Vandē Mātaram is the national song of India, composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1876. "Vande Mataram" became the national cry for freedom from British oppression during the freedom movement. Large rallies, fermenting initially in West Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta (Kolkata), would work themselves up into a patriotic fever by shouting the slogan "Vande Mataram," or "Hail to the Mother(land)!" The British, fearful of the potential danger of an incited Indian populace, at one point banned the utterance of the motto in public forums and jailed many freedom fighters for disobeying the proscription. To this day, "Vande Mataram" is seen as a national mantra describing the love of patriots for India.
Dr Rajendra Prasad, who was presiding the Constituent Assembly on January 24, 1950, made the following statement which was also adopted as the final decision on the issue:
"The composition consisting of words and music known as 'Jana Gana Mana' is the National Anthem of India, subject to such alterations as the Government may authorise as occasion arises, and the song 'Vande Mataram' which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honored equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it." (Constituent Assembly of India, Vol.XII, 24-1-1950)
Transliterated Version
Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!
Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja sheetalam
Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!
Vande Mataram!
Shubhrajyothsna pulakitayaminim
Phullakusumita drumadala shobinim
Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim,
Sukhadam varadam, Mataram!
Vande Mataram! Vande Mataram!
Translation
The following is an English translation provided by Sri Aurobindo, a renowned spiritual leader:
I bow to thee, Mother,
richly-watered, richly-fruited ,cool with the winds of the south,
dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother!
Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight
her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom
sweet of laughter, sweet of speech
The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss!
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