NEW DELHI: On Aug. 15, 1947, the day on which Indians savored the long-awaited freedom from British colonial rule, eminent freedom fighter Sucheta Kripalani rendered three rousing songs in the Constituent Assembly that were extremely popular during the freedom movement: Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ Bankim Chandra’s ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Sare Jahan Se Achcha Hindustan Hamara’ composed by the poet Mohammad Iqbal. ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was also sung when Jawaharlal Nehru hoisted the Indian tricolor and the Union Jack was lowered on Independence Day.

Two years later, with Jan. 26, 1950, slated for the declaration of India as a republic, a National Anthem was to be chosen before the election of the president. The songs shortlisted were ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram.’

Although ‘Vande Mataram’ was part of Bankim Chandra’s novel ‘Ananda Math,’ the song was composed before the book was written. In 1875, Chandra left on a holiday to his native town, Kantalapada. As he left Calcutta city behind, the profusion of greenery filled his heart with joy. His motherland’s rich rivers, flowers, fruits and forests inspired him to write ‘Vande Mataram.’

Mahatma Gandhi had expressed the wish that ‘Vande Mataram’ be set to music so that “millions can sing it together, and feel the thrill. They should all sing in the same raga, with the same bhava.”

Nehru had said that “while Vande Mataram should continue to be the National Song par excellence in India, the National Anthem tune should be that of ‘Jana Gana Mana,’ and the wording of ‘Jana Gana’ be altered suitably to fit in with existing circumstances.”

“In regard to the national anthem tune, it was felt that the tune was more important than the words, and this tune should be such as to represent the Indian musical genius as well as to some extent the Western, so that it might easily be adapted to orchestra and band music, and to playing abroad,” he said. Past experience, he added, showed that the tune for ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was appreciated and admired abroad. ‘Vande Mataram,’ on the other hand, was not considered easily suitable for orchestras abroad.

Both the songs had their share of critics as well as staunch defenders. Muslims contended that ‘Vande Mataram’ was full of idolatry, while ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was dogged by a controversy over its purported association with British King George V.