New Delhi: November 7, 1875, marks the 150th anniversary of the creation of “Vande Mataram,” composed by the sage Bankim Chandra Chatterjee on the auspicious occasion of Kartik Shukla Navami, also known as Akshaya Navami. This historic milestone necessitates a re-evaluation of the Prime Minister’s assertion that “Vande Mataram” was not merely a symbol of the Indian national movement, but an invaluable mantra of national consciousness. Inspired by the ancient beliefs of the Atharvaveda, “Mother” in this timeless work symbolizes not just a geographical landmass but civilizational power itself. This conception of Shakti in feminine form bound the nation together in a way that elevated patriotism to the status of a sacred religion.
The lifeblood of the freedom struggle and the inculcation of patriotism
Sri Aurobindo, in his vision of the Bhavani Temple, highlighted the mother as Shakti, which Swami Vivekananda saw in the form of Mother India. “Vande Mataram” awakened patriotism in the hearts of the countrymen and gave rise to a spirit of sacrifice.
It became a major source of energy for revolutionaries and satyagrahis ever since it was proclaimed unanimously by hundreds of Indians at Kolkata’s Town Hall in August 1905. Its ban by the British government in 1906 was the greatest proof of its immense power.
Objections and political turn
Since 1896, the Congress National Conventions began with the singing of the entire Vande Mataram. However, things began to change after the then President, Maulana Mohammad Ali, objected to the song at the 1923 Kakinada Convention. Despite these objections, its popularity among the public never diminished. Hundreds of Indians chanted it in unison at Kolkata’s Town Hall in August 1905. The banning of the song by the British government in 1906 was the greatest proof of its immense power. The disappearance of Vande Mataram, which adorned the center of national flags designed by freedom fighters before 1923, and its reduction from six verses to two verses for Congress conventions in 1937 raise many historical questions. The delimitation of the song in 1937 and the partition of the country in 1947 both demand a deep introspection into the pages of history.
Cultural Foundations of Modern India
The sage Bankim once expressed his belief that even if all his other compositions were to disappear, “Vande Mataram” would remain immortal forever. His belief proved true. This mantra found a place at the center of the earliest Indian flags designed by Sister Nivedita and Madame Bhikaji Cama. The concept of India rests not on any modern treaty or declaration, but on centuries-old cultural foundations. Shared symbols like “Vande Mataram” transcend any immediate controversy. A historical assessment of this immortal song, which became the key to liberation in the freedom struggle, remains relevant today.