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Patriots and Ballards at Gallows: Vande Mataram Saga THIS book is as unconventional as its author. V.K.Singhal who is a doctor by profession. This is his first attempt to write a book which has been inspired by the National Song Vande Mataram. "He never was a writer—for 40 years wrote only prescriptions for his patients—yet became one, at the ripe age of 65 years." The inspiration came from an article written by Sailesh Matiyani in a Hindi daily in which he "lambasted the political masters for not changing it". The author was shocked to read such an article and later started researching on the subject. The year was 2001, and after visits to the National Archives, Delhi; Shantiniketan, Kolkata; Bristol and British Library in England, he has come forward with this book. He has chosen to delve into a controversial topic. Through this book, he puts forth arguments in favour of Vande Mataram to be considered as our National Anthem along with the present one.
Singhal has unravelled the making of Jana Gana Mana, and how Vande Mataram lost the race to the former. He starts the saga from the Mutiny of 1857; works through the birth of the Indian National Congress and explores the role of A.O. Hume, the British gentleman who insisted on forming the INC as "an attempt to understand the Mysterious Oriental Man". The author presents three truth indicators to prove his contention that Jana Gana Mana is not a patriotic song but rather a song that reminds us of our colonial days. After reading the translation of the National Anthem and inspecting it at close quarters, one feels shocked that we are singing a song of servitude after so many decades of Independence. He puts a strong case forward in favour of Vande Mataram, for it was a song that roused Indians to lay their lives for the country’s Independence. The British hated this song for it toppled their regime, so along with dividing India the British saw that this song was pushed to the background. This and all the plans of sabotaging a united India were the plans of King George V and Churchill, the Prime Minister who led England to victory in the Second World War. Both did not want the British Empire to crumble. The author talks about haemophilia that led to changes in the Crown in England. Being a doctor, he explains how the disease afflicted the men in the royal household and how King George V came to the throne. The latter’s coming to the throne led to various ramifications in the Indian subcontinent. V.K. Singhal leaves us with a thought to ponder. He says the question of the National Anthem was always raised for discussion in the Constituent Assembly but it was brushed under the carpet. Such an important issue was decided on January 24, 1950, with Dr Rajendera Parsad, presiding officer of the Constituent Assembly, declaring that "`85 the song Vande Mataram, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and shall have equal status with it". The book strongly
advocates that Vande Mataram should get its due place. This
handy book weighed by hitherto unknown information stands on its own
because of its theme which comes across as voice from an Indian’s
heart.
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At
the very outset, the author mentions that he means no disrespect to
the National Anthem "Jana Gana Mana". On the way, he
presents facts that threaten to shake whatever one has learned since
childhood. For example, he talks about prominent Indian leaders who
fought for India’s Independence but were sycophants of the British
government. The author tells us that Surendranath Banerjee was a
staunch Crown loyalist, so he was known as "Surrender Banerjee".
He gives excerpts from the speeches of various moderate leaders who
praised the British and tried to outdo each other to prove their
loyalty. He puts Rabindranath Tagore and his family in this category.
Our National Anthem is the result of one such effort, where the King
of the United Kingdom is praised as the benefactor of Indians.