Bankim Chandra Chatterji
By Illa Vij

VANDE MATARAM one of the most loved patriotic songs, which inspires and moves the entire nation, was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterji.

Bankim Chandra was born in the year 1838. He was one of the two first graduates of Calcutta University. On obtaining the B.A. degree, he was appointed Deputy Magistrate — the post which he held till his retirement. He utilised most of his leisure hours, which were any way few, for literary works. He enriched the Bengali language. He was well versed in Sanskrit and English literature.

Bankim Chandra’s first book was Durgeshnandini (The Chieftan’s Daughter), and then came Kapalakundala. A little later Bankim Chandra founded the monthly magazine titled Banga Darshan. He edited it for four years. The journal become extremely popular amongst the people of Bengal. Bankim Chandra wrote a social novel titled Vishavriksha (The Poison Tree) and it appeared serially in Banga Darshan. One of Bankim Chandra’s most impressive novels was Chandrashekhar, an epic romance.

During his time, most people took great pride in discussing English authors and their literary works. But Bankim Chandra’s works were so inspiring that many intellects enjoyed his writings and found them laudable. His other brilliant creations — Anandamath, Devi Chandharani and Sitaram — were repeatedly read and praised.

Bankim translated the Bhagavadgita. His book Krishna Charitra is another creation that shows his mastery as a writer. But the fame that he received through his song Vande Matram is overwhelming. It appears in the novel Anandanath. (The Happy Monastery). The song is partly in Bengali and partly in Sanskrit. The mingling of languages came naturally to him and he wrote the song as it came to his mind. The song itself has a long history. The song lay hidden in the book for nearly 25 years.

In 1905 when the partition of Bengal took place, the song suddenly emerged, attaining everlasting glory. From Bengal, the song sent a patriotic wave across the country. Bankim had said that a time would come when every Indian would know and love this song. His prophetic words seem to have come true. The patriot who sings it in the book Anandamath, actually weeps while singing it — the song evokes an intense response. It doesn’t make a patriot rebellious, but fills his heart with love and gratitude.

Bankim’s ancestral home was at Kantalpara, a few miles from Calcutta. Bankim died at the age of 56 years, in 1894. In a country of diverse people and thoughts, he brought about a common bond through his immortal song.

The translation of Vande Mataram in English, rendered by late Nagendranath Gupta, is as follows:

Obeisance to thee, Mother!

Sweet is thy water, sweet are thy fruits, cool is the

Sandal-scented breeze from the south,

Green are thy cornfields, Mother!

Gladdened are thy nights by the white moonlight,

Decked art thou by the trees with flowers in bloom,

Sweet-smiling, sweet-spoken,

Bestower of happiness and boons, Mother!

Terrible with the shouts rising from seventy million throats,

Twice seventy million hands armed with edged swords,

Why do they call thee feeble, Mother!

Possessed of mighty strength, saviour, I bow to thee!

Vanquisher of the enemy, Mother!

Thou art knowledge, the faith art thou,

Thou art the heart, the core thou,

Thou art the life in the body,

Thou art the strength in the arm,

The devotion in the heart,

The image we build in temple after temple!

Thou art Durga holding ten weapons,

Lakshmi art thou seated on the petals of the lotus,

Sarasvati thou, the giver of knowledge, to thee I bow,

I bow to thee, Lakshmi, the pure, the peerless,

Sweet-watered, sweet-fruited Mother!

Obeisance to thee, Mother

Green-hued, unsophisticated, sweet-smiling, ornamented,

Nourisher of the Earth, Mother!