Why in the News?
In his Mann Ki Baat broadcast, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called upon citizens to commemorate 150 years of our national song “Vande Mataram”.
About Vande Mataram:
- Overview: Written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay around 1875, originally in Sanskrit (Bengali script) and later included in his novel Anandamath (1882), depicting the Sannyasi Rebellion against British rule.
- Meaning: It means “I bow to thee, Mother”, symbolising devotion to the motherland, unity, and the spirit of sacrifice.
- First Rendition: First sung publicly by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress Session, transforming it into a nationalist anthem.
- Role in Freedom Struggle: Became a rallying cry for revolutionaries in Swadeshi Movement, sung in protests, prisons, and meetings representing Ma Bharati as a symbol of resistance and national pride.
- Official Status: In 1937, the Indian National Congress adopted its first two stanzas as the National Song; on January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad granted it equal status with Jana Gana Mana in the Constituent Assembly.
- Structure & Style: Comprises six stanzas, combining Sanskrit precision and Bengali rhythm, praising India’s nature, strength, and divinity.
- Translations & Music: Sri Aurobindo translated it into English (Karmayogin, 1909); V.D. Paluskar and Ravi Shankar popularised musical renditions.
- Cultural Symbolism: Personifies India as the Divine Mother, transcending religious and regional divides; played instrumentally at the end of Parliamentary sessions.
| [UPSC 2016] ‘Swadeshi’ and ‘Boycott’ were adopted as methods of struggle for the first time during the Options: (a) Agitation against the Partition of Bengal * (b) Home Rule Movement (c) Non-Cooperation Movement (d) Visit of the Simon Commission to India |
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