The Indian Institute of Advanced Study (IIAS) has taken on the academic responsibility of documenting the historical journey of ‘Vande Mataram’ during its 150th anniversary, aiming to address varied narratives and questions surrounding the national song.
Book and exhibition to be launched
Prof Himanshu Kumar Chaturvedi, Director of IIAS, announced that a coffee table book titled ‘Vande Mataram: A Journey’ will be released next month at the IIAS by the Vice-President. Additionally, an exhibition of 20 illustrations will be put up to help people understand the song’s journey, as books have scholarly limitations.
IIAS commitment to historical accuracy
Chaturvedi, a distinguished historian specializing in modern India and the Indian national movement, emphasized that IIAS is aware of its high credentials and reputation when bringing an academic publication into the public domain. “The questions being raised about ‘Vande Mataram’ will be answered in this coffee table book. Exhaustive research has gone into putting the book together and about the composition, relevance, journey and strength of the song,” he said.
He added that he wants people to know about ‘Vande Mataram’ in a historically authentic manner, as history cannot be changed.
Historical context from 1875 to 1950
Chaturvedi elaborated on the archives, noting that until 1920, six flags were designed, all bearing ‘Vande Mataram’. After 1920, the phrase vanished from the flag, and in 1923, the first objection was raised at the Kakinada session of the Congress. The book outlines the journey from 1923 to 1937, including the challenges faced and the final deletion of four stanzas in 1937. “This is the journey we are carrying right from 1875 down to 1950. If anybody asks about the validity, we are there to answer,” he said.
Original record and INA connection
Chaturvedi revealed that the IIAS is compiling the original record in Hindustan Voice, where one side of the record has ‘Vande Mataram’ and the other side is the national anthem. He also highlighted how ‘Vande Mataram’ became the marching band song of the Indian National Army.
Two kinds of leadership in national movement
As a historian of modern India, Chaturvedi observed that two kinds of leadership emerged during the Indian national movement. One was influenced by transitional reform movements that did not break away from roots in the name of modernity and were not influenced by other cultures. The other set of reformers were a-cultural, influenced by modernity or Christianity. It is this latter group that was unwilling to compromise on ‘Vande Mataram’, he asserted.
