THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, Dec 8: While opening a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s national song Vande Mataram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi revisited the nation’s historical struggles and the song’s enduring influence.
He reminded the House that when Vande Mataram completed 50 years, India remained in the grip of colonial rule, and at its 100th anniversary, “the Constitution was choked,” referring to the Emergency, when many patriots were imprisoned and democratic values were under strain.
Modi said the 150-year milestone offers a moment to honour the pride, heritage and inspiration linked to the song, which had played a central role in energising the freedom movement.
He emphasised that as India marks this anniversary today, the country stands as the world’s fifth-largest economy.
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He described Vande Mataram as the force that guided India’s struggle “on the path of courage and determination.”
He also pointed out that the nation is simultaneously marking a series of major commemorations, including 75 years of the Constitution, the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Patel and Birsa Munda, and the 350th martyrdom year of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.
Call for National Unity
The Prime Minister expressed disappointment over the absence of opposition parties from the discussion, stressing that Vande Mataram belonged to the entire nation and should rise above political divides.
“There is no leadership and opposition here,” he said, adding that the House was collectively honouring a song that “united the nation from North to South and from East to West.”
Modi said it was a “sacred occasion” to acknowledge its contribution and urged that the song should inspire efforts to realise the aspirations of India’s freedom fighters. He called for reaffirming the resolve to build a self-reliant and developed nation by 2047.
Cultural Power and Colonial Resistance
Modi noted that Vande Mataram carried centuries of cultural strength and embodied the spirit of independence. After 1857, the British sensed their hold on India was weakening. They sought to divide the population to retain power.
The Prime Minister cited the 20 May 1906 Barisal procession—where more than 10,000 people of all faiths marched with flags while singing Vande Mataram—as evidence of the song’s unifying force.
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He recalled how British authorities punished 200 students in a Rangpur school for singing the song by imposing a fine of ₹5 each, eventually banning its recitation in educational institutions.
Modi also honoured revolutionaries including Khudiram Bose, Ashfaqulla Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil, Roshan Singh and Rajendranath Lahiri, saying many heroes embraced martyrdom with Vande Mataram on their lips.
He added that during the 1905 partition of Bengal, the song became a rallying cry, standing firm “like a rock” against the British attempt to divide the region. Modi said the slogan echoed through every street, becoming a symbol of resistance and unity across Bengal.
