Hindi English Translation || Editorial || A nation’s song: On Vande Mataram’s rendition

A nation’s song: On Vande Mataram’s rendition

Vande Mataram’s rendition (प्रस्तुति, गायन) must be in the spirit of (की भावना के अनुरूप) “unity in diversity (विविधता में एकता)”

Patriotism is not just reverence for a territory or a flag but is the embodiment (a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling; personification, realization, manifestation, representation, expression) of solidarity (एकजुटता, एकता) with fellow citizens (सह-नागरिक) in a nation-state (राष्ट्र-राज्य). The idea of a nation as a bond transcends family, community or faith, uniting citizens through common values (साझा मूल्य, समान आदर्श) and a pursuit (the act of striving toward or seeking to achieve a goal; quest, striving, endeavour, search, effort) of prosperity (समृद्धि, खुशहाली). National symbols (राष्ट्रीय प्रतीक) and anthems exist to hone that bond. When they are changed or modified to compel citizens to accept a majoritarian version, their purpose is defeated. India’s freedom fighting generation (स्वतंत्रता-संग्राम की पीढ़ी) understood this. Which is why, in 1937, the Congress Working Committee resolved (निर्णय लेना, निश्चय करना) that only the first two stanzas (a group of lines forming a separate section of a poem or song; verse, section, passage) of Bankim Chatterjee’s Vande Mataram should be sung at national gatherings, since the later stanzas invoke (call on a deity or spirit in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration; call upon, summon, conjure, represent, appeal to, refer to, cite) the motherland as Hindu deities. When Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the National Anthem (a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause; hymn, song of praise, chant, national song, patriotic chorus) on January 24, 1950, India’s first President Rajendra Prasad said that Vande Mataram (the national song of India, originally a patriotic poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1882, which historically symbolized the Indian independence movement), even though there is no mention (उल्लेख, जिक्र) of a “national song” in the Constitution (संविधान), would be “honoured (सम्मान करना, आदर करना) equally”. Since then (from that time on, subsequently, thereafter, afterwards), the two-stanza version (edition, variant) has allowed citizens of all faiths to partake (join in an activity; participate, engage, share, take part) in a song that stirred (arouse strong feeling in someone; move, excite, inspire, touch) the freedom struggle and popularised (promote, spread, disseminate) by artistes (a professional entertainer,; artist) such as Lata Mangeshkar and A.R. Rahman.

