Vande Mataram

:"Bande Mataram redirects here, for other uses of the term, see Bande Mataram (disambiguation).""Vande Mataram" (Sanskrit: वन्दे मातरम् "Vande Mātaram", Bengali: বন্দে মাতরম "Bônde Matorom"; "English Translation: Bow to thee Mother ") is the national song of Indiacite web| url=http://india.gov.in/knowindia/national_song.php| title=National Symbols of India| publisher= Government of India| accessdate=2008-04-29] , distinct from the national anthem of India "Jana Gana Mana". The song was composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay in a mixture of Bengali and Sanskrit. [http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/mataram.htm Vande Mataram ] ] and the first political occasion where it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.

In 2003, ‏BBC World Service conducted an international poll to choose ten most famous songs of all time. 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. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/profiles/index.shtml The Worlds Top Ten] — BBC World Service]

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. Around 1870, the British rulers of India had declared that singing of "God Save the Queen" would be mandatory. 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. 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. However, the song itself was actually written in 1876. Jadunath Bhattacharya set the tune for this song just after it was written.

"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. 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"cite book
last = Chakrabarty
first = Bidyut
year = 1997
title = Local Politics and Indian Nationalism: Midnapur (1919-1944)
publisher = Manohar
location = New Delhi
pages = 167 ]

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. [ [http://rajyasabha.nic.in/photo/pm/p2.html p2 ] ]

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", "Amar asha" and "Anandamath". It is widely believed that the tune set for All India Radio station version was composed by Ravi Shankar.

Controversy

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 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." [ (Letter #314, "Selected Letters of Rabindranath Tagore", edited by K. Datta and A. Robinson, Cambridge University Press)]

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.cite news|title=BJP vs Congress: It’s Vande vs Kandahar|date=2006-08-28|publisher=Asian Age|url=http://www.asianage.com/main.asp?layout=2&cat1=5&cat2=154&newsid=243846&RF=DefaultMain]

On September 7, 2006, the nation celebrated the National Song. Television channels showed school children singing the song at the notified time. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5324398.stm BBC NEWS | South Asia | Indians celebrate national song ] ] 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.

upport 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". [ [http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060906&fname=vandematarm&sid=1 outlookindia.com ] ] 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.

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." [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1964371.cms Now, a fatwa to sing Vande Mataram-Hyderabad-Cities-The Times of India ] ] 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?" [ [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/if-vande-means-salutation-muslims-to-sing-along/20762-3.html Muslims will sing, but omit Vande ] ]

ikh 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. 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". 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." [ [http://indiamonitor.com/news/readNews.jsp?ni=564 Alternative & Independent Source of Indian Subcontinent News ] ] However Dal Khalsa, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee and other International Sikh organisations supporting Khalistan have criticized the SGPC chief. [http://www.sikhsangat.org/publish/article_1327.shtml]

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." [ [http://www.asianews.it/view.php?l=en&art=7158 INDIA India: fatwa against national song celebrating motherland - Asia News ] ] 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. 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. [ [http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/1477/38/ PunjabNewsline.com - Sikhs and christians in Punjab stayed away from 'Vande Matram' ] ]

"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 ... [ [http://www.hindilyrix.com/songs/get_song_Aao%20Bachhon%20Tumhen%20Dikhaaye.html Lyrics of hindi song Aao Bachhon Tumhen Dikhaaye ] ]

Singer Usha Uthup's rendition of Vande Mataram was part of the 2001 movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. [ [http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music/hindi_bollywood/s/movie_name.1142/ Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (2001) - Music India OnLine ] ]

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.: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 [ [http://www.lagerahomunnabhai.com/a5.htm LAGE RAHO MUNNABHAI official site Gallery ] ]

Text of "Vande Mataram"

Version adopted by Congress, 1905

Translation

Media

Miscellany

# The fact that "Vande Mataram" is still popular today can be attested to by the fact that in 2002 it was the [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/ 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. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/profiles/index.shtml#vande The Worlds Top Ten | BBC World Service ] ]
# 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.
# The controversy surrounding "Vande Mataram" is not unique. There has also been some controversy around "Jana Gana Mana" as the national anthem.
# 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 BhagavathiVaaneeramaa SevithamKalyaani Kamaneeya Kalpalathikaa Kailaasa Naadha PriyaamVedaantha Prathipaadyamaana VibhavamVidhvan Manoranjani Sri Chakraankitha Ratna Peettha NilayaamSreeraja RajeswariSreeraja RajeswariSreeraja Rajeswari

ee also

* Indian National Anthem
* Saare Jahan Se Achcha

=References=

Notes

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

External links

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj1Iy4nRMkc Vande Matharam Sung by inimitable Lata Mangeshkar in Anand Math ]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Os_8BN2qmw&feature=related Vande Matharam Sung by Hemant Kumar Chattopadyaya in Anand Math]
* [http://india.gov.in/myindia/code_readmore.php Download the most simple and most elegant version of Vande Mataram from the National Portal of India, Government of India.]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/us/features/topten/ Vande Mataram voted second in The World's Top Ten - BBC]
* [http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060907/delhi.htm#11 Vande Mataram against Sikh tenets]
* [http://www.frontlineonnet.com/fl1601/16010940.htm "How Secular is Vande Mataram?" AG Noorani on the controversy]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5300996.stm Boycott threat over Indian song - BBC]
* [http://www.outlookindia.com/full.asp?fodname=20060902&fname=vandemataram&sid=4 1937 Congress Resolution on validity of Muslim objection to this song]
* [http://islamicvoice.com/September2006/Controversy/index.php#VandeMataramandtheMuslims "Vande Mataram and Muslims" - Islamic Voice (magazine)]
* [http://www.milligazette.com/Archives/15082002/1508200250.htm Vande Matram is back as a handle to beat Muslims with]
* [http://www.islamicvoice.com/december.98/community.htm#VAN Historical perspective from Islamic Voice]