam
sujalaan sufalaan maataram
vande maataram..

shyaamalaan saralaan susmitaan bhuushhitaam
dharaniin bharaniin maataram
vande maataram....

Download > Indian national Song 'Vandemataram'