Vande Mataram
Vande Mataram is the national song of India. The song was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. The song first appeared in the Bankim Chandra Chatarjee's book Anandamatha published in 1882 amid fears of a ban by British Raj. The song was actually written six years before the book in 1876. Though a major aspirant for being the national anthem of India, Jana-Gana-Mana was ultimately chosen. The choice was controversial, since the context in which the song initially appeared was distinctly anti-Muslim. The setting of the song in Binkam Chatterjee's novel Anandamatha was anti-Muslim instead of anti-British while the Indian Freedom Struggle was being waged by both Muslims and Hindus against the British Raj. The song was also rejected on the grounds that the Muslims felt offended by its depiction of the nation as "Ma Durga" — a Hindu goddess. Muslims could not accept the analogy.
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 Janaganamana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause) I hope this will satisfy members. (Constituent Assembly of India, Vol.XII, 24-1-1950)
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2 Translation 3 See Also 4 External Links |
Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!
Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam
Vande Mataram!
Shubhrajyothsna pulakitayaminim
Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim,
Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!
The following is an English translation provided by Sri Aurobindo: -
I bow to thee, Mother,
Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight
The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss!
Lyrics
Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!
Phullakusumita drumadala shobinim
Sukhadam varadam, Mataram!Translation
richly-watered, richly-fruited ,cool with the winds of the south,
dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother!
her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom
sweet of laughter, sweet of speech See Also
External Links