In 1876 Bankimchandra Chaterji wrote Vande Mataram in Sanskrit mixed Bangla language. Later it came into more prominence as it found the place in the novel ‘Anand Matha’ in 1882 written also by him. So much so that Lord Curzon termed it as the most formidable national symbol against the British regime !
In the Congress convention of Calcutta it was Ravindranath Tagore that offered his voice to it. For the revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, Batukeshwar Dutta and many other it emerged as one of the most inspiring source of sacrificing the life for the national freedom ; So was it for Lokmanya tilak, Arbindo Ghosh and to their likes a most powerful thread fostering unity among the different regions of the country.
In 1905 Lord Curzon announced in the name of administrative ease the division of Bengal into two parts as Muslim majority East Bengal and Hindu majority West Bengal. Again, the song Vande Mataram came out to be most intense expression of Akhand Bharat among the masses chanting it in the protest against the British . Ultimately despite all the efforts to implement the plan British had to give up , the decision of partition Bengal was taken back in 1911.
Later in the meeting of Congress working committee in 1937 the fanatic elements, sniffing anti-Islamic expression in the song , objected regarding the metaphors depicting goddesses Lakshmi, Durga and Kali embedded in it. Solution reached with the decision of singing only opening two lines which are nationalists and non-religious to be sung in the national events.
And then on 24th January 1950 that Dr Rajendra Prasad made the announcement in the last session of Constituent Assembly to be awarding Jan-Gana-Mana , the status of National anthem ;and, with the first two lines, Vande Mataram, the National song !
Notably, in the original script of the song is ingrained the all-inclusive Indian philosophy illustrating the dedication to motherland ; worshipping the nature ; the integration of power with peace; and the devotion and national spirit as also. In Vedas, too, is told – “Pruthvi mata, putrohom pruthviya”. Means, “ This land is our mother and we are her sons”- (Shounak Samhita, Atharveda-Prithvi sukta). And, in the same note Deendayal Upadhayay expounds to say- “In Indian tradition the devotion is not confined to God only, nation and society could also be the matter of worshipping like God that it teaches us. Nation, thus , is not a political unit alone, this also stands as the vivid , sentimental and nurturing mother. As such the national devotion is not an expression of emotional faith alone, this gets to be a duty and moral responsibility of an individual , either.” Sadly, due to lack of political will among the national leadership along with the faction particularly of Hindus being not unitedly strong enough to prevail upon them that Vande Mataram could not be accepted as the national anthem with full original script.
As recent as on 4th May, 2004 when an international symposium based on Communist ideology was organized in Brussels , a speaker from India told that Vande Mataram song that Bankim Chandra Chatterji composed in Anand Matha is one to be expounding the theory of Hindu Rashtra. This was nothing but a ploy behind the veil of which the excuse could be given of cause of the partition of the country . Around the year 1930 Comrade Manvendra Nath Roy , notably, went on record to write in his one article that living in their respective different regions, the people there look upon it as their motherland. They should be awarded their separate nationality, so that they may have right of having autonomous state, and as also, if they prefer, of being seceded from the country itself. (Swaraj@75, Sangharsh Bharat Ke ‘Swa’ Ka : J Nand Kumar)
In Mumbai blast sponsored by Pakistan , Tiger Memon was found involved and proved guilty . Consequently, he was awarded death sentence. In his funeral procession the crowd of several thousands poured on the road of Mumbai. None of the rank seculars and clergies reacted in condemnation of such an act. However, later in 2004 the 54 Muslims were made outcaste and even declared their marriage null and void. And there ‘crime’ was that they had maintained that singing Vande Mataram is no un-Islamic. Evidently, for those at the helm of community’s religious affairs the insurgents and ant-nationals are acceptable, but not those favoring Vande Mataram !
Article author:
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author or the organization. World Hindu News is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this article. All information is provided on an as-is basis. The information, facts or opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of World Hindu News and World Hindu News does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.