In 1950 (after India's independence), the song's first two verses were given the official status of the "national song" of the Republic of India, distinct from the national anthem of India, Jana Gana Mana.
| Bengali script | NLK transliteration | |
|---|---|---|
বন্দে মাতরম্ ৷ |
vande mātaram |
I show gratitude to thee, Mother,
richly-watered, richly-fruited,
cool with the winds of the south,
dark with the crops of the harvests,
The Mother!
Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight,
her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom,
sweet of laughter, sweet of speech,
The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss.
Apart from the above prose translation, Sri Aurobindo also translated Vande Mataram into a verse form known as Mother, I Bow to Thee. Sri Aurobindo commented thus on his English translation of the poem:
“ It is difficult to translate the National Song of India into verse in another language owing to its unique union of sweetness, simple directness and high poetic force.”
This ancient land today again rejoices in her glory of the moonlight, as I write this article. Her lands are as is clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom since eternity. Sweetness of laughter and sweetness in speech, The Mother - India - Bharat Mata - is giver of boons and giver of bliss to one and all.
She has always been the true mother - always busy giving with full bounty. Mother has given to the world sacred creations as that of Vedas, Upanishads, The Bhagavat Geeta, The Mahabharata, The Ramayana, and other thousands of enlightening ideas, which have in various languages, various forms, various ways, rituals and chores, beliefs and culture, redeemed humanity.
Today I celebrate the independence day of The Mother, not with pride, but with utmost gratitude. I bow before thee O Mother, in the words of Bankim, I say - "Vande Mataram" - "Hail Mother!". I love you Mother, for your simplicity, for your hidden mysteries, for your sweetness of speech, for your open heart! I know Mother, you are not the richest one. I know Mother, you are not the most powerful. I know Mother, you fight with innumerable basic problems dealing with your existence every day. But we are one family - not only the ones born on this sacred land, but also men from all the world, all the regions, all creed, caste and nationality. For you have taught us Mother, there is just One; differentiations are just an illusion. What is truth is just Love; just fraternity; just brotherhood.
Today I celebrate not as an Indian, but as a man standing for Human Values, and a sacred future for humanity, worshiping the Archetype of the Mother India, for her venerated suchness, her mysteries, her sacredness, her virtues, her godliness! This beautiful Archetype is present in every cell of existence, every nook and corner, every stream, mountain, ocean and skies. It depends on the individual to know the essential, see the invisible, be a worth of belonging to that pristine and pure Mother!
Happy Independence Day to all!
______________________________________________
Copy Right © All rights reserved - Samrat Kar
No comments:
Post a Comment