Vande Mataram

Vande Mataram is the national slogan and national marching song of India. It is not to be confused with the national anthem of India. The lyrics were written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, in a mix of Sanskrit and Bengali. The song was written in 1876, but published in 1882. The title means "Long live the Mother[land]". The first version of the Flag of India had "vnde maatrm" (Vande Mataram) written on it.
Controversy
Jana Gana Mana was chosen over Vande Mataram as the National Anthem of independent India in January 24, 1950, although before this date, Vande Mataram was treated as such. Vande Mataram was rejected because it offended Muslims by calling India "Mother Durga" (a Hindu goddess), equating the nation with Hinduism, and by its origin as part of Anandamatha, a book they felt had an anti-Muslim message.
Lyrics
English
Full version
Translation
Mother, I salute thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Green fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.
Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When swords flash out in seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Thou who saves, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foe drove
Back from plain and sea
And shook herself free.
Thou art wisdom, thou art law,
Thou art heart, our soul, our breath
Though art love divine, the awe
In our hearts that conquers death.
Thine the strength that nerves the arm,
Thine the beauty, thine the charm.
Every image made divine
In our temples is but thine.
Thou art Durga, Lady and Queen,
With her hands that strike and her
swords of sheen,
Thou art Lakshmi lotus-throned,
And the Muse a hundred-tone,
Pure and perfect without peer,
Mother lend thine ear,
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
Bright with thy orchard gleems,
Dark of hue O candid-fair
In thy soul, with jewelled hair
And thy glorious smile divine,
Loveliest of all earthly lands,
Showering wealth from well-stored hands!
Mother, mother mine!
Mother sweet, I bow to thee,
Mother great and free!
translated by Sri Aurobindo
Official version
vnde maatrm
sujlaaN suphlaaN mlyjshiitlaam
ssy shyaamlaaN maatrm |
shubhr jyotsnaa pulkit yaaminiim
phull kusumit drumdlshobhiniim,
suhaasiniiN sumdhur bhaassinniim
sukhdaaN vrdaaN maatrm ||
Translation
Mother, I salute thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Green fields waving Mother of might,
Mother thee
Bengali
Full version
Www.nationalsong.in
Official version
References
Other websites
On compulsory singing, Aju John writes in Indlaw
Vande Mataram voted second in The World's Top Ten - BBC
Vande Mataram against Sikh tenets
Boycott threat over Indian song - BBC
1937 Congress Resolution on validity of Muslim objection to this song
"Vande Mataram and Muslims" - Islamic Voice
Listen Vande Mataram Online
Listen Vande Mataram in Dr.SPB's voice
National symbols of India