In the last year or so (approximately; nearly, roughly, approximately, about), the BJP-led Union government has sought to unsettle this inclusive compact. Since the song’s 150th anniversary in 2025, it has pushed for (demand something repeatedly; demand, insist on, press for, advocate for) all six stanzas to be recited (say or perform a text, poem, or song aloud; repeat, chant, render, say aloud, deliver, perform). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (a Union ministry of the Government of India responsible for internal security, border management, Centre-State relations, administration of Union Territories, management of Central Armed Police Forces, and disaster management) issued directions (instruction, order, command, directive) and circulars (directive, notice, memorandum, bulletin) in 2026 and Parliament passed (approve, enact, ratify, authorize) the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 (an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, substituting Section 3 to make it an offence to intentionally prevent the singing of the National Anthem or the National Song, Vande Mataram, or cause disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing, punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or fine, or both) with little debate (a formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly; discussion, argument, deliberation, dispute) — actions that are in line with (in agreement with; in accordance with, consistent with, conforming to, in harmony with) the BJP’s habit of imposing uniformity and majoritarian preference on all citizens. The amendment extends Section 3 of the 1971 Act, which punishes anyone who intentionally (deliberately, on purpose; purposely, consciously, wilfully, purposefully) prevents the singing of the National Anthem or disturbs an assembly (a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose; gathering, congregation, meeting, convention) engaged in (participate in, take part in, join in, get involved in) such singing, to the National Song. Per se (by or in itself or themselves; intrinsically, inherently, in essence, essentially) it does not compel anyone to sing or define the National Song or its stanzas. But read alongside (to interpret or consider a document or rule in conjunction with another related text; consider with, interpret jointly, evaluate together, review in conjunction with) the MHA orders, which prescribe (stipulate, dictate, mandate, order) an official version (authorized text, formal edition, approved version) of all six stanzas, mandate (require something to be done; command, order, require, dictate) mass singing at public functions, and place the song before the anthem, it amounts to compulsion, as a petition by T.M. Krishna in the Supreme Court has argued. The Court has rightly (correctly or accurately; accurately, correctly, properly, justly) observed (make a remark, especially in a legal or formal context; remark, note, declare, state) that the state (government, regime, administration, establishment) may decide what the National Song is, but cannot penalise (subject to a penalty or punishment; punish, discipline, fine, sanction) conscientious (wishing to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly, motivated by one’s moral sense; principled, moral, ethical, scrupulous) objectors (dissenter, protester, opponent, resister) in line with Bijoe Emmanuel (1986) (a landmark Supreme Court of India judgment which ruled that forcing a student to sing the National Anthem when it violates their genuine religious beliefs is a violation of their fundamental rights). This judgment held that no law obliges (make someone legally or morally bound to do something; compel, force, require, bind) anyone to sing the Anthem, standing in respectful (polite, deferential, courteous, reverent) silence is no offence (an act or omission prohibited and punishable by law; crime, violation, wrongdoing, breach) and executive (relating to the authority, functions, or actions involved in administering and implementing laws and government decisions; administrative, governing, managerial, governmental) instructions (a direction or order; directive, command, order, mandate) without statutory (required, permitted, or enacted by statute; legal, lawful, legislative, constitutional) backing (support or help; support, endorsement, approval, sanction) cannot curtail (reduce, cut, decrease, diminish) fundamental rights (the basic rights guaranteed by Part III (Articles 12–35) of the Constitution of India, including rights to equality, freedom, protection against exploitation, freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and constitutional remedies; constitutional rights, basic rights, guaranteed rights, essential freedoms). The Court must apply (bring into operation or use; implement, execute, exercise, utilize) Bijoe Emmanuel in full, set aside the MHA’s orders and make it clear that silence cannot be read as “disturbance”. By reverting (return, go back, change back, default) to the vision (foresight, imagination, concept, ideal) of the freedom generation, the Court will do justice (fairness, equity, fair play, impartiality) to the idea of unity in diversity.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.rendition (noun)

Hindi Meaning - प्रस्तुति, गायन
English Meaning - a particular performance or interpretation or vocal presentation of a song or piece of music; performance, interpretation, execution, presentation.

2.in the spirit of (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - की भावना के अनुरूप
English Meaning - in harmony with the true intent, essence, or attitude of something; in alignment with, in in accordance with, keeping with, true to.

3.unity in diversity (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - विविधता में एकता
English Meaning - a concept of social cohesion and harmony among people of varied cultural, religious, and social backgrounds; cultural harmony, inclusive unity, pluralistic cohesion.

4.solidarity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - एकजुटता, एकता
English Meaning - unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; unity, harmony, cohesion, fellowship, togetherness.

5.nation-state (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राष्ट्र-राज्य
English Meaning - a sovereign state of which most of the citizens or subjects are united also by factors which define a nation, such as language or common descent; country, sovereign state, republic, nation.

6.common values (noun)

Hindi Meaning - साझा मूल्य, समान आदर्श
English Meaning - shared principles, ethics, or foundational beliefs held across a society; shared principles, common beliefs, core beliefs, shared ideals, collective ethics.

7.prosperity (noun)

Hindi Meaning - समृद्धि, खुशहाली
English Meaning - the state of being prosperous or successful; wealth, success, affluence, well-being.

8.national symbol (noun)

Hindi Meaning - राष्ट्रीय प्रतीक
English Meaning - national emblem, state emblem, national icon, patriotic symbol, national insignia.

9.freedom fighting generation (phrase)

Hindi Meaning - स्वतंत्रता-संग्राम की पीढ़ी
English Meaning - the demographic cohort of Indians who actively participated in or supported the struggle for national independence from British rule; the independence-era cohort.; independence era cohort. (cohort means “a distinct group of people who share a common characteristic, experience, or statistical factor within a defined period”).

