Bankim Chandra Chatterjee also known as Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay was one of the greatest novelists and poets of India.

Born:June 27, 1838 in the village Kantalpara of the 24 Paraganas District of Bengal.Died:April 8, 1894Achievements:Author of Vande Mataram, the national song of IndiaHis father Yadav Chandra Chattopadhyaya was in government service. After his birth he was posted to Midnapur as Deputy Collector.Bankim Chandra had his early education in Midnapur. He was a brilliant student. After his early education in Midnapur Bankim Chandra Chatterji joined the Mohsin College at Hoogly and studied there for six yearsIn 1856 he joined the Presidency College in Calcutta. In 1857, there was a strong revolt against the rule of East India Company but Bankim Chandra Chatterjee continued his studies and passed his B.A. Examination in 1859.He was married when he was only eleven . At that time his wife was only five years old. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was only twenty two when his wife died. After some time he married again. His second wife was Rajlakshmi Devi. They had three daughters but no son.

Durgeshnandini, his first Bengali romance, was published in 1865.Bankim Chandras novels have been translated in almost all the major languages of India,he passed away on April 8, 1894.His famous novels include Kapalkundala (1866), Mrinalini (1869), Vishbriksha (1873), Chandrasekhar (1877), Rajani (1877), Rajsimha (1881), and Devi Chaudhurani (1884). Bankim Chandra Chatterjee most famous novel was Ananda Math (1882). Ananda Math contained the song "Vande Mataram", which was later adopted as National Song.

Anandamath(Bengali:Anondomh; first English publication title:The Abbey of Bliss) is aBengalinovel, written byBankim Chandra Chatterjiand published in 1882. Set in the background of theSannyasi Rebellionin the late 18th century, it is considered one of the most important novels in the history of Bengali and Indian literature.Its importance is heightened by the fact that it became synonymous with the struggle for Indian independence from theBritish Empire. The novel was banned by the British. The ban was lifted later by the Government of India after independence.Thenational songof India,Vande Mataramwas first published in this novel.

Vande Mataram (English translation "I bow to thee, Mother") is a poem from the 1882 novelAnandamath. Chatterjee wrote the poem in a spontaneous session using words fromSanskritandBengali

Two stanzas in Vande Mataram rendered by SriAurobindo Ghose.

I show gratitude to thee, Mother, richly-watered, richly-fruited, cool with the winds of the south, dark with the crops of the harvests, The Mother! Her nights rejoicing in the glory of the moonlight, her lands clothed beautifully with her trees in flowering bloom, sweet of laughter, sweet of speech, The Mother, giver of boons, giver of bliss.

The book is set in 1771 Kalyani, a housewife, is fleeing through the forest with her infant, trying to escape from man-hunters who will sell her for food. After a long chase, she loses consciousness at the bank of a river. A Hindu monk, stumbles upon her and the baby, but before he can help her, he is arrested by the British soldiers, because other priests were fueling revolt against the British rule. While being dragged away he spots another priest who is not wearing his distinctive robes and sings,

"In mild breeze, by the bank of the river, In the forest, resides a respectable lady.

The other priest deciphers the song, rescues Kalyani and the baby, taking them to a rebel priest hideout. Concurrently, Kalyani's husband, Mahendra, is also given shelter by the priests, and they are reunited. The leader of the rebels shows Mahendra the three faces ofBharat-Mata(Mother India) as three goddess idols being worshipped in three consecutive rooms:What Mother Was - An idol of GoddessJagaddhatriWhat Mother Has Become - An idol of GoddessKaliWhat Mother Will Be - An idol of GoddessDurga

Gradually, the rebel influence grows and their ranks swell. Emboldened, they shift their headquarter to a small brick fort. The British attack the fort with a large force. The rebels blockade the bridge over the nearby river, but they lack any artillery or military training. In the fighting, the British make a tactical retreat over the bridge. TheSannyasisundisciplined army, lacking military experience, chases the British into the trap. Once the bridge is full of rebels, British artillery opens fire, inflicting severe casualties.However, some rebels manage to capture some of the cannons, and turn the fire back on to the British lines. The British are forced to fall back, the rebels winning their first battle. The story ends with Mahendra and Kalyani building a home again, with Mahendra continuing to support the rebels.

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