Vande Mataram and 1937 CWC Decision
Background:
Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1870s, was included in his novel Anandamath (1882).
It became a symbol of India’s freedom movement, frequently sung at Congress sessions and protests.
Controversy:
In 1937, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) deliberated on the use of “Vande Mataram” as a national song.
Concerns were raised that later stanzas (beyond the first two) contained strong religious imagery (Hindu goddess references) which could alienate non-Hindu communities, particularly Muslims.
Decision of 1937:
The CWC, influenced by Rabindranath Tagore’s advice, decided that only the first two stanzas would be used for official or public purposes.
These stanzas focus on the motherland and patriotism, not religious symbolism.
Members present at the 1937 CWC meeting (Kolkata):
Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Maulana Azad, Sarojini Naidu, J.B. Kripalani, Bhulabhai Desai, Jamnalal Bajaj, Narendra Deva.
The president of the Indian National Congress in 1937 was Jawaharlal Nehru. The main annual session (5Oth) for that year was held in Faizpur in July 1937, and was the first session to be held in a village. A meeting of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) did take place in Kolkata from October 26 to November 1, 1937, which was attended by prominent leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose, among others |
Prelims Practice MCQs
Q. Consider the following statements about Vande Mataram:
It was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1882.
It was originally composed in Sanskrit and later translated into Bengali.
The first two stanzas were officially adopted for national use by the Congress Working Committee in 1937.
Which of the above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
✅ Answer: C. 3 only
Explanation:
Statement 1 ❌ – Vande Mataram was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, not Tagore.
Statement 2 ❌ – It was written in Bengali mixed with Sanskrit, not a translation.
Statement 3 ✅ – The CWC (1937) decided to use only the first two stanzas for official purposes, following Tagore’s advice.
Q. The 1937 Congress Working Committee’s decision on Vande Mataram was influenced by which of the following considerations?
A. Colonial censorship laws under the British Raj
B. Ensuring religious inclusivity and national unity
C. Criticism from the Hindu Mahasabha
D. Recommendations from the British Governor-General’s office
✅ Answer: B. Ensuring religious inclusivity and national unity
Explanation:
The CWC limited the official version to first two stanzas to make it inclusive and avoid religious exclusivity.
Later verses contained Hindu goddess imagery (Durga) that could offend some communities.
Tagore had earlier voiced these concerns.
Q. Who among the following was not a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC) that met in Kolkata in 1937 to decide on Vande Mataram?
A. Jawaharlal Nehru
B. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
C. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
D. Rajendra Prasad
E. M.S. Golwalkar
✅ Answer: E. M.S. Golwalkar
Explanation:
Golwalkar was a leader of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which was not part of the Indian National Congress or the freedom movement.
The 1937 CWC included Nehru, Gandhi, Patel, Bose, Azad, Sarojini Naidu, Jamnalal Bajaj, etc.