Thread by @raniroyrocky

#RishiBankimChandra #ThisDayInHistory #VandeMataram
Today is the Jayanti of the man who coined the words Vande Mataram. these 2 words acted as a wavemaker in our Struggle for Independence. Many young ppl came under the spell of Vande Mataram, the sacred mantra of patriotism.

#VandeMataram
He wrote d lyrics of Vande Mataram (VM) in 1875 much before he wrote d novel AnandaMath while traveling in a train, d scenic landscape, beautiful lakes & nature in its splendour inspired him into penning down lyrics 4 the soul stirring poem.

#VandeMataram
VM had a huge impact on people after Rishi Aurobindo translated it into English. A procession of patriots was canned at Calcutta due to recitation of VM on April 14, 1906. Rishi Aurobindo, who was also in the procession, was also injured.

#VandeMataram
VM has assumed a special role in unifying Bharat for achieving freedom. The energetic two words - Vande Mataram instilled patriotic fervour into the minds and hearts of Bharatiyas and they came forward to save country’s honour.

#VandeMataram
The pledge for undoing the then partition of Bengal was also taken at a conference. There was a mammoth meeting & effigy of Lord Curzon was burnt & thousands of voices cried the spellbinding VM which took powerful shape in Bharat.

#VandeMataram
VM became a weapon in the hands of patriotic revolutionaries of India which shook the foundation of British Raj. Many hard core patriots went to gallows while holding Bhagwat Geeta in one hand & VM on their lips.

#VandeMataram
After arrival of Veer Savarkar in London for studying law, d tunes of VM started ringing resoundingly in d hearts of Indians living in there. Madanlal Dhingra, who shot dead Curzon Wyllie & ascended to gallows with VM on his lips was inspired by Savarkar.

VM even reached shores of America in 1912 & while shouting VM the Gadar party was formed to fight against British Colonialism.
4 Indian revolutionaries from Independence League in Japan were caught by British forces & were sentenced to death.
All 4 went to gallows singing VM

#VandeMataram
Vande Mataram inspired 24 soldiers of British Indian Army stationed in Tamilnadu in 1940’s. British arrested all 24 on charges of mutiny & were sentenced to death. In Madras Jail all of them went to gallows once again with VM on their lips.

#VandeMataram
Its soul-stirring words reverberated the streets, schools and every part and portion of India. The founder of Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh Dr. Keshav Baliram Hedgewar was expelled from school in Nagpur due to VM agitation.

#VandeMataram
Shri Subhash Chandra Bose had made VM the song of his Indian National Army and it was regularly broadcast from his Singapore radio station.

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However Muslim League opposed Vande Mataram as early as 1908. Syed Ali Imam the then president of Muslim League condemned it as sectarian which he said was totally against Islam as VM advocated worship of the motherland as Goddess.

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At Congress sessions in 1923 at Kakinada, Odisha when VM was being sung, Maulana Mohammed Ali, the then president of Muslim League, strongly objected to it. Congress leaders always supported Muslim League on the controversy over singing VM.

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in 1937 Nehru wrote to Tagore, expressing concerns that d song, although patriotic in its ambition, had religious leanings favouring the Hindu community.
But Tagore noted that d first 2 stanzas of VM, had no religious connotations.

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The 3 & 4 stanzas are preoccupied with references to Goddess Kali: “Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen, with her hands that strike and her swords of sheen”. Now while a superficial reading of the song may not seem offensive,

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but the song equates Goddess Durga to d motherland. To d Muslim community that follows d monotheistic religion of Islam & does not accept Hindu goddesses, paying this form of homage through reference to a Hindu deity became problematic.

#VandeMataram
the mantra of Patriotism inspired many contemporary poets and writers to echo their voice along with the spirit of VM. many translated the poem to their mother tongue. Subhramania Bharathi he cultivated the song in his own fashion. chk his version.

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Vallathol Narayan Menon, a famous Malayalam poet visualised Bharat as Mother. In many of his poems he depicted the picture of BharatMata, like Matham Bhumiote, Enne Kritagnata, Pora Pora, Karma Bhumi Yule Kaikal, etc

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B Venkatacharya translated Anandamatha in Kannada in 1899. he saw the hidden spirit in the novel and utilised it to spread the spirit of freedom among the kannadigas.

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Other Kannadigas who was inspired by VM were Dattatreya ramaChandra Bendre & K. V. Puttappa. Bendre in his poem Muvathamuroo kati gave a clarion call to the mass to wake n work for BharatMata. Puttappa echoed in his poem ’Swathantrodaya Mahapraghyatha’ about VM

#VandeMataram
Lakshminath Bezbarua, architect of modern Assamese literature, roused d sense of patriotism through his writings. His song ‘O mor Aponer Desh’ brought d image of Bharat Mata. It is now d State Anthem of Assam.

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lastly Hear the voice of Rabindranath Tagore who was the original music composer of Vande Mataram singing our National song.