On this independence day, please read and try to memorize a few lines of Vande Mataram.

We are the only country in the world perhaps where we worship our country as 'Mother' or 'Motherland'

Why is this important?
1/n

The world has been taken over by Monotheistic religions and their troops and most ancient civilizations have been destroyed.
Monotheism does not allow worshipping of motherland.

Yet, we survived as the only ancient culture left alive. 2/n

Did we survive because we worship our motherland? It is a matter of faith.
What happens if we stop worshipping our Motherland to blend in a world full of Monotheist cultures?
Would we still be Indians?

The best poem summarizing our feelings for our Motherland are in Vande Mataram. Do read the interpretation by Shri Rabindranath Tagore and Aurobindo.

'Bharat Mata ki Jai' is just a simplified version of this. 4/n

The emotions a soldier feels for his 'mother' against something liberally called as 'nation' can be very different. This may be the reason we have remained independent.
Could this be the reason many cultures don't want us to worship 'Motherland' 5/n

Here are the lyrics 6/n

Here is a translation. As you know, it's impossible to beat the beauty of Sanskrit in poems. 7/n

Happy Independence day to all of you!
Here is a modern rendering by Lata Mangeshkar.
Do read Anand Math, the novel by Bankim Chandra where the monks pick up arms against the occupiers and Vande Mataram was their war cry.