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Indian
National Song 'Vandemataram' sung in 80 Different Tunes
India's
National Song 'Vandemataram' written by Bengali poet-novelist Bankimchandra
chattopadhyay has Been sung in at least eighty different tunes invarious
parts of the country.
The tune of the song, which was accepted as the national anthem during
the Freedom struggle prior to the introduction of Jana Ganamana written
by Rabindranath Tagore as the National Anthem of Independent India, is
yet to be standardised.
This was revealed from various records and documentaries on 'Vandemataram'
collected by researchers working at the Bankim Bhawangaveshana Kendra,
a research centre at the paternal house of the writer at Naihati near
Here, Prof Satyajit Chowdhury, Director of the centre said.
Incidentally, Vandemataram was first sung by Jadunath Bhattacharya more
than a hundred years ago even before completion of 'Ananda Math', the
famous novel by Bankim, but he disapproved of the way it was sung,
as noted by Pundit Haraprasad Shastry in his book, Prof Chowdhury said.
The song has been sung by a host of singers and musicians in various tunes
in different states right from Rabindranath Tagore to melody queen Lata
Mangeskar or Asha Bhonsle on different occasion. Thus, modification of
tunes and style of singing of Bande Mataram caused countrywide controversies
and debates. Demands were raised from several quarters to adapt
'Vandemataram' as the National Anthem of Independent India despite acceptance
of 'Jana Gana Mana' as the National Anthem.
A group of research scholars, led by Ananta Kumar Chakrabarty, initiated
a project to go into all works of Bankim Chandra which included research
on 'Vandemataram', its history and adaptation of the song as the national
anthem during the freedom struggle.
Meanwhile, the West Bengal Government had sought a grant of Rs 2.4 million
from the Ministry of Cultural affairs to continue with the project work
at the Bankim Bhawan Gaveshana Kendra. The project also include a modern
laboratory, computer network and archive along with expansion of the Bankim
Museum at Kanthalpara, Prof Chowdhury said.
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