10.Congress Working Committee (CWC) resolution, 1937 (proper noun)

Hindi Meaning - कांग्रेस कार्यसमिति का 1937 का प्रस्ताव
English Meaning - a resolution adopted by the Congress Working Committee under the presidency of Jawaharlal Nehru at its Calcutta (now Kolkata) meeting in October 1937, recommending that only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram be sung at national gatherings.

11.resolve (verb)

Hindi Meaning - निर्णय लेना, निश्चय करना
English Meaning - decide firmly on a course of action; decide, determine, settle, conclude.

12.mention (noun)

Hindi Meaning - उल्लेख, जिक्र
English Meaning - reference, allusion, citation, remark.

13.the Constitution (proper noun)

Hindi Meaning - संविधान
English Meaning - the supreme law of India, laying down the fundamental political code, structure, powers and procedures of government institutions, and providing for fundamental rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy. It was adopted, enacted and given to ourselves by the Constituent Assembly on November 26, 1949, and its remaining provisions came into force on January 26, 1950, marking the commencement of the Constitution of India.

14.honour (verb)

Hindi Meaning - सम्मान करना, आदर करना
English Meaning - regard with great respect; esteem, respect, revere, venerate.

15.fellow citizen (noun)

Hindi Meaning - सह-नागरिक
English Meaning - a person who belongs to the same country or nation as another person; compatriot, fellow national, countryman, fellow countrywoman.

16.spirit (noun)

English Meaning - essence, ethos, character, principle.

17.pursuit (noun)

English Meaning - the act of striving toward or seeking to achieve a goal; quest, striving, endeavour, search, effort.

18.invoke (verb)

English Meaning - call on a deity or spirit in prayer, as a witness, or for inspiration; call upon, summon, conjure, represent, appeal to, refer to, cite.

19.anthem (noun)

English Meaning - a rousing or uplifting song identified with a particular group, body, or cause; hymn, song of praise, chant, national song, patriotic chorus.

20.Vande Mataram (proper noun)

English Meaning - the national song of India, originally a patriotic poem written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1882, which historically symbolized the Indian independence movement.

21.embodiment (noun)

English Meaning - a tangible or visible form of an idea, quality, or feeling; personification, realization, manifestation, representation, expression.

22.fellow (adjective)

English Meaning - belonging to the same group, category, or community; associated, corresponding, co-member, peer, equal.

23.stanza (noun)

English Meaning - a group of lines forming a separate section of a poem or song; verse, section, passage

24.since then (phrase)

English Meaning - from that time on, subsequently, thereafter, afterwards.

25.version (noun)

English Meaning - edition, variant.

26.partake (verb)

English Meaning - join in an activity; participate, engage, share, take part.

27.stir (verb)

English Meaning - arouse strong feeling in someone; move, excite, inspire, touch.

28.popularise (verb)

English Meaning - promote, spread, disseminate.

29.artiste (noun)

English Meaning - a professional entertainer,; artist.

30.or so (phrase)

English Meaning - approximately; nearly, roughly, approximately, about.

31.push for (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - demand something repeatedly; demand, insist on, press for, advocate for.

32.recite (verb)

English Meaning - say or perform a text, poem, or song aloud; repeat, chant, render, say aloud, deliver, perform.

33.Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) (proper noun)

English Meaning - a Union ministry of the Government of India responsible for internal security, border management, Centre-State relations, administration of Union Territories, management of Central Armed Police Forces, and disaster management.

34.direction (noun)

English Meaning - instruction, order, command, directive.

35.circular (noun)

English Meaning - directive, notice, memorandum, bulletin.

36.Parliament of India (proper noun)

English Meaning - the Union legislature of India, constituted under Article 79 of the Constitution and consisting of the President, the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the Lok Sabha (House of the People).

37.pass (verb)

English Meaning - approve, enact, ratify, authorize.

38.the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026 (noun)

English Meaning - an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, substituting Section 3 to make it an offence to intentionally prevent the singing of the National Anthem or the National Song, Vande Mataram, or cause disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing, punishable with imprisonment up to three years, or fine, or both.

39.debate (noun)

English Meaning - a formal discussion on a particular matter in a public meeting or legislative assembly; discussion, argument, deliberation, dispute.

