LEGACY OF VANDE MATARAM

History of Vande Mataram

https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-history/congress-muslim-league-vande-mataram-10409197/?ref=explained_pg

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Picture Courtesy: First Post

Context:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (December 8) spoke at length in Parliament about the history of Vande Mataram to commemorate the 150th anniversary of India’s national song.

About Vande Mataram:

Origin 

• Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875.
• Although composed in Sanskrit, it was written using Bengali script.

Meaning

• The phrase translates to “I bow to thee, Mother” or “I salute thee, Mother,” symbolising reverence to the motherland.

Introduction to the Public Sphere

• Rabindranath Tagore rendered it publicly for the first time in 1896 at an Indian National Congress session, linking it with nationalist sentiments.

Status During Freedom Movement

• It evolved into a symbolic chant for India’s independence struggle, motivating freedom fighters at rallies, assemblies, and protest movements.

Pre-Independence Adoption

• In 1937, the Congress Working Committee recognised its first two stanzas as India’s National Song, marking its official political relevance.

Post-Independence Recognition

• On 24 January 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, India’s first President, reaffirmed its status as the National Song, emphasising that it deserved esteem equal to the National Anthem.

Constitutional Position

• The Indian Constitution does not explicitly mention the National Song;
  however, Article 51A(a) requires citizens to respect constitutional values, the National Flag, and the National Anthem.

Role of literature in India’s freedom struggle:

Awakening National Consciousness

• Indian writers and poets used literature to expose colonial injustice and inspire the desire for self-rule.
• Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel Anandamath (1876) and the song Vande Mataram glorified the motherland, promoting sacrifice and nationalism.

Mobilising the masses

• Newspapers, journals, pamphlets, and public readings became tools to spread anti-colonial ideas among both educated and semi-literate groups.
• Publications like Tilak’s Kesari and Aurobindo Ghosh’s journal Bande Mataram encouraged political activism and resistance.

Promoting social reform and national unity

• Many writers highlighted injustices such as untouchability, discrimination, and exploitation, linking social awakening to political freedom.
• Munshi Premchand’s works revealed harsh rural realities, urging moral reform alongside political liberation.

Symbolic Inspiration

• Songs and poetry became emotional fuel for agitation, boycotts, and revolutionary acts.
• Subramania Bharati’s Tamil compositions instilled courage and defiance.

Conclusion:

Vande Mataram stands as more than a patriotic song—it became a spiritual and emotional anthem of India’s freedom struggle. By glorifying the motherland and inspiring sacrifice, it united people across regions and ideologies. Even after independence, its legacy endures as a symbol of national pride, cultural identity, and collective resilience, deserving honour alongside the national anthem.

Source: Indian Express