Vande Mataram (Sanskrit: वन्दे मातरम् Vande Mātaram, Bengali: বন্দে মাতরম Bônde Matorom; English Translation: Bow to thee Mother ) is the national song of India ^[1], distinct from the national anthem of India "Jana Gana Mana". Bharat Mata ( Hindi, भारत माता Bhārata Mātā) that is the Mother India or Bharathamba (Bharata - India or See Tagore for disambiguation Abanindranath Tagore (অবণীন্দ্রনাথ ঠাকুর ( August 7, 1871 - December Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Jana Gana Mana (জন গণ মন Jôno Gôno Mono) is the National anthem of India. Jana Gana Mana (জন গণ মন Jôno Gôno Mono) is the National anthem of India. The song was composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay in a mixture of Bengali and Sanskrit. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee ( 27 June[[ 838]] - 8 April[[ 894]] (বঙ্কিম চন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় Bôngkim Sanskrit (sa संस्कृता वाक् saṃskṛtā vāk, for short sa संस्कृतम् saṃskṛtam) is a historical ^[2] and the first political occasion where it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress ^[1]. Year 1896 ( MDCCCXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India.

In 2003, ‏BBC World Service conducted an international poll to choose ten most famous songs of all time. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Around 7000 songs were selected from all over the world. According to BBC, people from 155 countries/island voted. Vande Mataram was second in top 10 songs. ^[3].

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 institutions and Vande Mataram 3.2 Sikh Institutions and Vande Mataram 3.3 Christian institutions and Vande Mataram 4 Vande Mataram in Movies 5 Text of Vande Mataram 5.1 Version adopted by Congress, 1905 5.2 Translation 6 Media 7 Miscellany 8 See also 9 References 10 Notes 11 External links

History and significance

It is generally believed that the concept of Vande Mataram came to Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay when he was still a government official under the British Raj. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee ( 27 June[[ 838]] - 8 April[[ 894]] (বঙ্কিম চন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় Bôngkim For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British Around 1870, the British rulers of India had declared that singing of God Save the Queen would be mandatory. "God Save the Queen", or "God Save the King", is an anthem used in a number of Commonwealth realms It is the National ^[2] 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. ^[2] The song first appeared in Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay's book Anandamatha (pronounced Anondomôţh in Bengali), published in 1882 amid fears of a ban by British Raj. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee ( 27 June[[ 838]] - 8 April[[ 894]] (বঙ্কিম চন্দ্র চট্টোপাধ্যায় Bôngkim Anandamath ( Bangla: আনন্দমঠ Anondomôţh) is a famous Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published For usage see British rule in India British Raj ( rāj, lit "reign" in Hindustani) primarily refers to the British However, the song itself was actually written in 1876. ^[2] Jadunath Bhattacharya set the tune for this song just after it was written. ^[2]

"Vande Mataram" was the national cry for freedom from British oppression during the freedom movement. Bhikhaiji Rustom Cama ( Gujarati: ભીખાજી રૂસ્તમ કામા Hindi: भीखाजी रूस्तम कामा also Madam The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant 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)!". Etymology and ethnology The exact origin of the word Bangla or Bengal is unknown though it is believed to be derived from the Dravidian-speaking tribe Bang 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. This is a listing of people who campaigned against or are considered to have campaigned against foreign domination and cultural imposition on the Indian sub-continent 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. Varanasi ( Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation) also commonly known as Benares ( or Banaras (बनारस Lala Lajpat Rai started a journal called Vande Mataram from Lahore. Lala Lajpat Rai ( Punjabi: ਲਾਲਾ ਲਜਪਤ ਰਾਯ لالا لجپت راے Hindi: लाला लाजपत राय was an Indian ( lahor is the capital of the Pakistani province of Punjab and is the second largest city in Pakistan after Karachi. ^[2] Hiralal Sen made India's first political film in 1905 which ended with the chant. Hiralal Sen ( Bengali: হীরালাল সেন Hiralal Shen) (1866 – 1917 was a Bengali photographer generally considered one of India Matangini Hazra's last words as she was shot to death by the Crown police were Vande Mataram^[4]

In 1907, Bhikaiji Cama (1861-1936) created the first version of India's national flag (the Tiranga) in Stuttgart, Germany in 1907. Matangini Hazra (মাতঙ্গিনী হাজরা (1869-1942 was an Indian revolutionary who participated in the Indian independence movement until The British Overseas Territories are fourteen territories that are under the Sovereignty of the United Kingdom, but which do not form part of the United Kingdom Bhikhaiji Rustom Cama ( Gujarati: ભીખાજી રૂસ્તમ કામા Hindi: भीखाजी रूस्तम कामा also Madam "Indian flag" redirects here For flags used by Native American peoples see the tribes' respective articles, for example the Navajo Nation. It had Vande Mataram written on it in the middle band ^[5]

