Happy Republican Day (India) - Vanday Mataram

      Happy Indian Republican Day and Vanday Mataram

It is vital to remember and retain our roots and heritage. 

Any community which forgets its roots - its language and culture - eventually ceases to exist. 

One should always feel pride - not arrogance but dignity - for their heritage and motherland - along with respect for everyone else's heritage as well.   

                    Vanday Mataram - 

was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1870 and sung by Rabindranath Tagore in the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. It was selected as the National Song of India by the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950.

The song shares the same status as the National Anthem (Jana Gana Mana) - except for some official dictates.
However, this was the most popular song at the time - when India was fighting for independence.

The phrase ‘Vande Mataram’ was the mantra of Indian revolutionaries and nationalist leaders during the country’s struggle for freedom. It became the war cry for Indian nationalists against the British Raj to attain freedom for the Motherland.

Such was the power of this phrase that It quickly spread throughout India and was on the lips of millions. It enthused numerous young men and women who fell into the patriotic sentiments of the time, dedicating their spirits to the service of their Motherland.

Revolutionary turned Spiritualist Aurobindo Ghosh rendered the English translation titled ‘I bow to thee, Mother’.

The Indian National Congress made it mandatory to sing Vande Mataram in every session across the country after 1915.
However, considering the sentiments of a few religious groups who opposed the word Maatram (Mother) - it was adopted as the National song - and Jan Gan Man as the National Anthem.

Nevertheless, this is a beautiful composition recognized as the greatest and most enduring gift of the Swadeshi movement.

Vande Mataram ranked as the second most popular song in the world - through a poll conducted by BBC World Services in 2002.

   

                        Original in Sanskrit 

Vanday Maataram  - Vanday Maataram 

Sujalaam suphalaaṃ malayaja Sheetlaam

Sasya- Shyaamlaam Maataram 

Vanday Maataram  

Shubhra jyotsnam pulakita yaamini

Phulla kusumita drumadala Shobhini

Suhaasini 

Sumadhura bhaashini 

Sukhdaam Vardaam - Maataram 

Vanday Maataram 

English Translation - by the young revolutionary nationalist and a great Spiritualist, Sri Aurobindo Ghosh.

Mother, I bow to thee!

Rich with thy hurrying streams,

Bright with thy orchard gleams,

Cool with the winds of delight,

Dark fields waving, Mother of might,

Mother - I bow to thee!

Glory of moonlight dreams

Over thy branches and lordly streams

Clad in thy blossoming trees

Mother, giver of ease,

Laughing low and sweet,

Mother, I kiss thy feet,

Speaker sweet and low,

Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands,

When the swords flash out in seventy million hands,

And seventy million voices roar

Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?

With many strengths who art mighty and strong,

To thee, I call, Mother and Lord!

Thou who savest, arise and save!

To her, I cry who ever her foemen drove

Back from plain and Sea

And shook herself free. 

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,

Thou art heart, our soul, our breath

Thou art love divine, the awe

In our hearts that conquers death.

Thine the strength that nerves the arm,

Thine the beauty, thine the charm.

Every image divine

In our temples is but thine. 

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                           Happy Republican Day 

 In 2002, BBC World Service conducted an international poll to choose the ten most famous songs of all time.
Around 7000 songs were selected from all over the world. 

Vande Mataram was ranked second.

Note: Information gathered from the web and Wikipedia