The national song of India, “Vande Mataram”, was originally composed in which language?

Introduction / Context:
Vande Mataram occupies a special place in India freedom struggle and cultural history. It served as a powerful patriotic song that inspired many movements against colonial rule. Knowing who composed it, in which language it was written, and how it was used politically is a frequent requirement in general knowledge and history exams. This question focuses on the language in which the song was originally composed.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject is the national song of India, Vande Mataram. • The options are Pali, Urdu, Bengali, and Sanskrit. • We assume the learner has basic familiarity with Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and his work.

Concept / Approach:
Most exam references describe Vande Mataram as composed in a highly Sanskritised form of Bengali. When framed as a multiple choice question with the set of options given here, the expected answer is Sanskrit because the song text is almost completely in Sanskrit vocabulary and structure. Bengali as a separate option sometimes appears in questions focused on the novel Anandamath, in which the song is embedded, but in many general knowledge questions this set of choices leads to Sanskrit as the standard key. The approach is therefore to recognise the heavily Sanskritic character of the language and match it with the closest correct label in the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and first appeared in his novel Anandamath. Step 2: Note that the song text uses vocabulary, grammar, and imagery drawn almost entirely from Sanskrit, with very little of the everyday Bengali lexicon. Step 3: Look at the options and see that Pali and Urdu can be ruled out immediately because they have different scripts and literary traditions. Step 4: Recognise that while the author wrote in Bengali, the particular song is so fully Sanskritic that standard exam keys classify it as Sanskrit. Step 5: Between Bengali and Sanskrit, choose Sanskrit in line with the way school and competitive exam materials phrase this question. Step 6: Confirm that no other option describes this heavily Sanskritised composition more accurately within the given list.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check by examining the opening lines of the song, which clearly display classical Sanskrit forms and invocations, resembling hymn like verses rather than conversational Bengali or Urdu. Many general knowledge guides explicitly state that the national song is in Sanskrit, while also mentioning that the novel containing it was written in Bengali. That distinction explains the presence of both languages in various discussions but supports Sanskrit as the expected answer in this particular multiple choice setting.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Pali: A canonical language of early Buddhist texts, not the language of this patriotic song. Urdu: Associated with a different script and poetic tradition; Vande Mataram vocabulary and grammar do not match Urdu usage. Bengali: The broader novel Anandamath is in Bengali, but the song itself is composed in a strongly Sanskritic style, leading exam sources to classify it as Sanskrit.

Common Pitfalls:
A typical confusion is between the language of the novel and the precise language of the song. Many aspirants remember that Bankim Chandra wrote in Bengali and therefore choose Bengali without reflecting on the linguistic structure of the verses. Others may overthink the debate and hesitate between Bengali and Sanskrit. For objective exams, the safest strategy is to follow the standard key that labels the national song as Sanskrit while remembering the more nuanced view that it is Sanskritised Bengali in literary terms.

Final Answer:
The national song Vande Mataram was originally composed in Sanskrit (in a highly Sanskritised literary style).