Three such dates that India celebrates are – August the 15th the date of rebirth of independent India, January the 26th, the date of birth of the Republic India and October the 2nd, the date of birth of the father of the nation.

Few nations celebrate a second date at par with their most important date (in India’s case August 15th). So what is significant about this date? India became Republic on this date. True? But was it a mere co-incidence that she choose to become republic on this date? The answer to this question makes it all the more significant. The simple answer is – This is the only date we choose; ourselves; consciously. But Why?

January 26, 1930 – The Lahore Session

Exactly two decades before we declared ourselves republic, on this day, the Indian National Congress had promulgated The declaration of Independence or Purna Swaraj. In the official draft by none other than Mahatma Gandhi stated:

The British government in India has not only deprived the Indian people of their freedom but has based itself on the exploitation of the masses, and has ruined India economically, politically, culturally and spiritually….Therefore…India must sever the British connection and attain Purna Swaraj or complete independence.

Now this was significant as Indian leaders and parties have been on a  constant debate pertaining to the ultimate goal – A dominion status or the complete independence. All India Home Rule League and All India Muslim League favoured the Dominion status and at times even opposed the idea of complete independence. While veterans like Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Aurobindo and Bipin Chandrapal favored Purna Swaraj a complete separation from British rule. Just two years back, in 1928 Calcutta session, Indian National congress pressed just for Dominion status within two years. It never came. Thus the Lahore sessions finally pressed for the ultimate and the complete freedom.

Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the then congress president hoisted the first Swaraj Flag on the Midnight of December 31st, 1929, which was adopted as the national flag or the Swaraj Flag. On January 26th, the session not only proposed a declaration for the complete Independence  or Purna Swaraj but also declared January 26th as the Independence Day (Purna Swaraj Day).

Ever since, we continued to celebrate Purna Swaraj Divas (Independence Day) till 1947; each year remembering the sacrifices made in the direction of attaining our ultimate objective.

If we were asked to choose, we certainly would have chosen January 26th as our Independence day

June 4th, 1947

Perhaps, the date has little relevance for most of Indians in current generation. But it was this day, that the last viceroy of British India, Lord Louis Mountbatten announced the date for final transfer of power to Indian Hand – The August 15th, 1947 – The official day of India’s Independence.

The decision was surprisingly spontaneous – rather a shocking and surprising for all concerned. This announcement left merely four moths for the preparation for the ultimate event; the general understanding was for almost a year later. The date had absolutely no significance for Indians. Mountbatten choose the date as it was associated with his most important victory when Japanese unconditionally surrendered two years before.

Thus Indians had no say in choosing the most important date for their History. This of course doesn’t make the August 15th any less important. After all no child gets to choose their own date of Birth.

August 15th, 1947

As the world slept, India woke to light and freedom. The transfer of power to Indian hands happened exactly as announced on June 4th, 1947. We achieved our desired political freedom. India was now ruled by Indians. But were we really and truly independent? the power was transferred to a provisional government headed by Pandit Nehru and was not really a government chosen by the people of India. The stamps and coins still carried the bust of British Monarch.

Soon a constituent assembly was formed to rectify this and draft a constitution for Indian Republic. Against the popular circulated myth of attributing one person as the father of our constitution, it was almost two years of intense debate among the chosen members of the constituent assembly under the leadership of their president Dr. Rajendra Prasad that drafted the largest written constitution of the world. The assembly completed its job by the mid of 1949 and the assembly approved the constitution of India on Nov 25th, 1949. It was signed by all member on January 24th 1950. But we waited. This time we had the option to choose our date. The date of our true Independence. The day when India becomes Republic.

January 26th, 1950

The Independent India, under a provisional government finally declared herself Republic on this day realizing the oath taken exactly two decades ago. The ceremony was marked by the oath ceremony of Dr. Rajendra Prasad, who became the first president of the Republic India. The Election Commission was also constituted to take care of the election process for the republic of India. It was two years later, however, India choose his Prime minister and other members of Parliaments through the republic process for the first time.

