First of all, I would like to wish all our Indian members, a very happy Independence Day!

After a long struggle for independent rule, India got freedom from British rule on 15th August in 1947. Independence struggles of India and its freedom fighter were associated with some patriotic songs which after independence got due recognition in Indian constitution and in every Indian heart. One such song is “वन्दे मातरम” (Vande Matram – “I bow to thee, Mother”). From this song, the first two stanza are recognized as the national song of India and holds the equal status as of the national anthem of India.

Vande Matram was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1882. It was written in Bengali and Sanskrit. Let me show you the script of the song. The script is given in Sanskrit, romanized Sanskrit and its translation in English.

Devanagari Form:

“वन्दे मातरम्
सुजलां सुफलां मलयजशीतलाम्
शस्यशामलां मातरम् ।
शुभ्रज्योत्स्नापुलकितयामिनीं
फुल्लकुसुमितद्रुमदलशोभिनीं
सुहासिनीं सुमधुर भाषिणीं
सुखदां वरदां मातरम् ।। १ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।

कोटि-कोटि-कण्ठ-कल-कल-निनाद-कराले
कोटि-कोटि-भुजैर्धृत-खरकरवाले,
अबला केन मा एत बले ।
बहुबलधारिणीं नमामि तारिणीं
रिपुदलवारिणीं मातरम् ।। २ ।। वन्दे मातरम् ।”

Below is video in which the prominent Indian singers and classical musician render the first stanza of Vande Matram.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFvXvU9jxwg

Romanized Form:

“Vande Mataram!
Sujalam suphalam, malayaja shitalam,
Shasyashyamalam, Mataram! 
Shubhrajyotsna pulakitayaminim,
Phullakusumita drumadala shobhinim,
Suhasinim, sumadhura bhashinim,
Sukhadam, varadam, Mataram! Vande Matram!

Saptakotikantha kalakala ninada karale
Dvisaptakoti bhujair dhrita-khara karavale
Abala kena ma eta bale
Bahubala dharinim, namami tarinim,
Ripudalavarinim Mataram! Vande Matram!”

English Translation:

“Mother, I bow to thee!
Rich with thy hurrying streams,
bright with orchard gleams,
Cool with thy winds of delight,
Dark fields waving Mother of might,
Mother free.
Glory of moonlight dreams,
Over thy branches and lordly streams,
Clad in thy blossoming trees,
Mother, giver of ease
Laughing low and sweet!
Mother I kiss thy feet,
Speaker sweet and low!
Mother, to thee I bow.

Who hath said thou art weak in thy lands
When the sword flesh out in the seventy million hands
And seventy million voices roar
Thy dreadful name from shore to shore?
With many strengths who art mighty and stored,
To thee I call Mother and Lord!
Though who savest, arise and save!
To her I cry who ever her foeman drove
Back from plain and Sea
And shook herself free.“