North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: This issue is once again in the headlines after Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi’s statement of not singing “Vande Mataram”. But do you know that the debate regarding this national song is not just today, but is older than independence? For years it has been claimed that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had deliberately shortened ‘Vande Mataram’ and removed some parts of it. How much truth is there in this claim and why do we not sing the entire song of ‘Vande Mataram’ today? Let us turn the pages of history and understand the root of this entire controversy.
Where did the song ‘Vande Mataram’ come from?
‘Vande Mataram’ was composed by Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay in his famous novel ‘Anandmath’ in 1882. This novel was based on the Sanyasi rebellion of the 18th century. Written in Sanskrit and Bengali, this song very soon became a symbol of revolution for the freedom fighters of India. The slogan of ‘Vande Mataram’ started resonating in rallies, processions and every demonstration against the British. This song became the biggest mantra to break the chains of slavery.
How did the controversy start?
As this song became popular, controversy also started over it. In the 1930s, the Muslim League and its leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah began to object to this. His main objection was to the latter parts of the first two verses of the song. His argument was that in the subsequent verses ‘Maa Durga’ has been praised and Bharat Mata has been portrayed as Durga. Since idol worship is prohibited in Islam, he said that it would be against a Muslim’s religion to sing this song.
Had Nehru really got the song cut?
This is where the story begins, which is often mentioned. In 1937, Congress formed a committee to resolve the growing controversy regarding ‘Vande Mataram’. This committee included not only Jawaharlal Nehru, but also big leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Subhash Chandra Bose and Acharya Narendra Dev.
This committee thoroughly discussed the entire song and found that:
- of song first two posts There is love for the country and respect for the motherland. There is no mention of any religion or deity in these. He is simply imbued with the spirit of patriotism.
- of song latter part There is mention of religious symbols and Maa Durga, on which some people may have objection.
Therefore, respecting the unity of the country and the sentiments of all religions, the Congress Working Committee decided that only ‘Vande Mataram’ should be played in public programmes. first two positions Will be sung only.
So, to say that “Nehru got the song cut,” is not entirely true. This decision was not of any one person, but a collective decision of a committee of Congress, which also included leaders like Maulana Azad and Subhash Chandra Bose. Its purpose was not to insult the song, but to adopt it in a form that would be acceptable to every Indian and strengthen national unity.
What happened after independence?
When India became independent, there was a debate in the Constituent Assembly regarding the national anthem and the national anthem. ‘Jana-Gana-Mana’ was chosen as the National Anthem of India. At the same time, ‘Vande Mataram’ was given the status of National Song of India.
On January 24, 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, Speaker of the Constituent Assembly and the first President of India, announced that ‘Vande Mataram’ would get equal respect and status as ‘Jana-Gana-Mana’. He said, “The song Vande Mataram has played a historic role in the Indian freedom struggle, and we will have the same respect for it in our hearts as we have for Jana-Gana-Mana.”
Therefore, what we sing today in the first two stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ was not the result of anyone’s arbitrariness, but was a deliberate and historical decision taken to keep the country united in the era of independence.