January 26th, 2010

As Republic India turns 60 this year, we have amended our constitution 94 times – for better for worse. It was in its design. The founder for constitution designed it that way. Bringing amendments to Indian constitution is easier than that of some other countries such as USA. In the words of one of the pioneer member of the constituent assembly and former law minister Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar:

However good a constitution may be, it is sure to turn out to be bad because those who are called to work it happen to be a bad lot. However bad a constitution may be, it may turn out to be good if those who are called to work it happen to be a good lot.

This certainly leaves a great deal of responsibility in the shoulders of the future generation of government and the law makers and history is a witness of their success and failure.

After six years of discussion, debate, brain storming and technical working, ICANN finally approved the use of Hindi and over a dozen of other international languages including Korean and Hebrew to be used as the domain name. A new TLD in Hindi will soon be a reality and Indians will be in a position to write their address in their national language – Hindi. (Read the detailed story here).

This is going to be a great moment for India and Indians. We are free again. We no longer need to use English characters for our website. I am not against the use of English but certainly the idea to have a website that will be completely in Hindi is thrilling.

The other Indian languages will soon follow the suite and make their presence on the top address bar.

The big question is  – As Indians are we going the feel the pride of our national language and make the event a grand success or we will wait with our narrow territorial mentality  and language prejudice and let the even pass on?

The Controversy

Jan 24, 1950 – Jana Gana Mana selected as the National Anthem; Vandemataram the national song

The Constituent Assembly, after a long debate finally choose Jana gana mana adhinayak … as the national Anthem of India. For generations to come the song will continue to infuse new spirit in the veins of every Indian.

Same day yet another song Vandemataram was given at par status and adopted as National Song of India. In fact generations of freedom fighters who died dreaming for Independent India were almost sure that one day it will be our national anthem.

Both songs had patrons, both had polarization and both team battled hard to see their get the grand position. And when the resolution was adopted, it was thought that it is a perfect win-win situation and will settle the issue once and for all. It just didn’t happen.

Unfortunately the two team are still batting; still throwing the mud balls, not realizing that they are insulting The Indian Nation.

December 1911

Gurudev Rabindra Nath Tagore, wrote the song Jana gana mana adhinayak. The song was sung by Gurudev himself on December 27th, 1911, on the second day of Indian National Congress Convention, Calcutta. Same day Indian National congress also extended their welcome to then Visiting King George V.  Few other poets actually composed song in praise of the Monarch and they too were recited the same day.

The event were highlighted in the leading dailies in the following manner:

December 28th,1911 – The Statesman

The Bengali poet Babu Rabindranath Tagore sang a song composed by him specially to welcome the Emperor.”

December 28th, 1911 – Englishman

“The proceedings began with the singing by Babu Rabindranath Tagore of a song specially composed by him in honour of the Emperor.”

December 29th, 1911 – Indian

“When the proceedings of the Indian National Congress began on Wednesday 27th December 1911, a Bengali song in welcome of the Emperor was sung. A resolution welcoming the Emperor and Empress was also adopted unanimously.”

They suggested the song was in honour of the the Monarch. That the word Adhinayak (the leader) and Bharat Bhagya Vidatha (the master of India’s destiny) referred to the Monarch. Incidentally the same press also attributed authorship of Vandemataram to Rabindra Nath Tagore and reported Jana-gana-mana as a Hindi song.

It was also later confirmed that some members of Indian National congress had approached Gurudev and requested him to write something in honour of the Monarch.

Gurudev apparently didn’t contradict the news paper reports and no body seem to relent either the press reports nor its non-contradiction; at least for some time. Well to be exact almost for a three decades.

All these decades, it continued to grow in its popularity.

