Bharat Mata, a painting by Abanindranath Tagore

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Bhārat Mātā (Hindi, from Sanskrit भारत माता, Bhārata Mātā), Mother India, or Bhāratāmbā ( Sanskrit: भारताम्बा; अम्बा ambā means 'mother') is the national personification of India as a mother goddess. She is usually depicted as a woman clad in a saffron sari holding a flag, and sometimes accompanied by a lion.^[1]

Historic perspective[link]

The image of Bhāratmātā formed with the Indian independence movement of the late 19th century. A play by Kiran Chandra Bannerjee, Bhārat Mātā, was first performed in 1873. Bankim Chandra Chatterji's 1882 novel Anandamath introduced the hymn "Vande Mātaram",^[2] which soon became the song of the emerging freedom movement in India.

Bipin Chandra Pal insisted that elaborated its meaning in idealizing and idealist terms, along with Hindu philosophical traditions and devotional practices. It represented an archaic spiritual essence, a transcedental idea of Universe as well as expressing Universal Hinduism and nationhood.^[3]

Abanindranath Tagore portrayed Bhārat Mātā as a four-armed Hindu goddess wearing saffron-colored robes, holding a book, sheaves of rice, a mala, and a white cloth.^[4] The image of Bharatmata was an icon to create nationalist feeling in Indians during the freedom struggle. Sister Nivedita, an admirer of the painting, opined that the picture was refined and imaginative, with Bharatmata standing on green earth and blue sky behind her; feet with four lotuses, four arms meaning divine power; white halo and sincere eyes; and gifts Shiksha-Diksha-Anna-Bastra of motherland to her children.^[5]

Significance[link]

As the conception of Bhārat Mātā predates The partition of India, she is intended to represent "Aryavarta", the motherland of Hinduism in Hindu nationalism, not merely restricted to the secular Republic of India, and Bhārat Mātā remains a symbol of the "vision of a unified motherland" in Hindu nationalist thought. A Bhārat Mātā temple in Haridwar was built by in 1983 by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP).^[6]

The depiction of India as a Hindu goddess implies that it is not just the patriotic but also the religious duty of all Indians to participate in the nationalist struggle to defend the nation.^[7]

The motto Bharat Mata ki Jai’ ("Victory for Mother India") is used by various Hindu organizations and by the Indian Army.

Bharat Mata temples[link]

At Varanasi[link]

The relief map of India as Bharatmata, carved out of marble at Bharat Mata Temple, Varanasi

The temple is located in the Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapeeth campus, Varanasi.^[8]

The idol of Bharat Mata is built in marble and is a model of undivided India, depicting the mountains, plains and oceans. The temple also houses a relief map of India, carved out of marble.^[8]

It was inaugurated by Mahatma Gandhi in 1936. The Temple was gifted by the nationalists Babu Shiv Prasad Gupta (later awarded Bharat Ratna) and shri Durga Prasad Khatri, leading numismatists and antiquarians.^[8] Mahatma Gandhi said, "I hope this temple, which will serve as a cosmopolitan platform for people of all religions, castes, and creeds including Harijans, will go a great way in promoting religious unity, peace, and love in the country."^{[citation needed]}

At Haridwar[link]

The temple was founded by Swami Satyamitranand Giri, on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar. It is 8 storeyed and 180 feet high.^[9]

It was inaugurated by Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India, in 1983.^[9]

Floors are dedicated to mythological legends, religious deities, freedom fighters and leaders. The first floor has a statue of the Bharatmata stands along with freedom fighters including Subhash Chandra Bose, Veer Savarkar, Mahatma Gandhi, Chatrapati Shivaji, Guru Govind Singh, Rani of Jhansi and more. The second floor is dedicated to Indian women and the holy wedlock of India. The 3rd floor is dedicated to Indian philosophy and the concept of sainthood. The 4th floor showcases displays co-existence of various religions. The 5th floor is dedicated to female shakti through Goddess as mother and as the savior from the perils. The 6th floor is dedicated to the incarnations of the Hindu God, Vishnu. The 7th floor is dedicated to Lord Shiva in his various manifestations. The 8th floor or top floor has a Kalasha that shines in the sunlight.^[9]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bharat Mata

• Patriotic fervour The Hindu, August 17, 2003.
• The life and times of Bharat Mata Sadan Jha, Manushi, Issue 142.
• Bharat Mata Images Prof. Pritchett, Columbia University

1. REDIRECT Emraan Hashmi

Abhay Deol
Born	Abhay Singh Deol (1976-03-15) March 15, 1976 (age 36) Mumbai, India
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2005–present
Partner	Preeti Desai

Abhay Singh Deol (15 March 1976 - ), better known as Abhay Deol, is an Indian film actor and producer whose family has a long history in the Hindi film industry. Deol has appeared in films such as Dev.D and Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye!. He is the nephew of Bollywood actor Dharmendra, and the cousin of Sunny Deol and Bobby Deol.

Career[link]

Abhay Deol stated in an interview with Rediff that he is not into acting because of his father, but because he was involved in theatre since school. "At 18, I decided to take the plunge. It took me 10 years because I didn't want to leave my education to get into films. "^[1]

He made his film debut in the 2005 film Socha Na Tha. His second film was Ahista Ahista in 2006. His first 2007 release was Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd. which had a multi-star cast and emerged as a box office success.^[2] His second release for the year was Ek Chalis Ki Last Local. His third film in 2007 was Manorama Six Feet Under, which won the Best Film at the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council Film Festival in New York City. He also won Best Actor award for his role for the same. His only 2008 release was Oye Lucky! Lucky Oye! which became extremely popular.

Deol devised and enacted the title role of Devdas in the 2009 film Dev.D. Nikhat Kazmi, the critic for Times of India gave the movie a perfect 5 out 5 stars in her review.^[3] Abhay Deol has been the cover of Man's World and Time Out Mumbai, with titles such as The New Face of Indian Cinema. He was placed seventh on Zoom's "50 Most Desirable Hotties" poll for 2009.^[4] He did Road, Movie with Tannishtha Chatterjee. Deol has also started producing films through his company Forbidden Films. For Basra, the first film under his new production company,^[5] Deol learned the Israeli martial art Krav Maga.^[6] Abhay did a special Item number for the movie Tera Kya Hoga Johnny in 2010.^[7] He also trained to be a deep-sea diver for his 2011 film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara which was filmed in Spain.^[8]

Personal life[link]

Deol is in a romantic relationship with actress Preeti Desai.^[9] Deol lives in Mumbai, where he also grew up. He is a self-described fan of "cinema that has the 'real' element" and lists his favourite films as Chupke Chupke, Mother India, and Dr. Strangelove. His family roots include being the younger cousin of Sunny and Bobby Deol^[1]

Filmography[link]

Actor[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Abhay Deol at the Internet Movie Database

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abhay Deol