Serenade

The LOVE one feels for a country is not something we see in our daily lives (thanks to holidays aka August 15th, Jan 26th atleast we remember that back in time there was a national outrage, where blood, sweat and death people did for the NATION).

Today, it features not in our talks nor in our scheme of things. In this bottomless pit of the self, today, what can we really stand for as a nation?
Not that we do not have the resources or the capabilities. Probably we are better endowed today than yesterday. Nor are the needs scarce.

Ive been listening to the Vande Mataram album- what a beautiful serenade for the country. So that's what gets me to wander in the thoughtland of nationalism et al...

A strong contender for national anthem, Vande Mataram written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1876 was rejected on controversial grounds. It depicted Hindu Gods and would be seen as offensive to the Muslim populi. Nevertheless, it was the first song of freedom (for freedom) and nationalism that vibrated in the vocal chords of thousands.

What a come-about Rahman made of this lost and forgotten ancient serenade for independence. I also distinctly remember a Shubha Mudgal singing Vande Mataram and Shobhana speaking Bharatnatyam (her dance has that much of clarity).

The sound of this song is so beautiful, ancient, moving and embedded in a collective cry of all the ideals and ideals alone that got the world to watch what satyagraha and ahimsa could do. Here is the script in Devanagiri:

वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
सस्यश्यामलां मातरम्॥

शुभ्रज्योत्स्ना पुलकितयािमनीम्
पुल्लकुसुमित द्रुमदलशोिभनीम्
सुहािसनीं सुमधुर भािषणीम्
सुखदां वरदां मातरम्॥

कोटी कोटी कन्ठ कलकलनिनाद कराले
कोटी कोटी भुजैर्धृतखरकरवाले
के बोले मा तुमी अबले
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीम्
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम्॥


Trivia:
Wikipedia tells me that Vande mataram was voted as the second world fav in a BBC voting

In chorus, lets say, Vande Mataram....