![]() A keen follower and the creator of the mega-series ‘Multiple Version Songs’, Ashok M Vashnav was also contemplating to write on different versions of ‘Vande Mataram’, but happily passed it up when he came to know that Venkataramnji was at it. This article has long been in the making. As per the policy of this blog to steer clear of contentious political issues, Venkataramanji has put the focus specially on its rich musical history. To celebrate the occasion, N Venkataraman writes a scholarly article on the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’. As the Indian Republic turns 70, we wish all the best for our country and its people. Today we are again at troubled times because of the sectarian fault lines. 24 January 1950, at the time of signing of the copies of the Constitution, the President Rajendra Prasad made a statement that ‘Jana Gana Mana’ shall be the National Anthem and “Vande Mataram, which has played an important part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and shall have equal status with it.” However, the hesitation to take a final call continued. There were strong voices in favour of ‘Vande Mataram’ – as a matter of fact the Constituent Assembly session on 14 August 1947, which is famous for Nehru’s ‘Tryst with Destiny’ at the midnight, began at 11 pm with singing of this song. This controversy carried on right through the sessions of the Indian National Congress and, later, Constituent Assembly debates when question as to the declaration of a National Anthem came up. ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was said to have been written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1911 in the honour of the British King George V on the occasion of his visit to India, and ‘Vande Mataram’ occurring in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s 19th century novel, ‘Anandamath’, was said to have religious overtones, which might offend the sensibilities of the minority community. When we grew up and became more ‘knowledgeable’, we learnt that both the songs had controversy dogging them right since they were created. ( During our days of innocence we learnt in the school that ‘Jana Gana Mana Adhinayaka Jaya He’ was our ‘National Anthem’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ was our ‘National Song’, both of equal reverence, and we sung both with equal fervour on special occasions. Guest article by N Venkataraman to celebrate 70th Anniversary of the Republic ![]()
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