Vande Mataram

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Vande Mataram (Sanskrit: वन्दे मातरम् Vande Mātaram, Bengali: বন্দে মাতরম Bônde Matorom) is the national song of India, distinct from the national anthem of India "Jana Gana Mana". The song was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in a mixture of Bengali and Sanskrit.^[1]

Contents 1 History and significance 2 Controversy 2.1 Rabindranath Tagore on Vande Mataram 2.2 Dr. Rajendra Prasad on Vande Mataram 2.3 Controversy in 2006 3 Support for Vande Mataram 3.1 Muslim support for Vande Mataram 3.2 Sikh Support for Vande Mataram 3.3 Christian support for Vande Mataram 4 Vande Mataram in Movies 5 Text of Vande Mataram 5.1 Version adopted by Congress, 1905 5.2 Full Version in Anandamath 5.3 Translation 6 Miscellany 7 See also 8 References 9 Notes 10 External links

History and significance

It is generally believed that the concept of Vande Mataram came to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee when he was still a government official under the British Raj. Around 1870, the British rulers of India had declared that singing of God Save the Queen would be mandatory.^[1] He wrote it in a spontaneous session using words from two languages he was expert in, Sanskrit and Bengali. However, the song was initially highly criticized for the difficulty in pronunciation of some of the words.^[1] The song first appeared in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's book Anandamatha (pronounced Anondomôţh in Bengali), published in 1882 amid fears of a ban by British Raj. However, the song itself was actually written in 1876.^[1] Jadunath Bhattacharya set the tune for this song just after it was written.^[1]

"Vande Mataram" was the national cry for freedom from British oppression during the freedom movement. Large rallies, fermenting initially in Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta, would work themselves up into a patriotic fervour 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 imprisoned many freedom fighters for disobeying the proscription. Rabindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram in 1896 at the Calcutta Congress Session held at Beadon Square. Dakhina Charan Sen sang it five years later in 1901 at another session of the Congress at Calcutta. Poet Sarala Devi Chaudurani sang the song in the Benares Congress Session in 1905. Lala Lajpat Rai started a journal called Vande Mataram from Lahore.^[1] Hiralal Sen made India's first political film in 1905 which ended with the chant. Matangini Hazra's last words as she was shot to death by the Crown police were Vande Mataram^[2]

In 1907, Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936) created the first version of India's national flag (the Tiranga) in Stuttgart, Germany in 1907. It had Vande Mataram written on it in the middle band ^[3]

Regarding the song, Bankim Chandra noted almost prophetically,"I may not live to see its popularity, but this song will be sung by every Indian..." A number of lyrical and musical experiments have been done and many versions of the song have been created and released throughout the 20th century. Many of these versions have employed traditional South Asian classical ragas. Versions of the song have been visualized on celluloid in a number of films including Leader (film), Amar asha and Anandamath. It is widely believed that the tune set for All India Radio station version was composed by Ravi Shankar.^[1] To this day,Vande Mataram is seen as a national mantra describing the love of patriots for India.

Controversy

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. Vande Mataram was rejected on the grounds that Muslims felt offended by its depiction of the nation as "Mother 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 (see External links below).

In 1937 the Indian National Congress discussed at length the status of the song. It was pointed out then that though the first two stanzas began with an unexceptionable evocation of the beauty of the motherland, in later stanzas there are references where the motherland is likened to the Hindu goddess Durga. Therefore, the Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas as the national song.

Rabindranath Tagore on Vande Mataram

"Vande Mataram! These are the magic words which will open the door of his iron safe, break through the walls of his strong room, and confound the hearts of those who are disloyal to its call to say Vande Mataram." (Rabindranath Tagore in Glorious Thoughts of Tagore, p.165)

The controversy becomes more complex in the light of Rabindranath Tagore's rejection of the song as one that would unite all communities in India. In his letter to Subhash Chandra Bose (1937) Rabindranath wrote,

"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 Bankim 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 Mussalmans show signs of stubborn fanaticism, we regard these as intolerable. When we too copy them and make unreasonable demands, it will be self-defeating."

In a postscript to this same letter Rabindranath says,

"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 judgement 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." ^[4]

In the last decade Vande Mataram has been used as a rallying cry by Hindu nationalists in India, who have challenged the status of the current national anthem by Rabindranath.

