Just two words- Vande Mataram- by #BankimChandraChatterjee, who has his 182nd birth anniversary (June 26, 1838) today, tells a lot about we the Indians

The idea of the ‘nation’ as a mother was introduced into the Bankim Chandra’s celebrated novel 'Ananda Math'
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#VandeMataram originated from the pages of this masterpiece 'Ananda Math'

The Indian mass came to know it from the film Anand Math in 1952 by Hemen Gupta. Under Hemant Kumar’s music, the song “Vande Mataram” in @mangeshkarlata Didi's voice became an instant hit across India

Novel 'Ananda Math', is about the Sanyasi Revolt against the British East India Company who had taken a foothold in India with the conquest of Bengal after the Battle of Plassey

-Madan Lal Dhingra, inspired by Vande Mataram, shot dead Curzon Wyllie & embraced gallows.
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-Veer Savarkar’s Vande Mataram vow led to him being arrested in England, brought to India & sentenced to 2 life-imprisonment before being sent to Andamans

-Sister Nivedita & Bhikaji Cama differed in their own flags about India but didkeep Vande Mataram firmly in its centre.
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-Lala Har Dayal’s Gadar Party members greeted each other with the words, #VandeMataram galvanized millions of Indians at home and abroad for the liberation of the motherland.
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-Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose said: “Bande Mataram literally means ‘I salute the motherland’. It is the nearest approach to India’s national anthem.”

Yet, #VandeMataram was not destined to be India’s national anthem. All it got was to be the national song of the country.
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