1937 – 1940 and onwards

The controversy, started when Jana-gana-mana became a  candidate for National anthem. There were  unfortunate controversies surrounding the most popular Indian song Vandemataram that forced the search for an alternatives song. It must emphasised that the controversy related to vandemataram were both unfortunate and unjustifiable. It had sentiments and endorsement of millions of Indians both living and dead of all religions, sects and sections. It appears quite natural that the patrons of the vandemataram vented the anger against the other alternative that was being considered. However, it was carried out in as dirty a manner as the other one carried against Vandemataram.

Jana-gana-mana was condemned as being a praise for monarch and thus unsuitable for being the national anthem for India. So the news papers were dug out in an attempt to justify their stand and disgrace Jana-gana-mana. Worst the controversy is still being populated in year 2009 and on.

It seem only appropriate that the facts about the national anthem be kept straight and in its right perspective, lest new generations may easily be misguided to disgrace their own heritage:

Justification

December 1911

A High official in Indian National Congress approaches Gurudev and requests him to write something in the praise of Visiting Monarch. Gurudev felt quite disturbed at the very idea. In his own words:

A certain high official in His Majesty’s service, who was also my friend, had requested that I write a song of felicitation towards the Emperor. The request simply amazed me. It caused a great stir in my heart. In response to that great mental turmoil, I pronounced the victory in Jana Gana Mana of that Bhagya Vidhata [ed. God of Destiny] of India who has from age after age held steadfast the reins of India’s chariot through rise and fall, through the straight path and the curved. That Lord of Destiny, that Reader of the Collective Mind of India, that Perennial Guide, could never be George V, George VI, or any other George. Even my official friend understood this about the song. After all, even if his admiration for the crown was excessive, he was not lacking in simple common sense

It seem quite natural. You are asked to do a job against your conscience. And what do you do? You revolt and do something magnificent and exactly opposite way. This is what Gurudev did. He wrote a poem in praise of God – The real monarch. And the song was sung. But it still gives rise to several questions:

But How can we be so sure that it was not in praise of King?

There are several points which clearly highlights that it was not in the praise of the British King:

• Why was the controversy a non-starter in 1911? Because Gurudev was well known for his attitude towards the British Government. He was the first Indian to be honoured with Knighthood. Rabindra Nath Tagore returned that great honour in protest to Jalian wala Bagh massacre. Need we say more? A literary work can’t really be separated from the character of the author. Can it be?
• Anybody who has read the other works of Gurudev and most notably Gitanjali (that won him yet another highest award – Nobel prize) will constantly find the mention of divine monarch – The God and not the king of Britain. Once again Jana-gana-mana need to seen as one of the many works of Gurudev and not an isolated incident.
• Jana-gana-mana has 5 stanjas. In the third stanja he writes:

युगयुग धावित यात्री,
हे चिर-सारथी,
तव रथ चक्रेमुखरित पथ दिन-रात्रि

which refer to the same personality (as in rest of the poetry) to have held the reins of India’s chariot through ages (for the most ancient times), day and night, on the straight and the curve paths. Now, even King George, at this point, though may feel flattered,  won’t agree. Still there seem to be a section of people who took Gurudev as some stupid poet using his verse without intellect or intelligence. Gurudev lacked neither. If he really had to praise the King, he was sure to have chosen his words carefully.

How is it that all the leading news paper reported it as being sung in the praise of Monarch?

As already mentioned the same section news papers also attributed the authorship of Vandemataram to Rabindra Nath Tagore. They also reported Jana-Gana-Mana to be a Hindi song. What do  we learn from these mistakes? The basic idea that they didn’t had clear idea about Indian literary works and they often failed to distinguish one author from other and one language from other. Either they cared not or couldn’t understand the real essence of Indian culture and practices.

It has been years old Indian tradition to start any occasion and celebration, related to anything, with a prayer to God. The same thing happened on Dec 27th, 1911. Gurudev graced the occasion by a prayer to the almighty. Rest of the day was of course devoted in welcoming the King. Most likely the press missed out this subtle aspect.