Dr. Rajendra Prasad on Vande Mataram

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 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)

Controversy in 2006

On August 22, 2006, there was a row in the Lok Sabha of the Indian Parliament over whether singing of Vande Mataram in schools should be made mandatory. The ruling coalition (UPA) and Opposition members debated over the Government's stance that singing the National Song Vande Mataram on September 7, 2006 to mark the 125th year celebration of its creation should be voluntary. This led to the House to be adjourned twice. Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh noted that it was not binding on citizens to sing the song. Arjun Singh had earlier asked all state governments to ensure that the first two stanzas of the song were sung in all schools on that day. BJP Deputy Leader V K Malhotra wanted the Government to clarify whether singing the national song on September 7 in schools was mandatory or not. On August 28, targeting the BJP, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said that in 1998 when Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee of the BJP was the Prime Minister, the BJP supported a similar circular issued by the Uttar Pradesh government to make the recitation compulsory. But Mr Vajpayee had then clarified that it was not necessary to make it compulsory.^[5]

On September 7, 2006, the nation celebrated the National Song. Television channels showed school children singing the song at the notified time.^[6] Some Muslim groups had discouraged parents from sending their wards to school on the grounds, after the BJP had repeatedly insisted that the National Song must be sung. However, many Muslims did participate in the celebrations^[6].

Support for Vande Mataram

Muslim support for Vande Mataram

Though a number of Muslim organizations and individuals have opposed Vande Mataram being used as a "national song" of India, citing many religious reasons, some Muslim personalities have admired and even praised Vande Mataram as the "National Song of India" . Arif Mohammed Khan,who was for a long time Member of Parliament has even written an Urdu translation of Vande Mataram which starts as Tasleemat, maan tasleemat.^[7] In 2006, amidst the controversy of whether singing of the song in schools should be mandatory or optional, some Indian Muslims did show support for singing the song.^[6]

All India Sunni Ulema Board on Sept 6, 2006 issued a fatwa that the Muslims can sing the first two verses of the song. The Board president Moulana Mufti Syed Shah Badruddin Qadri Aljeelani said that "If you bow at the feet of your mother with respect, it is not shirk but only respect."^[8] Shia scholar and All India Muslim Personal Law Board vice-president Maulana Kalbe Sadiq stated on Sept 5, 2006 that scholars need to examine the term "vande". He asked, "Does it mean salutation or worship?"^[9] Most Muslims object to the idea of bowing to their parents or even to their prophet saying that bowing to anyone else either physically or symbolically is haram or forbidden.^{[10][11] [not in citation given]} On the other hand, there are some Bengali Muslims who pay respects to their parents by bowing. This comes from pre-Islamic practices, and is considered either halal or haram based on the intentions of the bowing.^[12]

Sikh Support for Vande Mataram

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee SGPC, Sikhs' paramount representative body chief Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar stated on Sept. 7, 2006 that his views were incorrectly stated by his media department in an earlier release ordering all its 100 schools and colleges to say `No' to the song. In an interview he stated that "The Sikhs children would sing Vande Mataram and Deh Shiva Var Mohe, the song scripted by tenth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh in the morning prayers". He also said "What is wrong with the Vande Mataram? It is a national song and speaks of patriotism. We are part of the Indian nation and Sikhs have greatly contributed for its independence."^[13] However Dal Khalsa, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee and other International Sikh organisations supporting Khalistan have criticized the SGPC chief.^[14]

Christian support for Vande Mataram

Fr Cyprian Kullu, in Bihar told in an interview with AsiaNews: "The song is a part of our history and national festivity and religion should not be dragged into such mundane things. The Vande Mataram is simply a national song without any connotation that could violate the tenets of any religion."^[15] However some Christian institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima Convent School in Patiala did not sing the song on its 100th anniversay as mandated by the state.^[16] Haqeeqat, a book written by Christian evangelical MJ Mathew and distributed by Emmanuel Mission International, states: "India the only use of Sanskrit is by Hindutvawadis to sing Vande Mataram"^[17]despite the fact that a contemporary rendition of the song was made by A.R. Rahman, a Muslim.

Vande Mataram in Movies

The Vande Mataram theme has been used on a few Bollywood movie songs. In 1954, poet Pradeep used the expression in a song in Jagriti:

aao bachchon tumhen dikhaayen jhaanki hindustaan ki

is mitti se tilak karo ye dharati hai balidaan ki

vande maataram ... ^[18]

The most recent song inspired by Vande Mataram is in Lage Raho Munnabhai:

Ainak pehne, lathi pakde chalte the woh shaan se

Zaalim kaape thar thar, thar thar, sun kar unka naam re.

