Vande Mataram: Historical Significance And Controversy
Source: Indian Express
GS I: Indian culture – salient aspects of literature, art and architecture; modern Indian history – significant events, personalities and issues during the freedom struggle.
Overview
- The Vande Mataram controversy reflects the broader challenge of reconciling national symbols with India’s pluralistic constitutional framework.
- While its historical legacy is closely linked with the emergence of Indian nationalism, the debate over its imagery and use highlights the different perspectives surrounding national symbols in a diverse society.
- The issue therefore highlights the importance of consensus, cultural sensitivity and voluntary respect in preserving national unity while accommodating India’s diversity.
Why in the News?
The Congress Working Committee (CWC) has decided that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram will be sung at party programmes and events, citing the 1937 CWC decision and views of Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore.
News in Brief
- The issue has revived debate over its religious imagery and its status as India’s National Song.
- The first two stanzas celebrate the motherland through imagery of nature, fertility and beauty and are generally considered suitable for universal public singing.
- The later stanzas invoke the motherland as Durga (Power), Lakshmi (Prosperity), and Saraswati (Knowledge), leading to concerns about religious imagery and their suitability in a religiously diverse society.
Historical Background
- Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay,was written in Sanskritised Bengali and later incorporated into his novel Anandamath.
- Rabindranath Tagore set the first two stanzas to tune and sang it at the 1896 Congress session.
Historical Setting of Anandamath
- The story takes place during the late 18th-century Sannyasi and Fakir Rebellion in Bengal.
- A severe man-made famine under British and Mughal dual rule devastates the land.
- A band of ascetics (santans) rises up to fight oppressive foreign forces and reclaim the motherland.
Role in the Freedom Movement
- The song became a battle cry during the 1905 partition of Bengal.
- Crowds sang it in streets to defy British bans.
- The Indian National Congress adopted the first two verses as the national song in 1937.
- It became a powerful nationalist slogan during the Swadeshi Movement (1905-08).
1937 CWC Resolution
- Leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Boseexamined the song alongside growing concerns from minority members regarding its imagery.
- Rabindranath Tagore noted the strong emotional and patriotic value of the opening lines while noting that later stanzas shifted toward specific Hindu religious references.
- Mahatma Gandhi supported retaining the song but favoured restricting public singing to the first two parts.
- The Congress Working Committee (CWC) in October 1937, formally ruled that only the first two stanzas would be rendered at official national gatherings.
Final Declaration as National Song (1950)
- After Independence, there was debate over giving Vande Mataram national status.
- 14 August 1947- The first stanza was sung in the Constituent Assembly.
- Concerns remained regarding its religious imagery and musical rendition.
- 24 January 1950- President of the Constituent Assembly Dr Rajendra Prasad stated that,
- Jana Gana Mana would be the National Anthem.
- Vande Mataram, would receive equal honour/status as the National Song for its incomparable contribution to the national movement.
- The declaration did not restrict or legally define how many stanzas constituted the official version.
Constitutional Dimension
- Article 51A(a): Respect for the Constitution, National Flag and National Anthem.
- There is no constitutional provision making Vande Mataram compulsory for citizens.
- National symbols can promote unity, but their public use should remain consistent with constitutional values of equality and secularism.
Contemporary Debates
- The debate over Vande Mataram centers on whether to sing all six stanzas or only the first two.
- Supporters view the full song as a vital symbol of the freedom struggle, while critics and moderate voices argue that later verses contain specific religious imagery that conflicts with secular and pluralistic values.
- The issue raises broader questions about,
- Constitutional secularism– How can a national symbol respect all religions while reflecting India’s cultural heritage?
- Inclusive nationalism- National symbols should unite citizens irrespective of their religion, language or community.
- Freedom of expression– Citizens should have the freedom to express patriotism, but should not necessarily be forced to participate in religiously sensitive forms of expression.
- Cultural heritage- Vande Mataram is an important part of India’s literary and freedom-struggle history and therefore has historical significance.
- Respect for religious diversity- Religious imagery associated with the nation can raise concerns in a multi-religious society; sensitivity towards all communities is important.
- Historical Remembrance- The debate reflects how India remembers and interprets its freedom struggle, national symbols and contributions of different leaders.
Conclusion
The debate over Vande Mataram highlights the need to balance its historic contribution to India’s freedom struggle with the principles od secularism, inclusiveness and religious diversity.
Respecting its cultural legacy while ensuring that national symbols remain a source of unity rather than division is essential for India’s constitutional democracy.
Key Takeaways
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UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Consider the following statements regarding Vande Mataram:
- Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and later incorporated into his novel Anandamath.
- It became an important nationalist song during the Swadeshi Movement.
- The Constituent Assembly adopted Vande Mataram as the National Anthem in 1950.
- In 1950, Dr. Rajendra Prasad announced that Vande Mataram, would be accorded the status of the National Song.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
A) Only One statement
B) Only Two statements
C) Only three statements
D) All four statements
Answer: D
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