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. Hindustani Classical Music ( Hindi: हिन्दुस्तानी शास्त्रीय संगीत Urdu: ہندوستانی شاستریے سنگیت Rāga ( Sanskrit, lit "colour" or "mood" or rāgam in Carnatic music) refers to melodic modes used Versions of the song have been visualized on celluloid in a number of films including Leader (film), Amar asha and Anandamath. Leader is a 1964 Hindi movie The film is produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee and directed by Ram Mukherjee. Anandamath ( Bangla: আনন্দমঠ Anondomôţh) is a famous Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published It is widely believed that the tune set for All India Radio station version was composed by Ravi Shankar. All India Radio (abbreviated as AIR) officially known as Akashvani ( Devanagari: आकाशवाणी ākāshavānī ( Urdu: اکاشوانی Pandit Ravi Shankar ( রবি শংকর Devanagari: रविशंकर "Pandit" ( Sanskrit, "learned" is honorific born April ^[2]

Controversy

Jana Gana Mana was chosen as the National Anthem of independent India. Jana Gana Mana (জন গণ মন Jôno Gôno Mono) is the National anthem of India. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's 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). A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical Shakti, meaning sacred force, power, or energy, is the Hindu concept or personification of the divine feminine aspect sometimes referred Anandamath ( Bangla: আনন্দমঠ Anondomôţh) is a famous Bengali novel written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and published Islamophobia is a Neologism that refers to Prejudice or Discrimination against Islam or Muslims The term itself dates back to the Bande Mataram redirects here for other uses of the term see Bande Mataram (disambiguation.

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. In Hinduism, Durga ("the inaccessible" or "the invincible" or Maa Durga (Mother Durga is a form of Devi, the supreme Goddess 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. Subhas Chandra Bose (সুভাষ চন্দ্র বসু (born January 23, 1897; presumed to have died August 18, 1945 A hymn is a type of Song, usually religious specifically written for the purpose of praise adoration or Prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities 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 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 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. " ^[6]

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. Dr Rajendra Prasad (डा॰ राजेन्द्र प्रसाद ( December 3, 1884 &ndash February 28, 1963) was the A constituent assembly is a body elected with the purpose of drafting and in some cases adopting a Constitution. Events 41 - Gaius Caesar (Caligula, known for his eccentricity and cruel Despotism, is Assassinated by his disgruntled Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. (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 Lok Sabha (also titled the House of the People, by the Constitution) is the directly elected Lower house of the Parliament of India 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, (अर्जुन सिंह born November 5, 1930) is an Indian politician from the Indian National Congress party 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. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP (भारतीय जनता पार्टी, Translation: Indian People's Party) founded in 1980 is a major Political Vijay Kumar Malhotra was born on December 3, 1931 in Lahore, Punjab (now in Pakistan) 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. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (अटल बिहारी वाजपेयी əʈəl bɪhaːɾiː ʋaːdʒpeiː (born December 25 1924 The eleventh Prime Minister of India. But Mr Vajpayee had then clarified that it was not necessary to make it compulsory. ^[7]

On September 7, 2006, the nation celebrated the National Song. Television channels showed school children singing the song at the notified time. ^[8] 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^[8].

Support for Vande Mataram

Muslim institutions and 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, a former member of parliament for the Bharatiya Janata Party wrote an Urdu translation of Vande Mataram which starts as Tasleemat, maan tasleemat. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP (भारतीय जनता पार्टी, Translation: Indian People's Party) founded in 1980 is a major Political ^[9] 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. ^[8]

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. Shirk (شرك is the Islamic concept of the Sin of Polytheism specifically but in a more general way refers to worshipping other than Allah "^[10] 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?"^[11]