If the newspapers presented Rabindra Nath Tagore in wrong light, how is it that he never contradicted it?

I will quote Gurudev, himself, on this issue:

I should only insult myself if I cared to answer those who consider me capable of such unbounded stupidity as to sing in praise of George the Fifth as the Eternal Charioteer leading the pilgrims on their journey through countless ages of the timeless history of mankind

Was it not that people had really accepted it as a praise to the Monarch?

Most of the contemporary leaders and visionaries and those whose love and alliance to the nation can not be disputed endorsed the real and essence of the song.

To quote Mahatma Gandhi :

the song has found a place in our national life (1946)

It may not be out of place to mention that Bapu, himself wanted Vandemataram to be the national anthem. He always considered Jana-Gana-Mana more as devotional hymn than praise to nation.  He also stressed that Jana-gana-mana is in true sense a Universal song rather than tied up just with India. Thus he always believed in the its true and inner meaning.

Netaji Shubhash Chandra Bose adopted Jana-gana-mana as the anthem for his Indian National Army. Yet another leader of the time who realized the true essense of Jana-gana-mana.

What If it were really a praise to the Monarch and was later justified other wise?

After understanding the personality of Rabindra Nath Tagore, His other literatures and the endorsements by other great undisputed leaders there isn’t really any room for this question. But the fact is that this question continues to cloud the minds of newer generations who know nothing of Gurudev or his works. So assuming (and its really foolish to do so) that it was in praise of king then? Does it make a difference? Is it really relevant as to what was the context?

The only thing that matters is the context and belief with which hundred million Indians sing the song and take the pride in doing so. If a hundred million can correlate the song woth India and its divine monarch (God), it truly becomes irrelevant as what one person (even the author) had in his mind while writing the song. Thus no matter what Jana-gana-mana remains the pride of India and any attempt to de-glorify the song is a direct attempt de-glorify India and its national heritage.

Coming Soon:

• Story of National Anthem Part II – The Pride
• Meaning and Full Text of Jana Gana Mana

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्य श्यामलां मातरं |

Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.

शुभ्र ज्योत्स्न पुलकित यामिनीम
फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्,
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम् .
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् .. वन्दे मातरम्

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.

सप्त कोटि कन्ठ कलकल निनाद कराले
निसप्त कोटि भुजैध्रुत खरकरवाले
के बोले मा तुमी अबले
बहुबल धारिणीं नमामि तारिणीम्
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् .. वन्दे मातरम्

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.

तुमि विद्या तुमि धर्म, तुमि हृदि तुमि मर्म
त्वं हि प्राणाः शरीरे
बाहुते तुमि मा शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि मा भक्ति,
तोमारै प्रतिमा गडि मंदिरे मंदिरे .. वन्दे मातरम

Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nervs the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.

त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदल विहारिणी
वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्
नमामि कमलां अमलां अतुलाम्
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम् .. वन्दे मातरम्

Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-toned,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair

श्यामलां सरलां सुस्मितां भूषिताम्
धरणीं भरणीं मातरम् .. वन्दे मातरम

In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Lovilest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!

Mahatma Gandhi adored it. Bhagat Singh and millions of other youth identified it with their cause, Chandrashekhar Azad died with the word on his lips.  Lala Lajpat Rai published journals with the name Vandemataram. Matangini Hazra’s last words as she was shot to death by the Crown police were Vande Mataram.

The first prototype of our national flag, designed by Sri Bhikaiji Cama,  in 1907 contained the word Vandemataram on the central band.

The chanting of Vandemataram terrified the then British government so much that they decided to suppress it with all their might. The banned the very utterance of it. Those dare to defy would be jailed; the song and its spirit continued to soar higher.

