The Soul of India: The Untold Story and Lyrics of Vande Mataram

We all stand up when we hear Jana Gana Man. It gives us goosebumps. But Vande Mataram is not just a song; it was the "magic mantra" that woke up a sleeping nation.

While Jana Gana Mana is our National Anthem, Vande Mataram holds the unique title of National Song. But do you know the fiery history behind these verses?

The Story Behind the Song

Long before India became independent, the British ruled the land, and "God Save the Queen" was forced upon Indians. In the 1870s, a Bengali official named Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wanted to write something that captured the true spirit of the motherland—not as a piece of land, but as a living, breathing Goddess.

He wrote Vande Mataram on November 7, 1875. Later, in 1882, he included it in his famous novel Anandamath.

1. The Spark: The song became a rallying cry during the freedom struggle. British officers feared this song so much that singing it was banned! People were beaten and jailed just for chanting these two words.
2. The Voice: The first person to publicly sing it was none other than Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress.

The Lyrics (National Song Version)

The official National Song consists of the first two verses of the original poem. It is a mix of Sanskrit and Bengali.

Original Script:

Vande Mataram!

Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam,

Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!

Vande Mataram!

Shubhrajyotsna pulakitayaminim,

Phullakusumita drumadala shobhinim,

Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim,

Sukhadam varadam, Mataram!

Vande Mataram, Vande Mataram!

English Translation (Meaning)

Understanding the meaning makes the song even more powerful. It describes India not as a map, but as a mother who provides water, fruits, and cool breezes.

1. Vande Mataram!
2. (I bow to thee, Mother!)
3. Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam,
4. (Rich with thy hurrying streams, bright with orchard gleams, cool with thy winds of delight,)
5. Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!
6. (Dark fields waving, Mother of might, Mother free!)
7. Shubhrajyotsna pulakitayaminim,
8. (Glory of moonlight dreams, over thy branches and lordly streams,)
9. Phullakusumita drumadala shobhinim,
10. (Clad in thy blossoming trees,)
11. Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim,
12. (Mother, giver of ease, laughing low and sweet!)
13. Sukhadam varadam, Mataram!
14. (Speaker sweet and low! Mother, to thee I bow.)

3 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

1. Equal Status: On January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad (India's first President) declared that while Jana Gana Mana is the anthem, Vande Mataram shall be honored with equal status because of the historic role it played in the freedom struggle.
2. The Music: While we know the popular tune today, the song was originally set to different ragas. The version commonly heard on All India Radio was composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar.
3. The Space Connection: When Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian astronaut, went to space in 1984, the first words he spoke to describe India from above were "Sare Jahan Se Achha," but the spirit of Vande Mataram—viewing the earth as a mother—is what resonates with every Indian looking at the tricolor.

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