Sikh Institutions and Vande Mataram

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC, the paramount representative body in the Sikh Panth, stated through its media department that all its 100 schools and colleges had been ordered to say `Yes' to the song. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (ਸ਼੍ਰੋਮਣੀ ਗੁਰਦੁਆਰਾ ਪ੍ਰਬੰਧਕ ਕਮੇਟੀ (also called the parliament of the Sikhs is an organisation Panthan (meaning "path" in Sanskrit is the term used for several religious traditions in India In a subsequent interview their chief Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkar stated that "The Sikh 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". Deh Siva bar Mohe is a celebrated and widely quoted hymn written by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh Guru Guru Gobind Singh (ਗੁਰੂ ਗੋਬਿੰਦ ਸਿੰਘ gʊɾu gobɪn̪d̪ sɪ́ŋg ( December 22, 1666 &ndash 7 October, 1708) was 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. "^[12] However Dal Khalsa, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee and other International Sikh organisations supporting Khalistan have criticized the SGPC chief. Khālistān (ਖਾਲਿਸਤਾਨ official title Sikh Republic of Khalistan or the Holy Sikh Kingdom of Khalistan, was the name given by Jagjit Singh ^[13]

Christian institutions and Vande Mataram

Fr Cyprian Kullu, from Jharkhand 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. "^[14] However some Christian institutions such as Our Lady of Fatima Convent School in Patiala did not sing the song on its 100th anniversary as mandated by the state. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Patiala ( Punjabi: ਪਟਿਆਲਾ is a city in the Punjab state of India. Some Christians themselves might be misinformed about the intention and content of the song. After all Christians make a distinction between "veneration" and "worship" and the song falls in neither categories and they should not be worried. If the song generates a feeling of "Indian-ness" among all Indians it should be sung. But the state need not make it mandatory. ^[15]

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 . Jagriti ("The Awakening" is a 1954 Bollywood film that won the Filmfare Best Movie Award in 1956 and the lead Abhi Bhattacharya . . ^[16]

Singer Usha Uthup's rendition of Vande Mataram was part of the 2001 movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Usha Uthup is a popular Indian pop singer She was well known for popular hits in the late 1960s1970s and 1980s Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham ( Devanagari: कभी ख़ुशी कभी ग़म - "Sometimes Happiness Sometimes Sadness" is a Bollywood ^[17]

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. Lage Raho Munna Bhai ( Hindi:, ləgeː ɾəhoː mʊnːaːbɦaːɪ Carry on Munna Bhai is a 2006 Indian musical Comedy

Kadd 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 ^[18]

Text of Vande Mataram

Version adopted by Congress, 1905

In Devanagari script वन्दे मातरम् सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम् शस्यश्यामलां 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 śasya 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 jotsna pulokito jaminim fullo kushumito drumodôloshobhinim shuhashining shumodhuro bhashinim shukhodang bôrodang matorom

Translation

Vande Mataram sujalaam suphalaam malayaja sheethalam shashya shyamalaam Maataram, vande maataram Shubhra jothsana pulakitha yaminim Phulla kusumitat drumah dala shobhinim Suhasinim, Sumadhura bhAshinim sukhadaam varadhaam, maataram Vande mataraam

My obeisance to Mother India! With flowing beneficial waters Filled with choicest fruits With Sandal scented winds Green with the harvest O mother! My obeisance to you! Ecstatic moonlit nights The plants blooming with flowers Sweet speaker of sweet languages Fount of blessings, Mother, I salute you!

Media

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. ^[19]
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. Allah Rakkhha Rahman (ஏஆர்ரஹ்மான் born on January 6 1966 as A
3. The controversy surrounding Vande Mataram is not unique. There has also been some controversy around Jana Gana Mana as the national anthem. Jana Gana Mana (জন গণ মন Jôno Gôno Mono) is the National anthem of India.
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. Sumit Sarkar was until recently Professor of History at Delhi University, India where he began teaching in 1976

External links

• Vande Matharam Sung by inimitable Lata Mangeshkar in Anand Math
• Vande Matharam Sung by Hemant Kumar Chattopadyaya in Anand Math
• Download the most simple and most elegant version of Vande Mataram from the National Portal of India, Government of India.
• Website with details of composition and history. Extensively researched.
• Download the most recent tune for Vande Mataram (by Hemant Kumar, Film Anand Math, Encoded at 64 kbits)
• The MP3 Which toped BBC Chart, You will find rarely this song on Internet
• Vande Mataram News Timeline
• Vande Mataram voted second in The World's Top Ten - BBC
• Vande Mataram against Sikh tenets
• "How Secular is Vande Mataram?" AG Noorani on the controversy
• Boycott threat over Indian song - BBC
• 1937 Congress Resolution on validity of Muslim objection to this song
• "Vande Mataram and Muslims" - Islamic Voice (magazine)
• Vande Matram is back as a handle to beat Muslims with
• Historical perspective from Islamic Voice
• Listen Vande Mataram Online
• Listen Vande Mataram in Dr.SPB's voice

Islamic Voice is a monthly Islamic magazine published in Bangalore.

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