Puran Chand Sharma
BACKGROUND AND ORIGIN:’ Vande Matrammeans ‘I bow to the Mother’. It is not just a song; it is a national Mantra of patriotism that inspired generations during the struggle for freedom, written originally in sanskritized Bengali in the 1870s, the hymn personifies ‘India as the Divine Mother-pure, nurturing, and powerful. It was first composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, one of Bengal’s foremost literary figures and a towering nationalist thinker. At that critical juncture, India was under British colonial rule and nationalist sentiment was rising quietly among intellectuals. Bankim Chandra’s literary creation gave expression to this passion for liberation.
BANKIM CHANDRA CHATTERJEE, the author was born on27 June 1838 in a small village of Kanthalpara, Bengal, studied in Hoogli College and Presidency College, he became one of the first graduates of University of Calcutta in 1858 and later rose to the position of Deputy Magistrate under the British Administration. Although a Government officer, yet he was fully devoted to the cultural and spiritual resurgence of India. By virtue of his novels like Anandmath, Devi Chaudurani etc. he laid the foundation of modern Bengali literature and Indian Nationalist thought. His vision of India as a divine mother (Bharat Mata) became the emotional cry of patriotic movements.
ANANDAMATH AND BIRTH OF VANDE MATRAM:- Vande Matram first appeared in Bankim’s novel ‘Anandamath’ which gave a fillip to Sanyasi Rebellion in late 18th centuryBengal wherein Vande Matram served as powerful spiritual war cry expressing both devotion and defiance.It tells the story of sanyasis (MONK SOLDIERS) who dedicated their lives for liberation of Motherland from oppression. He first wrote Vande Matram as a song of spiritual patriotism, celebrating India as Divine Mother, A Goddess who nourishes,protects and inspires her children. ANANDMATH (The Abbey of Bliss) is a landmark nationalist novel that depicts:- A band of Hindu monks rising in rebellion. against the British tyranny. The vision of India as Bharat Mata, a land of divinity under subjugation. The symbolic call for self- sacrifice and unity in service of the motherland.. The Song Vande Matram becomes a rallying cry for liberation in this novel. It weaves together Bhakti, Shakti, and Deshbhakti which empowered the movement for holistic freedom of our country on a brisk note. The Vande Matram song was later musically composed by Ravindranath Tagore and sung for the first time at the Indian National Congress Session in 1896. Revolutionaries and freedom fighters such as Aurobindo Ghosh Lala Lajpat Rai,Subhas Chandra Bose,and others used it as symbol of resistance and unity. During the course of protests like Partition of Bengal (1905),it became the war cry of Swadeshi movement, uniting millions in the name of Mother India. Its profound emotional and spiritual energy made it a national emblem of awakening.
RECOGNITION AS THE NATIONAL SONG
After independence in 1947,” Vande Matram”was given the status of National Song (not the national Anthem) on account of its historic and patriotic value). The Constituent assembly(1948) decided that first two stanzas which are inclusive and universal -would form the official National song of India.
COMPARITIVE UNDERSTANDING AND SIGNIFICANCE OF VANDE MATRAM AND JAN GAN MANA:- It will be no exaggeration to say that India’s journey to Nationhood is closely connected with these two very important compositions :Vande Matram, the National Song of India, and Jana,Gana Mana, the National Anthem of India. Both the songs occupy a unique place in our cultural and political history. They reflect the spirit of patriotism, unity, sacrifice and devotion to the motherland. While Vande Matram inspired generations during the freedom struggle, Jana, Gana Mana became the solemn expression of a united, independent nation. Together, They form the musical and emotional backbone of India’s national identity.
Vande Matram, the soul song describes the land as clothed with greenery, cooled by gentle winds, and blessed with rivers and harvests. Its poetic imagery creates a sense of devotion towards the motherland. During the movement, Vande Matram became a rallying cry for courage, sacrifice and also turned into emotional fuel of the Swadeshi movement. The British feared its power so much that they restricted its public singing. The song thus became a symbol of resistance and national awakening.
On the other hand, Jana,Gana,Mana was composed by the great poet Rabindranath Tagore in 1911. It praises the unity of India and the destiny that guides the nation forward. The anthem brings together the diverse regions of India, from Punjab and Sind to Gujrat, Bengal, and the South. Its tone is solemn, disciplined and dignified, making it suitable for official occasions and national ceremonies. While Vande Matram stirred revolutionary emotion, Jana, Gana, Mana represented calm unity and harmony. It reminded people that India’s strength lies in its diversity and collective will.
When India became independent, the constituent Assembly had the responsibility of choosing national symbols that would represent the new nation. On 24 January 1950, it was decided that Jana, Gana, Mana would be the National Anthem, While Vande Matram would be accorded equal honor as the National Song. This decision recognized the historic role of Vande Matramin the freedom struggle and the unifying quality of Jana Gana Mana in independent India.
IMPACT ON INDIAN SOCIETY AND CULTURE
For freedom fighters, Vande Matramwas strength, resolve and reminder of the sacred responsibility to liberate the Nation. It shaped concepts of duty, sacrifice and unity. Even after Independence, Vande– Matram continues to evoke: National Pride, Cultural Identity and Unity amidst diversity. When Vande Matram is recited on diverse occasions, it reminds all citizens of the country of theirshared heritage.
CONCLUSION
Vande Matram is one of the most influential creations in India’s modern history. With its origin in literature, its cultural symbolism and its profound role in the freedom movement, the song continues to shape Indian identity. While Jana, Gana,Mana serves as the National anthem, Vande Matram remains the soul song of India, a timeless expression of devotion, courage, unity and love for the motherland. Its legacy not just lies in history books but in the collective consciousness of the Indian people., inspiring generations to cherish and uphold the values of freedom and national unity. It is a matter of great pleasure to note that students, educational and cultural institutions along with common masses are joining the celebrations of 150 years of iconic VANDE MATRAM.
(The author is president of Ved Mandir)