History of Vandemataram

Vandemataram song was composed by sri Bankimchandra Chatterjee in a mixture of Sanskrit and Bengali. It first appeared in his book title Anandmath in 1882. The book was about the love of mother land and revolution and fight against the foreign rulers. However, it was written much earlier in 1875. The creation was spontaneous and heart felt –

Sri Bankimchandra Chatterjee took a holiday to escape from the hectic life of Calcutta. He boarded a train bound for his native town Kantalapada. As the city left behind, there was greenery all around and his heart filled with joy. The contemplation of the motherland with her rich rivers, flowers, fruits and forests took him spellbound. He could feel the motherland – in all her richness, beauty and diversity. He could hear the voice from the earth and the air and the sky. It was spontaneous. And he penned it down; the depiction of motherland – India. Something that will continue to excite generations to come.

1896, Session of Indian National Congress, Calcutta – Gurudev Ravindra Nath Tagore sung Vandemataram. It was probably the first political occasion when the song was sung. It was just the beginning.

1901, Session of Indian National Congress, Calcutta – The song was sung again, this time by Dakhina Charan Sen.

1905, Session of Indian National Congress, Benaras –  Poet Sarala Devi Chaudurani sang the song  and it almost became a protocol to sing the song.

Since then Vandemataram continued to inspire millions of Indians, uniting them for the single cause – The Independence of India. Revolutionaries, thinkers, moderates, extremists all took pride in chanting Vandemataram. From Mahatma Gandhi to Chandrashekhar Azad, Shubhash Chandra Bose to Ram Prasad Bismil and Bhagat Singh to Rabindra Nath Tagore all were engrossed with the charismatic mantra – Vande Mataram – Salutation to Motherland.

Rabindra Nath Tagore talks with passion about vandemataram –

Vande Mataram! These are the magic words which will open the door of his iron safe, break through the walls of his strong room, and confound the hearts of those who are disloyal to its call to say Vande Mataram

Controversy

Vandemataram with its rich legacy seemed to be all set to become the national anthem of India. The father of the nation – Mahatma Gandhi himself adored the song and wished it be the national anthem. Even post independence Gandhi ji suggested:

Vande Matram should be set to music so that millions can sing it together, and feel the thrill. They should all sing in the same raga, with the same bhava. Shantiniketan or some other competent institution should design an acceptable raga.

Yet that was not to be. Vande Mataram was denied its rightful privilege because of certain unfortunate reason. There were two major controversies:

Controversy 1: Vandemataram is a Hindu Hymn

In its original version, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee compared the motherland with Hindu Goddess Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

त्वं हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी
कमला कमलदल विहारिणी

A section of leadership felt that in a country with Muslims, Shikhs, Parsis, Christens and a plethora of different religions and faiths, the mention of Hindu deities will not be acceptable. It seemed to go against the secular spirit. And over a period of time such resentments had grown more and more vocal; sometime violent.

It must be mentioned very clearly that the mention of Goddess Durga and Kali was comparison of the India with the powers of Goddess Durga and Saraswati. It was not prayer to Hindu deities. In the words of Sri Aurobindo –

Durga to whom it paid homage was none other than Bharata Mata symbolising Knowledge, Power, Greatness and Glory.

However, this subtle meaning was either missed or ignored. And the mantra which had motivated millions irrespective of the caste, colour and creed was thrown amid of controversies. However, the controversies were real.

Even Rabindra Nath Tagore observed in his letter to Shubhash Chandra Bose.

The core of Vande Mataram is a hymn to goddess Durga: this is so plain that there can be no debate about it. Of course Bankimchandra does show Durga to be inseparably united with Bengal in the end, but no Mussulman [Muslim] can be expected patriotically to worship the ten-handed deity as ‘Swadesh’ [the nation]. This year many of the special [Durga] Puja numbers of our magazines have quoted verses from Vande Mataram – proof that the editors take the song to be a hymn to Durga. The novel Anandamath is a work of literature, and so the song is appropriate in it. But Parliament is a place of union for all religious groups, and there the song cannot be appropriate. When Bengali Mussulmans show signs of stubborn fanaticism, we regard these as intolerable. When we too copy them and make unreasonable demands, it will be self-defeating.”

