Editing Anandamath (section)

==Plot summary==
The book is set in the years during the [[Great Bengal famine of 1770|famine in Bengal in 1770 CE]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cambridgeforecast.org/MIDDLEEAST/BENGAL.html|title=Bengal famine of 1770|website=cambridgeforecast.org|access-date=2020-01-16}}</ref> It starts with introduction to a couple, Mahendra and Kalyani, who are stuck in their village ''Padachinha'' without food and water in a time of famine. They decide to leave their village and move to the next closest city where there is a better chance of survival. While doing so, the couple become separated and Kalyani has to run through the forest with her infant to avoid getting caught by robbers. After a long chase, she loses consciousness at the bank of a river. A Hindu "Santana" (who were not true sanyasis but common people who took the symbol of sanyasis and left their household so as to rebel against the British [[East India Company]]) named Jiban takes the infant to his home, handing her to his sister, while he moves Kalyani to his ashram.

The husband, Mahendra, at this point is more inclined towards joining the brotherhood of the monks and serving the Mother Nation. Kalyani wants to help him attain his dreams by trying to kill herself, thereby relieving him of worldly duties. At this point, Mahatma Satya joins her but before he can help her, he is arrested by the East India Company soldiers, because other monks were fuelling the revolt against Company rule. While being dragged away he spots another monk who is not wearing his distinctive robes and sings,
{{blockquote| ''"In mild breeze, by the bank of the river,''<br /> ''In the forest, resides a respectable lady."''}}

The other monk deciphers the song, rescues Kalyani and the baby, and takes them to a rebel monk hideout. Concurrently, Mahendra is also given shelter by the monks; thus Mahendra and Kalyani are reunited. The leader of the rebels shows Mahendra the three faces of ''[[Bharat Mata]]'' (Mother India) as three goddess idols being worshipped in three consecutive rooms:
# What Mother was – an idol of goddess [[Jagaddhatri]], referring to the past glory of Bengal/India
# What Mother has become – an idol of goddess [[Kali]], a reference to the economic exploitation of the land & the famine
# What Mother will be – an idol of goddess [[Durga]], referring to their vision for a future India.

Gradually, the rebel influence grows and their ranks swell. Emboldened, they shift their headquarters to a small brick fort. The East India Company troops 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 troops make a tactical retreat over the bridge. The ''Sanyasis''' undisciplined army, lacking military experience, chases the troops into the trap. Once the bridge is full of rebels, the East India Company artillery opens fire, inflicting severe casualties.

However, some rebels manage to capture some of the cannons, and turn the fire back on to the East India Company lines. The East India Company troops 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.

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.