New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 8 invoked the legacy of Vande Mataram to launch a pointed criticism of the Congress, alleging that the national song—once the battle cry of India’s freedom struggle—was repeatedly “throttled” by the party both before and after Independence. Modi was initiating a day-long discussion in the Lok Sabha to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, penned by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875.
Reflecting on the centenary year of the song in 1975, Modi said the period tragically coincided with the Emergency, during which democratic freedoms were suspended, and political dissent was crushed. “When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the nation was chained by the Emergency. At that time, the Constitution was throttled and those who lived and died for patriotism were pushed behind bars,” Modi said.
Calling the Emergency “a dark chapter in our history”, the Prime Minister reminded the House that thousands were imprisoned, newspapers were gagged, and symbols of national pride were discouraged. According to accounts from that period, public singing of patriotic songs—including Vande Mataram—was closely monitored, and several activists who used it as a rallying cry against authoritarianism were detained.
Modi argued that while British repression failed to crush the spirit of Vande Mataram, domestic political decisions sometimes weakened its stature. He pointed to episodes from the 1930s, when the Congress leadership faced pressure from the Muslim League to dilute or remove certain stanzas of the song. Despite resistance from leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose, Congress accepted a truncated version in 1937, dropping verses considered unacceptable to sections of the League.
“This was the first historical compromise,” BJP leaders have often argued. Modi echoed that sentiment, suggesting the Congress “surrendered to communal demands” instead of defending a symbol that had united revolutionaries, peasants, students, and ordinary citizens during the freedom struggle.
“The mantra of Vande Mataram gave power and inspiration to the entire country. Today, we have the opportunity to restore its greatness—and this opportunity should not be allowed to pass,” Modi declared.
As Parliament observed the 150-year milestone, the Prime Minister said the song still carries the “emotional force” to inspire unity and national resolve. The discussion is expected to continue across both Houses, with several members planning to highlight historical, cultural, and political dimensions of the national song.
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