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‘Wonday Maatarum’ – Homage to Mother (India) by Bakim Chandra Chattopadhyaya
was probably composed between 1872 and 1875 and is included in his novel
Ananda Muttha. The following Romanised
version is by V P Hemant Kanitkar
© Transliteration, 2007 June, V P Hemant Kanitkar.
Wonday Maatarum
(1) Sujalaam, Suphalaam, Malayaja Sheetalaam,
Sasya-shyaamalaam. Maatarum. Wonday Maatarum
Shubhrajyotsnaa Pulakita Yaamineem
Phulla Kusumita, drumadala shobhineem,
Suhaasineem, Sumadhura Bhaashineem,
Sukhadaam, Varadaam, Maatarum. Wonday Maatarum
(2) Koti koti Kantha Kalakala ninaada Karaalay
Koti koti bhujair-dhrita –khara-karavaalay,
Kay balay maa tumi abalay bahubala-dhaarineem,
Namaami taarineem, ripudala vaarineem, Maatarum. Wonday Maatarum
(3) Tumi Viddya, Tumi dharma, Tumi hridi, tumi murma,
Tvam hi praanaah shareeray, Baahu tay tumi maa shakti,
Hridaye tumi maa bhakti, Toe maarai pratimaa gadi,
Mundiray, Mundiray, Wonday Maatarum
(4) Tvam hi Durga dasha-praharana-dhaarinee
Kamalaa Kamaladala Vihaarinee,
Vaanee Viddyaa daayinee, namaami tvaam.
(5) Namaami kamalaam, amalaam, atulaam,
Sujalaam, suphalaam, maatarum, Wonday Matarum.
Shyaamalaam, saralaam, susmitaam, bhooshitaam,
Dharaneem, bharneem, maataram Wonday Maataram.
The following English translation of ‘Wonday Maatarum’ is by Vitthal
/ Hemant Pralhad Kanitkar who was born in a Chitpaavan Brahmin family
in 1927 and schooled in Western India. He has lived in the U.K. since
1948, and after his higher education worked as a teacher in the London
area for 26 years. Since taking an early retirement in 1984, he has
published 25 books on Hinduism and Hindu social and cultural themes.
© Translation V P Hemant Kanitkar, June 2007.
Now the translation of the song by Arobindo
Ghosh
(1) I salute you, O Mother (India)
You have abundant water and fruit, and soothing cool breezes from the Malai
hills of Malabar in South India. You bear dark hue of ripened corn at
harvest season,
O Mother.
Your moonlit nights thrill us with joy; your trees and shrubs laden with
blossom enhance your beauty. Eternally smiling, and of sweet speech,
you bless us and make us happy, O Mother.
(2) Tens of millions of voices declare your greatness; tens of millions
of hands wield shining drawn swords. Who indeed will dare to say you
are helpless and weak?
You possess enormous might to repel enemy legions and protect us, your
children, from danger.
I offer homage and salutation, O Mother.
(3) You are our learning; you are our social/ religious duty. You hold
our secret science. You are the very soul in my body. You are the strength
in my arms and the devotion my heart. You represent all the consecrated
images worshipped in temple after temple, O Mother.
(4) You are the goddess Durga bearing weapons in your ten arms; you are
the goddess Lakshmi sporting in lotus filled lake; and you are the goddess
Saraswati giving us speech and learning. I salute you, O Mother.
(5) I salute you the giver of good fortune. I salute you who are without
blemish, pure, and endowed with plenty of water and fruit. You possess
incomparable fame.
Accept my homage, O Mother.
You appear dark at harvest time, are guileless, ever smiling, decked with
ornaments of nature. You bear our burden and feed us. O Mother (India)
we offer homage and salute you again and again.
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-toned,
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
History of 'Vande
Mataram': The Source of Inspiration
http://www.sanatan.org/en/vandemataram/index.html
Author Shri. Sanjay Mulye
'Vande Mataram' is well known as the National
Song of our country. In this song, the two words 'Vande Mataram' have
achieved major importance. These are the only words that many freedom
fighters remembered while being sentenced to rigorous punishments in
Court or being hanged to death. Muslim organisations have objected to
this song. They opine that it is against the 'Shariyat'. In this country,
whether something is right or wrong is determined on the basis of the
Indian Constitution. Yet Muslims are demanding total elimination of
'Vande Mataram' on the basis of the 'Shariyat' law. Let us learn about
the history of 'Vande Mataram' in the context of the Muslim opposition
to it.
The greatness of the motherland is the essence of Hindu culture.
Every ruler, right from Lord Rama to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, has
had a deep sense of belonging for the Motherland. After the killing
of Raavana, when Lord Rama was presented with a proposal to stay back
in Lanka, His very famous reply was, "Janani Janmabhumishcha
Swargaadapi Gariyasi" Lord Rama says, "My mother and motherland
are dearer to me than heaven (let alone Lanka)".
There is no reason for the song 'Vande Mataram' to smell of
a specific religion. Which beloved son will not hold this land, which
is sujala, sufala and sashya shamala, in high regard? Who will not salute
the motherland who is prosperous, meritorious and bestower of riches?
It the implied meaning of this song is contemplated upon, the heart
gets filled with pride for this land named "Bharat".
The national Mahamantra Bankimchandra wrote the song 'Vande
Mataram' on 7th November, 1875. This lunar day was Kartik Shukla Navami!
This song had been published in the novel 'Anandmath' by Bankimchandra.
