Mother, I salute thee!

March 26, 2007 7:39 AM

Vande Matram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, and not Rabindranath Tagore (as is sometimes believed), is the National Song of India, and not the National Anthem (which is another misconception).
posted by hadjiboy (7 comments total)

"Vande Mataram" was the national cry for freedom from British oppression during the freedom movement. Large rallies, fermenting initially in Bengal, in the major metropolis of Calcutta, would work themselves up into a patriotic fervour by shouting the slogan "Vande Mataram," or "Hail to the Mother(land)!". The British, fearful of the potential danger of an incited Indian populace, at one point banned the utterance of the motto in public forums, and imprisoned many freedom fighters for disobeying the proscription.
posted by hadjiboy at 7:40 AM on March 26, 2007

Vande Matram Redux (A R Rehman Style)
posted by hadjiboy at 7:41 AM on March 26, 2007

I remember this vaguely from the Home and the World.
posted by The Straightener at 7:46 AM on March 26, 2007

Everything I believe is now in doubt.
posted by DU at 7:47 AM on March 26, 2007

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
सस्य श्यामलां मातरम् |
शुभ्र ज्योत्स्ना पुलकित यामिनीम्
फुल्ल कुसुमित द्रुमदलशोभिनीम्,
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ||
posted by Meatbomb at 8:24 AM on March 26, 2007

Devanagari is the sexiest script on the planet.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:25 AM on March 26, 2007

The Works of Rabindranath Tagore

Amartya Sen: Tagore and His India
posted by homunculus at 3:28 PM on March 26, 2007