40.in line with (phrase)

English Meaning - in agreement with; in accordance with, consistent with, conforming to, in harmony with.

41.Section 3 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (noun)

English Meaning - a legal provision that penalises intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or causing disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing; following the 2026 amendment, the same protection also applies to the National Song, Vande Mataram.

42.the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 (noun)

English Meaning - an Act enacted on December 23, 1971, to prevent and punish acts of insult to the Indian National Flag, the Constitution of India, and the National Anthem, including specified acts of disrespect, defacement, or disturbance of the singing of the National Anthem.

43.intentionally (adverb)

English Meaning - deliberately, on purpose; purposely, consciously, wilfully, purposefully.

44.assembly (noun)

English Meaning - a group of people gathered together in one place for a common purpose; gathering, congregation, meeting, convention.

45.engage in (phrasal verb)

English Meaning - participate in, take part in, join in, get involved in.

46.per se (adverb)

English Meaning - by or in itself or themselves; intrinsically, inherently, in essence, essentially.

47.read alongside (phrase)

English Meaning - to interpret or consider a document or rule in conjunction with another related text; consider with, interpret jointly, evaluate together, review in conjunction with.

48.prescribe (verb)

English Meaning - stipulate, dictate, mandate, order.

49.official version (phrase)

English Meaning - authorized text, formal edition, approved version.

50.mandate (verb)

English Meaning - require something to be done; command, order, require, dictate.

51.rightly (adverb)

English Meaning - correctly or accurately; accurately, correctly, properly, justly.

52.observe (verb)

English Meaning - make a remark, especially in a legal or formal context; remark, note, declare, state.

53.state (noun)

English Meaning - government, regime, administration, establishment.

54.penalise (verb)

English Meaning - subject to a penalty or punishment; punish, discipline, fine, sanction.

55.conscientious (adjective)

English Meaning - wishing to do one’s work or duty well and thoroughly, motivated by one’s moral sense; principled, moral, ethical, scrupulous.

56.objector (noun)

English Meaning - dissenter, protester, opponent, resister.

57.Bijoe Emmanuel (1986) (noun)

English Meaning - a landmark Supreme Court of India judgment which ruled that forcing a student to sing the National Anthem when it violates their genuine religious beliefs is a violation of their fundamental rights.

58.hold (verb)

English Meaning - rule or officially decide in a court of law; decide, rule, decree, judge.

59.oblige (verb)

English Meaning - make someone legally or morally bound to do something; compel, force, require, bind.

60.respectful (adjective)

English Meaning - polite, deferential, courteous, reverent.

61.offence (noun)

English Meaning - an act or omission prohibited and punishable by law; crime, violation, wrongdoing, breach.

62.executive (adjective)

English Meaning - relating to the authority, functions, or actions involved in administering and implementing laws and government decisions; administrative, governing, managerial, governmental.

63.instruction (noun)

English Meaning - a direction or order; directive, command, order, mandate.

64.executive instructions (noun)

English Meaning - directions issued by the executive government for administrative implementation without themselves necessarily constituting legislation; administrative directions, government instructions, executive orders, official directions.

65.statutory (adjective)

English Meaning - required, permitted, or enacted by statute; legal, lawful, legislative, constitutional.

66.backing (noun)

English Meaning - support or help; support, endorsement, approval, sanction.

67.statutory backing (noun)

English Meaning - legal authority or support provided by an Act or other legislation; legal basis, statutory authority, legislative support, legal sanction.

68.curtail (verb)

English Meaning - reduce, cut, decrease, diminish.

69.fundamental rights (noun)

English Meaning - the basic rights guaranteed by Part III (Articles 12–35) of the Constitution of India, including rights to equality, freedom, protection against exploitation, freedom of religion, cultural and educational rights, and constitutional remedies; constitutional rights, basic rights, guaranteed rights, essential freedoms.

70.apply (verb)

English Meaning - bring into operation or use; implement, execute, exercise, utilize.

71.revert (verb)

English Meaning - return, go back, change back, default.

72.vision (noun)

English Meaning - foresight, imagination, concept, ideal.

73.justice (noun)

English Meaning - fairness, equity, fair play, impartiality.