In a postscript to this same letter, Rabindranath says:

“Bengali Hindus have become agitated over this matter, but it does not concern only Hindus. Since there are strong feelings on both sides, a balanced judgment is essential. In pursuit of our political aims we want peace, unity and good will – we do not want the endless tug of war that comes from supporting the demands of one faction over the other

in 1937, The CWC appointed a sub-committee with Maulana Azad, Nehru, Subhash Chandra Bose and Acharya Narendra Dev as members to review the eligibility of Vande Mataram to the status of national anthem. The committee was to take the guidance of Rabindranath Tagore. And this sub-committee endorsed the CWC’s resolution to adopt Vande Mataram in its truncated form as the national anthem. The committee observed:

the first two stanzas began with an unexceptionable evocation of the beauty of the motherland, in later stanzas there are references where the motherland is likened to the Hindu goddess Durga.

As such CWC adopted the first two stanzas suitable to become the national anthem. The selected stanza is:

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यश्यामलां मातरम् |
शुभ्र ज्योत्स्ना पुलकित यामिनीम्
फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्,
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ||

Controversy 2: Vandemataram is anti-Muslim

Even with the controversial stanzas removed, the critics of Vandemataram continued to agitate. The other argument was the context in which Vandemataram had appeared. As already discussed Vandemataram was first published in a book titled Anandmath. This book was a book on freedom struggle against foreign rule. And that foreign rule happened to be Muslims. Muslims felt. They felt that the novel had a anti-Muslim messages. Again the the clear point that the song had nothing anti-Muslim was conveniently ignored.

Controversy 3: Vandemataram doesn’t have rhythm and movement

The then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Nehru observed:

In regard to the national anthem tune, it was felt that the tune was more important than the words, and this tune should be such as to represent the Indian musical genius as well as to some extent the Western, so that it might easily be adapted to orchestra and band music, and to playing abroad. The real significance of the national anthem is perhaps more abroad than in the home country. Past experience has shown that Janagana tune has been greatly appreciated and admired abroad…VM with all its very great attraction and historical background, was not easily suitable for orchastras in foreign countries.. It seemed therefore that while VM should continue to be the national song par excellence in India, the national anthem tune should be that of Janaganamana, and the wording of Janagana be altered suitably to fit in with existing circumstances.

• Vandematram lack rhythmic movement?
  • When we have one of the highest numbers of magnificent music created on it?
• It doesn’t have International  appeal?
  • BBC voted it as the second all time popular song, internationally.

It can easily be understood, that the song was denied its rightful place in order to keep the situation under control and keep the unity of the country. If it is achieved, it seem to be a small price to pay for. I dare say If Vandemataram turns live; she would be ready for the sacrifice herself.

Final words…

The situation took an ugly turn when people in favour and against the song messed the national stage with ugly exchange of word degrading the two greatest songs of India. At this point Dr Rajendra Prasad, the President to be, intervened and presented the most amicable solution:

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 honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it. (Applause) I hope this will satisfy members. (Constituent Assembly of India, Vol. XII, 24-1-1950)

This became the final decision on the issue and was adopted. Thus Vandemataram, attained the status of the National Song of India at par with the national anthem.

Moreover:

Vandemataram is song that touches the inner cord of every Indian and irrespective of the status it continues to be favourite of every body Indian at heart.

In 2003, BBC conducted a poll to find out the all time most favourite song, internationally. Over 7000 songs were nominated and more than 155 countries and island participated. Vandemataram stood second in the list of top 10 all-time favourite songs. This is one of the greatest tribute to the song.

Further Reading…

• For the complete text of Vandemataram with its meaning see Vandemataram (coming soon)
• The Story of National Anthem see  The Story of National Anthem (coming soon)
• Meaning and complete text of the national anthem – Jana-gana-mana (coming soon)