The vocabulary used in this song is influenced by Sanskrit. The said
book contains information about the violent revolt of Sanyasis against
injustice inflicted by Muslims and the British in Bengal in the year
1772.
In the year 1905, Lord Curzon declared the division of Bengal.
Whole of Bengal revolted furiously in order to revoke this division.
The two words 'Vande Mataram' encompassed the whole of Bengal. It was
these words themselves that made the English rage with anger. Curzon's
chela, i.e. the Governor of Bengal had imposed a legal ban on uttering
the words 'Vande Mataram'. This ban resulted in 'Vande Mataram' getting
nationwide importance. It became a National Mahamantra.
'Vande Mataram' became the favorite word of the freedom fighters.
On 6th August 1906, a daily newspaper was brought out in the name 'Vande
Mataram'. Any program related to the freedom struggle would be concluded
only after saying 'Vande Mataram'. The National Flag decided upon by
Sister Nivedita at the Kolkata Congress and the one hoisted by Madam
Cama at the International Communist Conference held in Germany had the
words 'Vande Mataram' boldly encrypted on it in the Devanagari script.
The sessions of the All India Congress would start with the song 'Vande
Mataram'.
Utterance of the words 'Vande Mataram' gave freedom fighters
and the common public the strength to withstand lathi blows on their
heads and whiplashes on their open bodies. In 1905, the 21st session
of the Congress was held at Varanasi (Benaras). During this session,
the famed Bengali poetess and singer Sarladevi Chaudhurani sang the
entire 'Vande Mataram'. Nowadays, we just sing the first stanza of 'Vande
Mataram'. Many among the new generation do not even know how big it
is!
Censoring of 'Vande Mataram'
In the year 1937, during the meeting of the Congress Working
Committee in Kolkata, it was decided to cut short this National Song,
with the sole motive of appeasing Muslims. Thus began the era of misfortune
of this song! The Muslims were not satisfied even then. They wanted
to eliminate this song completely. On 17th March, 1938, the Chairman
of the Muslim League, Barrister Jinnah raised objection to reciting
the first stanza of 'Vande Mataram' also.
Appeasement of Muslims by the Congress
In 1940, Rules and Regulations framed for the Congress members
restricted them from using the adage 'Vande Mataram'. When Muslims objected
to the usage of 'Vande Mataram' in the working of the Constitutional
Conference, they were granted permission to sing an Urdu song written
by Bashir Ahmed. Likewise, they were also permitted to recite some stanzas
from the Koran.
In 1937 in many regions of India, Congress Ministry came to
power in authority. Some may have thought that now 'Now good days will
come for 'Vande Mataram', but it also proved false. In the process of
Muslim appeasement there was strict prohibition of singing of 'Vande
Mataram' on All India Radio. The famous singer Master Krushnrao gave
a big fight for this. He did not sing on All India Radio for many years
in the pretext of 'If there is no 'Vande Mataram' on radio, then there
is no song of mine'. In March 1947 on account of Respected Krushnrao's
efforts, the ban on 'Vande Mataram' was removed.
The first Public song by Ravindranath
Tagore
The great poet Ravindranath Tagore publicly sang this song
'Vande Mataram' in Calcutta in 1896. He devised his own tune for this.
The 'Kaafi' tune framed by Pt.Vishnu Digamber Palusker gained wide publicity.
The song is song in other tunes besides the 'Kaafi' tune. The song was
first publicly sung in 'Kaafi' tune in Lahore through the mouth of dynamic;
illustrious Pt. Palusker. The present one to be broadcasted from All
India Radio is in 'Sarang' tune.
Nehru's obstacle for 'Vande Mataram' becoming
National song
The reason given by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru for 'Vande Mataram'
not to become the National song was that it would not be able to rhyme
it with the band, but Respected Krushnrao Fulmbrikar proved this wrong
in a scientific manner. The efforts of Krushnrao Fulmbrikar were so
enormous that he earned the title of 'Vande Mataram Krushnrao'. Shri.
Amarendra Gadgil has written a book named 'Historical story of Vande
Mataram'. In this book it is mentioned he says 'There was no reason
for the actual discussion of what should be the National song in Free
India, but due to the weakness in 1937 that the Congress despised 'Vande
Mataram' of Congress, with the same weakness further Pt. Nehru removed
this patriotic song from the place of National song. In 1937 when Congress
Ministry became the part of regional administration, the relation that
Congress means government has been set in this country. Pt. Nehru after
managing all the facets of democracy, till the end carried his rule
uninterruptedly like an independent Emperor. (Kruschov has given him
the title of 'Democratic Dictator'!). As a result the situation that
'whatever Congress says is the law and what Pt. Nehru says is Congress'
continued even after Nehru's rule. The national sin of deprivation of
the 'Vande Mataram' as National song from its lawful place has been
committed because of these two, means this song only in the silly pretext
of music became the victim of politics and Nehru ideology. There is
strong enough evidence to believe that Nehru had pre decided about not
allowing this song as the National song. Finally on 24th January 1950,
that is two days before declaration of India's Republic, the Constitution
Committee put its seal on 'Jana Gana Mana' as the National song. Though
the precedence of sacrifice of the national interest for the sake of
politics, for one's self esteem and selfish party motives started by
Congress and Pt. Nehru is still continuing today, it does not mean that
it is acceptable to the whole country or the further generations. It
is very mandatory for those who have affection for this history, especially
the young ones of the new generations as their national duty to rethink
about 'Vande Mataram'. Although the Constitution has taken away the
place of 'Vande Mataram', it is not impossible to restore it.
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