<P> Gradually, the rebel influence grows and their ranks swell . Emboldened, they shift their headquarters to a small brick fort . The British attack the fort with a large force . The rebels blockade the bridge over the nearby river, but they lack any artillery or military training . In the fighting, the British make a tactical retreat over the bridge . The Sannyasis' undisciplined army, lacking military experience, chases the British into the trap . Once the bridge is full of rebels, British artillery opens fire, inflicting severe casualties . </P> <P> However, some rebels manage to capture some of the cannons, and turn the fire back on to the British lines . The British are forced to fall back, the rebels winning their first battle . The story ends with Mahendra and Kalyani building a home again, with Mahendra continuing to support the rebels . </P> <P> The song Vande Mataram is sung in this novel . Vande Mataram means "I bow to thee, Mother". It inspired freedom fighters in the 20th century and its first two stanzas became the national song of India after independence . </P> <Ul> <Li> leading role Mahendra: A wealthy Zamindar (landowner), living in Padachihna with his wife (Kalyani) and daughter (sukumari). They are forced to leave the village to find a new mode of living . Mahendra is initiated to the Anandamath by Guru Satyananda . The Guru orders Mahendra to use his wealth to manufacture ammunition for the Anandamath . </Li> <Li> Satyananda: The founder and main Guru of Anandamath, a rebel group to oppose the British rule in India . His disciples are required to renounce their attachments until India is freed . Satyananda was acting upon the orders of his Guru, a mysterious saint, who explains his true motives . The Guru explains Satyananda that Indians need objective knowledge from the British to once more understand the subtle truths of the ancient scriptures . Satyananda goes with his Guru to the Himalayas for penances . </Li> <Li> Bhavananda: A brave commander of Anandamath who dies during the battle against the British . </Li> <Li> Jivananda: The most accomplished and loyal disciple of Satyananda . He rescues Mahendra's family and reunites them . His wife and lover, Shanti, later becomes the first and only woman to join the Anandamath and fights alongside Jivananda . In the end Jivananda is grieveously injured in battle but is revived by Shanti . The young married couple decide to go on a pilgrimage and live as ascetics . </Li> <Li> Nibanananda a.k.a. Shanti: She is the tomboyish daughter of a Brahmin and is well educated . Shanti was orphaned at a young age and became physically fit and strong . Shanti met Jivananda who married her out of pity as Shanti had no one to take care of her . Jivananda left Shanti as a part of renouncing his attachments and to fight for Anandamath . Shanti is left in the care of Jivananda's married sister . However, Shanti is deeply in love with her husband and cannot bear to live away from him . She disguises herself as a man and joins Anandamath as a freedom fighter . Satyananda tries to forbid her from entering, but he is shocked at Shanti's physical strength when she strings a mighty bow which only he and Jivananda were the only Sannyasins to be able to do so . Satyananda allows Shanti to stay and gives her the name Navinananda . Shanti rescues Kalyani from dacoits . She gathers intelligence from the British and fights in battles alongside her husband . At the end of the battle, at nightfall, Shanti discovers Jivananda's seemingly lifeless body and grieves for him . Satyananda's Guru gives Shanti a herb, with which she revives Jivananda . Shanti suggests Jivananda that they go on a pilgrimage and live together in a forest as ascetics, to which her husband reluctantly agrees . </Li> </Ul>

When was national song published in anand mathh