People often get confused about who wrote Vande Mataram since it could be misidentified as the country's national anthem
India has its national anthem (Jana Gana Mana) and also a national song named Vande Mataram. Many people get confused between the two, even more so when it comes to naming the authors. The authors of the national anthem and Vande Mataram are both from Bengal, which further creates more confusion. In many quiz competitions, who wrote Vande Mataram is a commonly asked question. Let's try to demonstrate the correct info.
Who wrote Vande Mataram
Vande Mataram is written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Also known as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of Vande Mataram was a Bengali novelist, poet, essayist, and civil servant under British rule. He served as the Deputy Magistrate and Deputy Collector. Bankim is considered as the pioneer of modern Bengali prose. He was also an important part of the Bengal Renaissance. One of his famous novels is Anandamath, written in 1882.
It is estimated that Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim around the 1870s. The exact period varies based on the source cited. Some experts also suggest that the Vande Mataram composition had existed for several years in private, unpublished form. It was only later that it was released publicly and became widely published.
The title and opening words mean “I bow to thee, Mother” (or “I salute thee, Mother”). The composition was later expanded into six stanzas. The full composition was published in Bankim's novel Anandamath. This novel effectively demonstrates the late 18th century Sannyasi Rebellion. It also covers the devastating 1770 Bengal famine. In the novel, the Vande Mataram composition is sung by patriots or the sons of the Mother. It reflects the deep devotion that the sons have for their motherland.
Vande Mataram clearly reflects Bankim’s patriotic feelings. It also shows the idea of the motherland as a goddess (drawing on Durga/Kali imagery). The inspiration for the composition is also said to be derived from the oppressive and exploitative nature of British colonization in India.
Vande Mataram role in India's freedom struggle
Vande Mataram gained widespread prominence when Rabindranath Tagore sang it at the 1896 Indian National Congress session in Calcutta. He also gave it a musical theme, which helped make it popular among freedom fighters. It is important to note that Rabindranath Tagore is the author of India's national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.
Vande Mataram gained even more traction after the 1905 Partition of Bengal. It became synonymous with the Swadeshi movement and emerged as a powerful rallying slogan in the independence movement. Vande Mataram was sung widely by revolutionaries of the independence movement. It was sung in protests, meetings and in jails. The British got irked and banned the public singing of Vande Mataram.
Musical theme for Vande Mataram was initially contributed by Jadunath Bhattacharya. Later versions were also created, with contributions by D.V. Paluskar and others. Vande Mataram was sung at the dawn of India's independence on 15th August 1947.
Recognition as a National Song
Vande Mataram was adopted as the National Song of India on 24th January 1950. This was approved by the Constituent Assembly of India (with Rajendra Prasad as President). On the same day, the Jana Gana Mana was also adopted as the National Anthem of India.
As per the recent changes to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, Vande Mataram now has the same legal recognition as Jana Gana Mana. For all state formal events, school assemblies and government functions, the full six stanzas of Vande Mataram are to be sung.
Vande Mataram Full Lyrics in Hindi
सुजलाम् सुफलाम् मलयजशीतलाम्,
शस्यश्यामलाम् मातरम् । वन्दे मातरम्।। 1।।
शुभ्रज्योत्स्ना पुलकितयामिनीम,
फुल्लकुसुमित दुमदलशोभिनीम,
सुहासिनीम् सुमधुरभाषिणीम्,
सुखदाम् वरदाम् मातरम्। वन्दे मातरम्।। 2
कोटि-कोटि कण्ठ कल-कल निनाद कराले,
कोटि-कोटि भुजैधृत खरकरवाले,
के बॉले माँ तुमि अबले,
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीम,
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् । वन्दे मातरम्।। ३।।
तुमि विद्या तुमि धर्म, तुमि हृदि तुमि मर्म,
त्वम्हि प्राणाः शरीरे, बाहुते तुमि माँ शक्ति,
हृदये तुमि माँ भक्ति, तोमारेई प्रतिमा गड़ि मन्दिरे-मन्दिरे।
वन्दे मातरम् । 411
त्वम् हि दुर्गा दशप्रहरणधारिणी,
कमला कमलदलविहारिणी,
वाणी विद्यादायिनी, नमामि त्वाम्,
नमामि कमलाम् अमलाम् अतुलाम्,
सुजलां सुफलां मातरम्। वन्दे मातरम्।। 5||
श्यामलाम् सरलाम् सुस्मिताम् भूषिताम्,
धरणीम् भरणीम् मातरम्। वन्दे मातरम् ।। 6।।
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