Eternal India Encyclopedia

NATIONAL SYMBOLS

Eternal India encyclopedia

Rashtra Geeth NATIONAL SONG The song “ Vande Mataram ” was presented by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his novel Anandamath (1884). The-story of the novel is about a group of young men dedicated to the cause of the liberation of their motherland from the tyranny of foreign rule. They call themselves Santaans (Children) of the Motherland, The Santhaans are members of a secret organisation which has its headquarters in the Anandamath (the Abbey of Bliss) hidden in the heart of a forest. Their leader is Satyananda, a spirited and patriotic Sanyaasi. Although the novel derives some of its background material from the Sanyaasi rebellion of Bengal in 1773 it is not a historical novel. The novel presents a vivid and realistic description of the great famine of Bengal in the late 18th century and analysis the causes and conditions which led to the armed revolt of the Santaans. The first political occasion when Vande Mataram was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. The partition of Bengal in 1905 marked the beginning of a national awakening. All the public meetings that were held in Bengal to protest against the partition started with the singing of Vande Mataram. Soon the British authorities passed orders that Vande Mataram should not be shouted on the streets or in public places. But to no avail. The song became the song of the freedom movement generating a national fer- vour that could be compared with that created by the Marseillaise. The first two words of the song Vande Mataram were accepted as the symbol of the national movement.

Thou art wisdom, thou art law, Thou our heart, our soul, our breath, Thou the love divine, the awe In our hearts that conquers death. Thine the strength that nerver the arm, Thine the beauty, thine the charm.

Mother, I bow to thee! Rich with thy hurrying streams, Bright with thy orchard gleams, Cool with they winds of delight Dark fields waving, Mother of might, Mother free. Glory of moonlight dreams Over thy branches and lordly streams,- Clad in they blossoming trees, Mother, giver of ease, Laughing low and sweet! Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands, When the swords flash out in seventy mil- lion hands And seventy million voices roar Thy dreadful name from shore to shore? With many strengths who art mighty and stored, To thee, I call, Mother and Lord! Thou who savest, arise and save! To her I cry who ever her foemen drave Mother, I kiss thy feet, Speaker sweet and low! Mother, to thee I bow.

Every image made divine In our temples is but thine.

Thou art Durga, lady and Queen, With her hands that strike and her swords of sheen,

Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned, And the Muse a hundred-toned. Pure and perfect without peer, Mother, lend thine ear.

Rich with thy hurrying streams Bright with thy orchard gleams, Dark of hue, O candid — fair In thy soul, with jewelled hair And the glorious smile divine, Loveliest of all earthly lands, Showering wealth from well-stored hands! Mother, Mother mine! Mother sweet, I bow to thee Mother great and free!

Back from plain and sea And shook herself free.

—Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (English rendering by Sri Aurobindo)

_ -x The song Vande Mataram , composed by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of in- spiration to the people in their struggle for freedom. It has an equal status with Jana-gana- mana. The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. _________________________ ________ _______________________ : J - . _