The famous work "Anandmath", associated with the song "Vande Mataram", was written by which Indian author?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to Indian literature and the history of the freedom movement. "Anandmath" is an important Bengali novel that later became famous because it contains the patriotic song "Vande Mataram". Examinations often ask about the author of this work, as it connects literature with nationalism.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The work mentioned is the novel "Anandmath".
• You are asked to identify its author.
• The options include several distinguished Indian poets and writers.

Concept / Approach:
"Anandmath" was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, a pioneering Bengali novelist. The novel is set against the background of the Sannyasi Rebellion and expresses early nationalist sentiments. The song "Vande Mataram", which later became a national song, first appeared in this novel. Recognising Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as the creator of both the work and the song is central to this question.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that "Vande Mataram" and "Anandmath" are tightly linked and both are associated with Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Step 2: Look at the options. Option a lists Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, which corresponds to this memory. Step 3: Consider the remaining options. Rabindranath Tagore, while a great poet and Nobel laureate, wrote works such as "Gitanjali" and various plays and stories, not "Anandmath". Step 4: Maithilisharan Gupt, Subramania Bharati and Sarojini Naidu are important poets but are not known as the authors of "Anandmath". Step 5: Since only Bankim Chandra Chatterjee matches the famous association with this novel, option a must be correct.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on modern Indian history and Indian literature consistently describe "Anandmath" as a novel by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. They also explain that "Vande Mataram", the national song, originated in this work. The repeated pairing of this novel and this author across many reference sources confirms the correctness of this answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rabindranath Tagore composed "Jana Gana Mana", which became India's national anthem, but he did not write "Anandmath". Maithilisharan Gupt, Subramania Bharati and Sarojini Naidu are known for their poetry in Hindi, Tamil and English respectively, and are associated with other famous works. None of them has any historical connection to the authorship of "Anandmath".

Common Pitfalls:
Some students get confused between different patriotic songs and may wrongly associate "Vande Mataram" with Tagore because they know he wrote the national anthem. This can lead to choosing his name instead of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's. To avoid this, remember clearly that "Vande Mataram" and the novel "Anandmath" belong to Bankim Chandra, while "Jana Gana Mana" is by Rabindranath Tagore.

Final Answer:
The novel "Anandmath" was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.