The real story of Vande Mataram lies in how Bankim defied British arrogance

In the annals of India’s struggle for independence, Vande Mataram stands as an emblem of resistance, evoking deep emotions of patriotism and unity. This powerful anthem, conceived by the bureaucrat-novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s, was not just a mere song but a calculated response to British arrogance. Its origins are steeped in an incident that showcased the rising tide of Indian defiance against colonial subjugation.

The India of Bankim Chandra

The backdrop of Vande Mataram is set in a time when British colonial rule had entrenched itself firmly across the Indian subcontinent. Despite this, memories of Mughal and Nawabi rule lingered, and many regional powers harboured dreams of reclaiming authority from the British.  

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Bengal, the birthplace of Bankim Chandra, was a region in turmoil. The Bengal Presidency, a crucial administrative unit of British India, encompassed modern-day West Bengal, parts of the Northeast, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Bangladesh, making it a hotspot of political and cultural flux.

An idea takes root

The exact date of the composition of Vande Mataram remains uncertain, though it first appeared in the magazine Bangadarshan in 1875.  

The song gained widespread recognition after Bankim Chandra included it in his seminal novel Anandmath, serialised in the same magazine in 1881 and published as a book the following year. While some historians, like RC Majumdar, have dismissed Anandmath as a work of fiction with no historical basis, recent research has shed light on a different story—one that gives Vande Mataram a tangible historical context.

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A humiliating encounter

The seeds of Vande Mataram were sown in 1873 when Bankim Chandra was serving as the Deputy Collector of Murshidabad district, stationed in Berhampore. An incident occurred during this period that is said to have ignited a fierce patriotic flame within him.  

Bankim Chandra, returning home in a palanquin after a day’s work, inadvertently caused a disruption on a cricket field where a British officer, Colonel Duffin, was playing. Enraged by the interruption, Colonel Duffin physically assaulted Bankim Chandra, dragging him out of his palanquin and striking him in front of onlookers.  

This public humiliation of a high-ranking Indian official by a British officer was a stark reminder of the colonial disdain towards Indians. Bankim Chandra, deeply affronted, sought legal recourse. The court proceedings that followed resulted in Colonel Duffin being ordered to publicly apologise to Bankim Chandra. The apology, delivered in open court, marked a rare victory for an Indian against the British, and the public response was overwhelming.

The veracity of this incident was earlier contested. But independent researchers (retired bureaucrats) Kishanchand Bhakat and Pradip Bhattacharya have suggested that this incident was real and served as a catalyst for the composition of Vande Mataram.

While the assault on Chattopadhyay was a significant catalyst, it’s crucial to recognize that Vande Mataram was more than a personal response. It was a reflection of the broader anti-colonial sentiment and a celebration of India’s cultural and spiritual heritage.  

The song’s portrayal of India as a nurturing motherland, a victim of oppression, and a force to be reckoned with resonated deeply with the aspirations of a nation seeking to reclaim its identity and sovereignty.

A song is born

Following the incident, Bankim Chandra took a leave of absence and sought refuge at the Lalgola Palace, on the advice of Raja Joginder Narayan, who had witnessed the assault. It was here, amid the serene surroundings of the palace, that Bankim Chandra began to delve deeply into religious and spiritual contemplation.  

The image of Goddess Kali, adorned with a garland of skulls, resonated with him as a symbol of the suffering and sacrifice of the motherland. This potent mix of spiritual reflection and the recent colonial humiliation crystallised into the creation of Vande Mataram.

The song was first published in Bangadarshan in 1875, initially as a filler piece. Composed in Sanskrit and written in the Bengali script, it quickly gained popularity, capturing the imagination of a people yearning for freedom.

Vande Mataram in the freedom struggle

A full decade before the birth of the Indian National Congress, Vande Mataram had already begun to stir the hearts of Indians. Its first public rendition at a Congress session was by none other than Rabindranath Tagore in 1896, who also composed its tune. Tagore, the only person to compose the national anthems of two countries, India and Bangladesh, even recorded the song in his own voice in 1904.

The song became a rallying cry during the anti-partition movement in Bengal in 1905, where it symbolised national unity against British attempts to divide the region along religious lines. However, as the Indian freedom movement progressed, Vande Mataram also became a source of contention, particularly with the rise of the Muslim League.

The controversy and acceptance

The Muslim League, under leaders like Syed Ali Imam and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, opposed Vande Mataram on religious grounds, particularly due to references to Goddess Durga in the later stanzas. This opposition created a rift, with some viewing the song as emblematic of Hindu nationalism rather than a unifying national anthem.  

Even Jawaharlal Nehru sought clarification from Tagore on the song’s religious connotations, leading to the Indian National Congress officially adopting only the first two stanzas as the national song in 1937.

Vande Mataram after Independence

Despite the controversy, Vande Mataram continued to hold a special place in India’s national consciousness. In the final sessions of the Constituent Assembly in 1950, President Rajendra Prasad affirmed its status, declaring it equal in honour to the national anthem, “Jana Gana Mana”. Yet, intriguingly, while respect for the national anthem is mandated in the Constitution under Article 51-A(a), there is no such mention of the national song.

Vande Mataram remains a testament to India’s complex journey to independence—a symbol of resistance, a source of controversy, and ultimately, an enduring legacy of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s defiance against British arrogance.