National Song

The song Vande Mataram, composed in Sanskrit by Bankimchandra Chatterji, was a source of inspiration to the people in their struggle for freedom. It has an equal status with Jana-gana-mana. The first political occasion when it was sung was the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress. The following is the text of its first stanza :

Vande Mataram!
Sujalam, suphalam, malayaja shitalam,
Shasyashyamalam, Mataram!
Shubhrajyothsna pulakitayaminim,
Phullakusumita drumadala shobhinim,
Suhasinim sumadhura bhashinim,
Sukhadam varadam, Mataram!

Mother, I bow to
thee!
Rich with the hurrying
streams,
Bright with the
orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds
of delight.
Dark 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.