09-08-2006, 09:32 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Vande Mataram electrifies India </b>
Navneet Anand | New Delhi
Pioneer celebrates centenary of national song
The national song is nation's pride. Vande Mataram is a symbol of a vibrant India, an icon that binds the past with the present and the glorious future.Â
To reiterate the spirit of the song and the ethos of nationhood encapsulated in it for decades, The Pioneer group on Thursday declared that September 7 every year would now be celebrated as Vande Mataram Day.
Group chairman and Editor of The Pioneer Chandan Mitra made an announcement to this effect at the centenary celebrations of the national song organised by The Pioneer group and attended by members of the newspaper, Pioneer Media School (PMS) and the Internet division.
The gala function was marked by some soulful rendition of spirited songs, including Vande Mataram by a 10-member choir of the PMS.
The function on Thursday was a culmination of a high-pitched campaign that The Pioneer ran over the past fortnight unveiling and rediscovering the many facets of the national song.
The impact of its resonance, the spirit that catapulted Vande Mataram onto the centre-stage of the national cultural renaissance during the freedom struggle was also rediscovered. We also pondered over the many recent trivial blabbering and attempted to dispel the pointless debates by providing a platform to historians, political scientists and social activists.
As Dr Mitra pointed out, "At a time when many, including some media houses, were attempting to ridicule our efforts, we were busy trying to reinforce this symbol of our civilisation which has been celebrated down the ages."
Highlighting the need to "celebrate" the song at a time when the media industry would be more keen on chasing advertisers, Dr Mitra said: "To reiterate that the essence of Indianhood is encapsulated in these two powerful words at a time when we are under numerous social and cultural assaults, is very timely and relevant."
In an age when commercial compulsions have pushed newspapers far away from even acknowledging the many social responsibilities they are supposed to espouse, the small effort by The Pioneer in reinforcing the spirit of cultural nationalism is truly significant. For a whole generation of 21st century India, entrenched in modern values, The Pioneer has taken upon itself the task of instilling the idea of appreciation and empathy with the past. "And, there is nothing religious or communal about it," asserted Dr Mitra.
The Pioneer's Consulting Editor Swapan Dasgupta and one of the most articulate proponents of cultural nationalism also reiterated the "ethos that has been passed on for generations through Vande Mataram."
"The contexts and milieu in which the song has been sung - from the time it was composed in 1880s by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee to its adaptation by AR Rehman in 1997 - have changed but the spirit has remained the same. Its essence has been the reinvigorating rendition of nationhood," Dasgupta added.
The 45-minute programme turned lively each time the students of PMS sang in divine unison - be it the Vande Mataram of Lata Mageshkar or AR Rehman. Upcoming composer Alok Kumar Mishra who has been trained under Ustad Shekhawat Hussain Khan of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana conducted the music and stage.
The young team of Garima, Anukriti, Sakshi, Divya, Nidhi, Abhishek, Dhananjay, Manoj, Hunar and Pulkit infused melody in the spirit of Vande Mataram and in many ways became young icons of celebrations of history.
The Pioneer Vande Mataram Day will be celebrated each year on September 7. Hail to the Mother. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Navneet Anand | New Delhi
Pioneer celebrates centenary of national song
The national song is nation's pride. Vande Mataram is a symbol of a vibrant India, an icon that binds the past with the present and the glorious future.Â
To reiterate the spirit of the song and the ethos of nationhood encapsulated in it for decades, The Pioneer group on Thursday declared that September 7 every year would now be celebrated as Vande Mataram Day.
Group chairman and Editor of The Pioneer Chandan Mitra made an announcement to this effect at the centenary celebrations of the national song organised by The Pioneer group and attended by members of the newspaper, Pioneer Media School (PMS) and the Internet division.
The gala function was marked by some soulful rendition of spirited songs, including Vande Mataram by a 10-member choir of the PMS.
The function on Thursday was a culmination of a high-pitched campaign that The Pioneer ran over the past fortnight unveiling and rediscovering the many facets of the national song.
The impact of its resonance, the spirit that catapulted Vande Mataram onto the centre-stage of the national cultural renaissance during the freedom struggle was also rediscovered. We also pondered over the many recent trivial blabbering and attempted to dispel the pointless debates by providing a platform to historians, political scientists and social activists.
As Dr Mitra pointed out, "At a time when many, including some media houses, were attempting to ridicule our efforts, we were busy trying to reinforce this symbol of our civilisation which has been celebrated down the ages."
Highlighting the need to "celebrate" the song at a time when the media industry would be more keen on chasing advertisers, Dr Mitra said: "To reiterate that the essence of Indianhood is encapsulated in these two powerful words at a time when we are under numerous social and cultural assaults, is very timely and relevant."
In an age when commercial compulsions have pushed newspapers far away from even acknowledging the many social responsibilities they are supposed to espouse, the small effort by The Pioneer in reinforcing the spirit of cultural nationalism is truly significant. For a whole generation of 21st century India, entrenched in modern values, The Pioneer has taken upon itself the task of instilling the idea of appreciation and empathy with the past. "And, there is nothing religious or communal about it," asserted Dr Mitra.
The Pioneer's Consulting Editor Swapan Dasgupta and one of the most articulate proponents of cultural nationalism also reiterated the "ethos that has been passed on for generations through Vande Mataram."
"The contexts and milieu in which the song has been sung - from the time it was composed in 1880s by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee to its adaptation by AR Rehman in 1997 - have changed but the spirit has remained the same. Its essence has been the reinvigorating rendition of nationhood," Dasgupta added.
The 45-minute programme turned lively each time the students of PMS sang in divine unison - be it the Vande Mataram of Lata Mageshkar or AR Rehman. Upcoming composer Alok Kumar Mishra who has been trained under Ustad Shekhawat Hussain Khan of the Rampur-Sahaswan gharana conducted the music and stage.
The young team of Garima, Anukriti, Sakshi, Divya, Nidhi, Abhishek, Dhananjay, Manoj, Hunar and Pulkit infused melody in the spirit of Vande Mataram and in many ways became young icons of celebrations of history.
The Pioneer Vande Mataram Day will be celebrated each year on September 7. Hail to the Mother. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->