Vande Mataram and its history

The national song of India, Vande Mataram holds the constitutional status of national song considering its immense contribution in India’s freedom movement. It has the same status as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana holds.

The Vande Mataram a poem known for sublimity of thought dedicated to the glory of mother nation was composed by late Shri Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on November 07, 1876 at the Kantal Pada village of Bengal. The Anandamatha was published in “Bang Darshan” magazine from 1880 to 1882. The song was included in his immortal novel Anandamath published in the book form in 1882.

Vande Mataram had become an expression of nationalism for the patriots and revolutionaries who launched several movements and agitations against the oppressive British Rule drawing inspiration from the magic words of Vande Mataram song. In fact, Vande Mataram had become a symbol of India’s freedom struggle. Great exponent of India classical music Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar played an important role in popularizing Vande Mataram during freedom movement. He began public recitation of Vande Mataram from Lahore and sung it at many places all over the country. His presentation of Vande Mataram was so charged with emotions that it used to thrill the listeners and arouse feelings of nationalism among them making them feel proud of the mother nation.

Dr. Ravindranath Tagore himself sung Vande Mataram in 1896 session of Indian National Congress. It was the first political occasion when Vande Mataram was sung in chorus. Dr. Ravindranath Tagore also set Vande Mataram to music.

The Indian National Congress rehearsed Vande Mataram in 1901 under the guidance of Dakshanrajan Sen. Smt. Sarla Devi Chaudharani, niece of Dr. Ravindranath Tagore sang Vande Mataram in 1905 Congress Convention despite ban on its singing by the British Government.

In 1905, the freedom movement had taken an organized shape and the same year country’s politics took a new turn with the announcement of Swadeshi Movement on August 07, 1905 at Calcutta. The British divided Bengal on October 16, 1905. Under the circumstances Vande Mataram became people’s song not only in Bengal but entire nation. Its soul-stirring words reverberated the streets, schools and every part and portion of India. The founder of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was expelled from school in Nagpur due to Vande Mataram agitation. Later in 1925, Dr. Hedgewar founded the RSS. The declaration of Swadeshi movement is completing its 100 years on August 07' 2005.

After 1915, it had become a tradition to begin every session of Indian National Congress with recitation of Vande Mataram. The legacy still continues. Shri Subhash Chandra Bose had made Vande Mataram the song of his Indian National Army and it was regularly broadcast from his Singapore radio station. A procession of patriots was canned at Calcutta due to recitation of Vande Mataram on April 14, 1906. Maharshi Arvind, who was also in the procession, was injured in the canning. Maharshi translated into English the Vande Mataram song.

Maharshi Arvind has mentioned in his ”Mahayogi” that – “Vande Mataram was an expression of nationalism. It quickly spread throughout India and was on the lips of millions.” The Cambridge History of India describes Vande Mataram as “the most greatest and most enduring gift of the Swadeshi movement”. Shri B. N. Pande in his “A Book of India” writes, “Vande Mataram, soon became the Merselillaise of the nationalist movement throughout India.”

The prayer meetings of Mahatma Gandhi used to begin with Vande Mataram . In 1937, the Congress working Committee appointed a sub committee of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhsh Chandra Bose and Acharya Narendra Dev as members to review the eligibility of Vande Mataram to the status of national anthem. The committee was to take the guidance of Rabindra Nath Tagore. Finally, the Congress Working Committee ordered the same year that only first two stanzas of it should be sung. Later in Haripur Congress convention in 1938 for the first time only first two stanzas of Vande Mataram were sung.

The Vande Mataram has assumed a special role in unifying India for achieving freedom. People drew inspiration from this ode to the motherland and they raised strong voices against the British and forced them to leave Mother India. The energetic two words - Vande Mataram instilled patriotic fervour into the minds and hearts of Indians and they came forward to save country’s honour.

January 26, 1950 was set for the Indian Republic. National anthem was to be chosen before the election of the President of India. Objection was advanced about the Vande Mataram that it was not suited to band music unlike the Jana Gana Mana.

On the controversy over Vande Mataram as national anthem Pandit Nehru said – “''It is unfortunate that some kind of argument has arisen between 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana'. 'Vande Mataram' is obviously and indisputably the premier national song of India, with a great historical tradition, and intimately connected with our struggle for freedom. That position it is bound to retain and no other song can displace it. It represents the position and poignancy of that struggle. In regard to the national anthem tune, it was felt that the tune was more important than the words. It seemed therefore that while 'Vande Mataram' should continue to be the national song par excellence in India, the national anthem tune should be that of 'Jana Gana Mana'.

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. 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.

Vande Mataram in govt. offices

The Vande Mataram is sung in the Parliament and M.P. State Assembly. The cabinet meetings in Madhya Pradesh begin with the Vande Mataram. Following instructions of the Chief Minister Shri Babulal Gaur, recitation of Vande Mataram would begin at Mantralaya and all district collectorate offices from July 01, 2005. The Vande Mataram would be sung before opening of the offices on the first day of every month. In case of public holiday on first day of the month, recitation would take place on the next working day.

Orders issued by the Department of General Administration refer to the Article 51-A that it would be "a mandatory duty to cherish the ideals, which inspired our freedom struggle" and practice those ideals. The State Government has directed to strengthen those feelings by organizing the recitation of Vande Mataram. The order says thought according to law, singing of the national song can not be made compulsory for but the State Government desires all the government officials to follow the constitution's spirit and show their respect for the Vande Mataram. The State Government has desired the government officers and employees to organize recitation of Vande Mataram with full dignity, honour and respect.

The aim of recitation of Vande Mataram in government offices will also strengthen patriotic feelings and the spirit of public service among the government officials. It will also impose discipline in the state government offices and inspire the officials to be punctual in discharge of duties.

The following is an English translation of the Vande Mataram provided by 
Sri Aurobindo: -

I bow to thee, Mother,
richly watered, richly fruited, cool with the winds of the south,
dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother!

Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight
her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom
sweet of laughter, sweet of speech

The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss! Vande Mataram