“Among the Rishis of the later age we have at last realized that we must include the name of the man who gave us the reviving mantra which is creating a new India, the mantra
Bande Mataram.” - Sri Aurobindo
In celebration of the 150th anniversary of India’s renowned National Song Vande Mataram, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society, Dr Kishor Kumar Tripathy, member Secretary, AuroBharati, Sri Aurobindo Society, Puducherry presented a talk on “Rishi Bankim Chandra, Bande Mataram and Nationalism in the Light of Sri Aurobindo.”
During the event, Dr. Tripathy remarked that Vande Mataram, which was composed by Rishi Bankim Chandra Chatterjee serves as a patriotic anthem that emerged as a significant rallying cry during India’s struggle for independence. Written in Sanskritized Bengali by Shri Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in his 1882 novel Anandamath, the song personifies the motherland as a Divine Mother, instilling feelings of devotion, bravery, and sacrifice among the populace.
He further highlighted that Sri Aurobindo’s English translation encapsulated the spiritual essence and nationalist passion of the song, allowing its message to cross linguistic barriers. The song ignited cultural pride, unity, and resistance against colonial oppression. The combined efforts of Shri Bankim Chandra’s inspired work and Sri Aurobindo’s insightful interpretation fostered the vision of a new India—spiritually grounded, united, and aspiring for freedom and self-actualization.
Dr. Tripathy also conducted a comparative analysis of the nationalist ideologies of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and Sri Aurobindo, emphasizing how their philosophies shaped Indian nationalism and had a profound impact on the freedom movement, leaving an enduring cultural and spiritual heritage.
On this occasion, Professor Nihar Ranjan Biswas, Vice-Chancellor of Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Kesari, Shri Sundar, along with other academics and scholars, shared their insights on the significant elements of Vande Mataram.
Vande Mataram, which was first performed at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, eventually became recognized as India’s National Song. Its depiction of the Motherland as a goddess stirred profound patriotic sentiments and became a rallying cry during the quest for independence.
