29. Bande Mataram

During his stay in Calcutta in August 1947 in of his post-prayer speeches Gandhiji referred to Band Mataram which was sung just before prayers by a lady. As the song started, the vast gathering stood up and reverently kept standing.

Mahatma Gandhi was alone seated because, as he remarked later, he had learnt that their culture did not require standing as a mark of respect when any national song or Bhajan was sung. It was an unnecessary importation from the West, he thought. After all, it was the mental attitude that mattered, not the superficial appearance.