The story of Vande Mataram retold on Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's 178th birth anniversary

It wouldn't be wrong to say that our national song 'Vande Mataram' ('I bow to thee, Mother') is characteristic of its writer, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. A devoted nationalist, Chattopadhyay is also the father of the modern Bengali novel. On the 178th birth anniversary of one of the most celebrated Indian novelists, we take you through some key moments of his life. (Graphics | Vijesh C K)
It wouldn't be wrong to say that our national song 'Vande Mataram' ('I bow to thee, Mother') is truly characteristic of its writer, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. A devoted nationalist, Chattopadhyay is also the father of the modern Bengali novel. On the 1
It wouldn't be wrong to say that our national song 'Vande Mataram' ('I bow to thee, Mother') is truly characteristic of its writer, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. A devoted nationalist, Chattopadhyay is also the father of the modern Bengali novel. On the 1
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EDUCATION AND WORK: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay went to Hooghly Mohsin College and later graduated in Arts from the Presidency College in Calcutta. He later studied law too, and was one of the first graduates at the University of Calcutta. He joined the British government and became the deputy collector of Jessore. Later, he became a deputy magistrate, a position he held until his death.
EDUCATION AND WORK: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay went to Hooghly Mohsin College and later graduated in Arts from the Presidency College in Calcutta. He later studied law too, and was one of the first graduates at the University of Calcutta. He joined the British government and became the deputy collector of Jessore. Later, he became a deputy magistrate, a position he held until his death.
LINGUISTIC IDENTITY: Chattopadhyay studied Sanskrit and was fascinated by the language, but he is today credited with fostering a Bengali identity and nationalism. His fiction helped make Bengali the language of the masses. Interestingly, however, his first published work — a novel  'Rajmohan's Wife' (see picture)— was in English.
LINGUISTIC IDENTITY: Chattopadhyay studied Sanskrit and was fascinated by the language, but he is today credited with fostering a Bengali identity and nationalism. His fiction helped make Bengali the language of the masses. Interestingly, however, his first published work — a novel 'Rajmohan's Wife' (see picture)— was in English.
WRITER SIBLINGS: Not many are aware that Bankim Chandra's elder brother was Bengali writer, poet and journalist Sanjib Chandra Chattopadhyay, known for his work of fiction 'Palamau'. (Photo | Wikipedia)
WRITER SIBLINGS: Not many are aware that Bankim Chandra's elder brother was Bengali writer, poet and journalist Sanjib Chandra Chattopadhyay, known for his work of fiction 'Palamau'. (Photo | Wikipedia)
ANANDAMATH: One of the writer's most iconic works, 'Anandamath', was banned by the British, as it was set against the Fakir-Sannyasi led rebellion against the British East India Company in the late 18th century. In fact, 'Vande Mataram' was a poem he composed for this novel, which would be officially adopted as the national song of India in 1937. The song was also banned by the British.
ANANDAMATH: One of the writer's most iconic works, 'Anandamath', was banned by the British, as it was set against the Fakir-Sannyasi led rebellion against the British East India Company in the late 18th century. In fact, 'Vande Mataram' was a poem he composed for this novel, which would be officially adopted as the national song of India in 1937. The song was also banned by the British.
BANDE MATARAM!: The song was not selected in its entirety by Hindu leaders in order to respect the sentiments of non-Hindus. Tagore and other members of the selection committee mutually agreed that anyone should be free to sing an alternative 'unobjectionable song' at a national gathering. With the support of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas, as it evoked the beauty of the motherland. In later stanzas, there are references to the Hindu goddess Durga, which was opposed by the Muslim League and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.  Later, Tagore would go on to sing it at the 1896 Calcutta Congress Session. (Photo | AP)
BANDE MATARAM!: The song was not selected in its entirety by Hindu leaders in order to respect the sentiments of non-Hindus. Tagore and other members of the selection committee mutually agreed that anyone should be free to sing an alternative 'unobjectionable song' at a national gathering. With the support of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian National Congress decided to adopt only the first two stanzas, as it evoked the beauty of the motherland. In later stanzas, there are references to the Hindu goddess Durga, which was opposed by the Muslim League and Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Later, Tagore would go on to sing it at the 1896 Calcutta Congress Session. (Photo | AP)
FILM ADAPTATION: 'Anandamath' was made into a 1952 hit film of the same name. The Hindi patriotic drama, directed by Hemant Gupta, starred Prithviraj Kapoor, Bharat Bhushan, Geeta Bali, Pradeep Kumar and others. Kumar's tune for the 'Vande Mataram' song used in the film is one of the more popular versions. (Photo | Wikipedia)
FILM ADAPTATION: 'Anandamath' was made into a 1952 hit film of the same name. The Hindi patriotic drama, directed by Hemant Gupta, starred Prithviraj Kapoor, Bharat Bhushan, Geeta Bali, Pradeep Kumar and others. Kumar's tune for the 'Vande Mataram' song used in the film is one of the more popular versions. (Photo | Wikipedia)
BANGADARSHAN: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay founded the 'Bangadarshan', a path-breaking intellectual magazine. Rabindranath Tagore, another legend from the state of Bengal, was all of eleven when he started reading 'Bangadarshan'. He would read it with great enthusiasm, as the Nobel laureate later wrote in his recollections of his childhood, “It was bad enough to have to wait till the next monthly number was out, but to be kept waiting further till my elders had done with it was simply intolerable.' The magazine shut down in the late 1880s, but it was revived in 1901 with none other than Tagore as its editor. (Photo | Wikipedia)
BANGADARSHAN: Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay founded the 'Bangadarshan', a path-breaking intellectual magazine. Rabindranath Tagore, another legend from the state of Bengal, was all of eleven when he started reading 'Bangadarshan'. He would read it with great enthusiasm, as the Nobel laureate later wrote in his recollections of his childhood, “It was bad enough to have to wait till the next monthly number was out, but to be kept waiting further till my elders had done with it was simply intolerable.' The magazine shut down in the late 1880s, but it was revived in 1901 with none other than Tagore as its editor. (Photo | Wikipedia)
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (Chatterjee is a commonly used alternative of the name Chattopadhyay), although a public servant working under the British, was always scathingly critical of the rulers, in his life and fiction. His writing captured the growing nationalistic consciousness of a country and its people under forced colonial rule. He will continue to be remembered for his dual contribution, as a storyteller, who held a mirror to the social realities of his time, and for a the national song, which stirred patriotic fervour during India's freedom struggle. (Graphics | Vijesh C K)
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (Chatterjee is a commonly used alternative of the name Chattopadhyay), although a public servant working under the British, was always scathingly critical of the rulers, in his life and fiction. His writing captured the growing nationalistic consciousness of a country and its people under forced colonial rule. He will continue to be remembered for his dual contribution, as a storyteller, who held a mirror to the social realities of his time, and for a the national song, which stirred patriotic fervour during India's freedom struggle. (Graphics | Vijesh C K)

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