National Symbols Of India

National Song

Vande Mataram- National Song of India

"Vande maataraM 
sujalaaM suphalaaM malayaja shiitalaaM 
SasyashyaamalaaM maataram || 

Shubhrajyotsnaa pulakitayaaminiiM 
pullakusumita drumadala shobhiniiM 
suhaasiniiM sumadhura bhaashhiNiiM 
sukhadaaM varadaaM maataraM || 

Taken from the famous novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay named Anandamath this national song was written in 1882. Original script was in Bengali and Sanskrit languages which mainly represents as a hymn praising motherland India. Its role in shaping Indian independence movement through auguring the freedom fighters is worth noting. Rabindranath Tagore had sung it for the first time in a political context during 1896 while a session of the Congress party was going on.

First two verses of this song was granted “national song” status post India’s independence in 1950 by an official circular. It was distinct from country’s anthem, Jana Gana Mana to highlight Indian Republics’ freedom spirit.

History and Significance

Composition

Having distinction of a earliest graduate from Calcutta University that was established during that period, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was bright student of that time. He became civil servant in British Indian government after completing graduation. He was appointed District Magistrate and then promoted to District Collector. He took keen interest in historic events of that era pertaining to India and especially Bengal, so did he found ample material to study when 1857 Revolt was underway besides his knowledge about Sannyasi Rebellion in the past.

The British administration had taken an initiative to promote the God Save the Queen anthem in that period itself and took different measures to promote that to make that an exclusive one for the Indians but nationalist Indians didn’t like that concept. As it is assumed the Vande Mataram concept came into the mind of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in that period only in q876 while was a government servant.

With use of Bengali and Sanskrit words, composition of this poem by Chatterjee was solely spontaneous act. Published in his book Anandamatha or Anondomôţh in 1882 it highlighted nationalist spirit while the book described Sannyasi Rebellion events thoroughly. Once written, a musical tune was developed for this poem for which Jadunath Bhattacharya was involved.

Indian Independence Movement

While freedom movement picked up and whole nation was geared up against British rule of India then Vande Mataram became national cry. Huge rallies were organized in various parts of Bengal from the metropolitan cities Calcutta to keep patriotic spirit alive for which Vande Mataram slogan was shouted to repose spirit for motherland. Several freedom fighters were imprisoned during that period as British had understood potential danger from Indians who had already impelled for freeing the country. It compelled British to suppress utterance of this song in public platforms. It was in Beadon Square in Calcutta that Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram in 1896 while Congress had its Session. The song was sang again in a formal Congress meeting in 1901 for that Dakhina Charan Sen was asked to sing it, so did eminent poet Sarala Devi Chaudurani sang it in 1905 while Congress had its Session in Benares. A journal named Vande Mataram was published from Lahore by Lala Lajpat Rai. It was filmed in 1905 by Hiralal Sen who attempted making debut in political movie and it used in the form of chanting. The last words by Matangini Hazra while she died was Vande Mataram  post Crown police firing at her.

The middle band of the national flag or tiranga created in 907 by Bhikaiji Cama in Germany added Vande Mataram to maintain the Indian nationalistic spirit.

First two stanzas of this song has been mentioned in the book namely Kranti Geetanjali which Lahore based Arya Printing Press published and so was it printed in Bharatiya Press Dehradun in 1929. The book also carried Bismil’s ghazal which the British had banned due to nationalistic spirit showcased by Kakori Pandit Ram Prasad Bismil.

Adoption as “National Song”

It was in 1947 that the Republic of India chose the “Jana Gana Mana” by Tagore as National Anthem of country. There was an opposition about the selection of Vande Mataram for that because some sections like Christians, Parsis, Muslims, Arya Samajis and Sikhs et al had opposed to it on religious grounds that it promoted idol worship which remained an offensive thought for them who couldn’t consider the country replica of "Mother Durga" that was one of the Hindu gods. There was a feeling amongst the Muslims that it being part of Anandamatha had sent wrong message for them as a community.

Giving it national song status in 1937 precedes country’s independence which focused on a nationalistic spirit. Thorough discussions continued and Congress members involved them for song’s status of each and every aspect. Discussions continued with key focus on issues brought under objection that no doubt the starting is mainly to praise India as a motherland but in the early two stanzas while there is a drastic shift from it to Hindu Goddess Durga coming into limelight and is used as motherland’s metaphor. It was then decided that only first tow stanzas would be part of the national song instead of the whole.

Controversy further engulfed after turning intricate while Rabindranath Tagore rejected this song with an argument that a song should unite Indian communities rather than splitting them hence hoe wrote to Subhas Chandra Bose in 1937 that:-

"The core of Vande Mataram is a hymn to goddess Durga: this is so plain that there can be no debate about it. Of course Bankimchandra does show Durga to be inseparably united with Bengal in the end, but no Mussulman [Muslim] can be expected patriotically to worship the ten-handed deity as 'Swadesh' [the nation]. This year many of the special [Durga] Puja numbers of our magazines have quoted verses from Vande Mataram—proof that the editors take the song to be a hymn to Durga. The novel Anandamath is a work of literature, and so the song is appropriate in it. But Parliament is a place of union for all religious groups, and there the song cannot be appropriate. When Bengali Mussulmans show signs of stubborn fanaticism, we regard these as intolerable. When we too copy them and make unreasonable demands, it will be self-defeating."

Tagore said more in the afterthought to the same letter that:-

"Bengali Hindus have become agitated over this matter, but it does not concern only Hindus. Since there are strong feelings on both sides, a balanced judgment is essential. In pursuit of our political aims we want peace, unity and good will—we do not want the endless tug of war that comes from supporting the demands of one faction over the other."
Final discussion also had the opinion of Rajendra Prasad who in the capacity of president of Constituent Assembly stated the following on January 24, 1950 in these words:-

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 authorise 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. (Applause) I hope this will satisfy members. (Constituent Assembly of India, Vol. XII, 24-1-1950)

Performances & Interpretations

Several tunes have been composed for this poem by now. The tune from 1907 remains the oldest one surviving till date. The 20th century has welcomed more than hundred versions of tune setting. Good number of such versions have the elements from South Asian classical raga traditions. Many films have visualized the theme of this song so has been done the visualization of ideas expressed like Leader, Amar Asha and Anand Math movies. Ravi Shankar had composed the tune set version for the All India Radio station. Eminent musician A. R. Rahman composed the musical album in 1997 to celebrate the 50th anniversary celebrations of India’s Independence and gave the title, “Vande Mataram.” This is the most popular version of this song being interpreted in the recent past. British broadcast group, BBC initiated to conduct an international poll in 2002 for making selection of ten highly popular songs of all time for that approximately 7000 songs were chosen from worldwide. “Vande Mataram” from Anand Math film attained the second position rank.