Kad tha unka chota sa aur sarpat unki chal re

Duble se patle se the woh, chalte seena taan ke

Bande mein tha dum, Vande Mataram ^[19]

Text of Vande Mataram

Version adopted by Congress, 1905

In Devanagari script वन्दे मातरम् सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम् सस्य श्यामलां मातरम् | शुभ्र ज्योत्स्ना पुलकित यामिनीम् फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्, सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम् सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ||		In Bengali script বন্দে মাতরম্ সুজলাং সুফলাং মলযজশীতলাম্ শস্য শ্যামলাং মাতরম্ | শুভ্র জ্যোত্স্ন পুলকিত যামিনীম্ ফুল্ল কুসুমিত দ্রুমদলশোভিনীম্, সুহাসিনীং সুমধুর ভাষিণীম্ সুখদাং বরদাং মাতরম্ ||
Devanagari transliteration vande mātaram sujalāṃ suphalāṃ malayajaśītalām sasya śyāmalāṃ mātaram śubhra jyotsnā pulakita yāminīm phulla kusumita drumadalaśobhinīm suhāsinīṃ sumadhura bhāṣiṇīm sukhadāṃ varadāṃ mātaram		Bengali Romanization bônde matorom shujolang shufolang môloeôjoshitolam shoshsho shêmolang matorom shubhro josno pulokito jamolim fullo kushumito drumodôloshobhinim shuhashining shumodhuro bhashinim shukhodang bôrodang matorom

Full Version in Anandamath

In Devanagari script सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम् सस्य श्यामलां मातरंम् . शुभ्र ज्योत्सनाम् पुलकित यामिनीम् फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्, सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम् . सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ॥ सप्त कोटि कण्ठ कलकल निनाद कराले द्विसप्त कोटि भुजैर्ध्रत खरकरवाले के बोले मा तुमी अबले बहुबल धारिणीम् नमामि तारिणीम् रिपुदलवारिणीम् मातरम् ॥ तुमि विद्या तुमि धर्म, तुमि ह्रदि तुमि मर्म त्वं हि प्राणाः शरीरे बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति, हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति, तोमारै प्रतिमा गडि मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे ॥ त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी कमला कमलदल विहारिणी वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम् नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलाम् सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् ॥ श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषिताम् धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् ॥

In Bengali script সুজলাং সুফলাং মলয়জশীতলাম্ শস্যশ্যামলাং মাতরম্॥ শুভ্রজ্যোত্স্না পুলকিতযামিনীম্ পুল্লকুসুমিত দ্রুমদলশোভিনীম্ সুহাসিনীং সুমধুর ভাষিণীম্ সুখদাং বরদাং মাতরম্॥ কোটি কোটি কণ্ঠ কলকলনিনাদ করালে কোটি কোটি ভুজৈর্ধৃতখরকরবালে কে বলে মা তুমি অবলে বহুবলধারিণীং নমামি তারিণীম্ রিপুদলবারিণীং মাতরম্॥ তুমি বিদ্যা তুমি ধর্ম, তুমি হৃদি তুমি মর্ম ত্বং হি প্রাণ শরীরে বাহুতে তুমি মা শক্তি হৃদয়ে তুমি মা ভক্তি তোমারৈ প্রতিমা গড়ি মন্দিরে মন্দিরে॥ ত্বং হি দুর্গা দশপ্রহরণধারিণী কমলা কমলদল বিহারিণী বাণী বিদ্যাদায়িনী ত্বাম্ নমামি কমলাং অমলাং অতুলাম্ সুজলাং সুফলাং মাতরম্॥ শ্যামলাং সরলাং সুস্মিতাং ভূষিতাম্ ধরণীং ভরণীং মাতরম্॥

Translation

Mother, I salute thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Green fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When swords flash out in seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Thou who saves, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foe drove
Back from plain and sea
And shook herself free.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nerves the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Loveliest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

translated by Sri Aurobindo

Miscellany

1. The fact that Vande Mataram is still popular today can be attested to by the fact that in 2002 it was the voted the second most requested song by listeners on the BBC's World Service radio. However, in the final ranking details, the origin was miscredited to a 1950's film.^[20]
2. Throughout its history there have been numerous remakes, recreations, and interpretations of this song. Notable is music composer A. R. Rahman's Vande Mataram released to commemorate fifty years of India's Independence in 1997 produced by Bharat Bala Productions.
3. The controversy surrounding Vande Mataram is not unique. There has also been some controversy around Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem.
4. This is not the only song/verse with Vande Mataram as a start. There is a Sanskrit verse that has been quoted since time immemorial; and is very popular as a felicitation/sloka singing in south Indian carnatic music. The verses are as follows:

    Vande maataram Ambikaam Bhagavathi
    Vaaneeramaa Sevitham
    Kalyaani Kamaneeya Kalpalathikaa Kailaasa Naadha Priyaam
    Vedaantha Prathipaadyamaana Vibhavam
    Vidhvan Manoranjani Sri Chakraankitha Ratna Peettha Nilayaam
    Sreeraja Rajeswari
    Sreeraja Rajeswari
    Sreeraja Rajeswari

See also

• Indian National Anthem
• Saare Jahan Se Achcha

References

Notes

1. Much Ado About A Song By Sumit Sarkar The Times of India, Bangalore, August 31, 2006.

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