New Delhi, Dec 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reflected on the historical significance of Vande Mataram, noting that when the national song completed 100 years, the country was facing the Emergency — a time when, he said, the Constitution was “throttled” and the nation “chained.”
Opening a day-long discussion in the Lok Sabha on 150 years of Vande Mataram, Modi said the song had stood “like a rock” and inspired unity even under British oppression.
“When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the nation was in the grip of the Emergency. The Constitution was throttled, and those who lived and died for patriotism were thrown behind bars,” he said.
Calling the Emergency a “dark chapter” in India’s history, he added that the present moment offered an opportunity to “restore the greatness of Vande Mataram,” an opportunity he urged the nation not to let slip.
Modi emphasised that the mantra of Vande Mataram had empowered and inspired the country throughout the freedom struggle.
“It energised India’s fight for independence and illuminated a path of courage and determination. Remembering this sacred mantra today is a great privilege for all of us in this House,” he said, adding that it was a matter of pride to witness the 150-year milestone of the iconic poem.
Recalling the British response to the song, the Prime Minister noted that colonial authorities had tried to suppress Vande Mataram, even banning it despite enacting laws to curb its printing and dissemination.
“It was written at a time when, after the uprising of 1857, the British government was alarmed and unleashing various forms of oppression. They were pushing the British national anthem, God Save the Queen, into every household,” Modi said.
“Through Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay responded to this challenge with strength and resolve. When the British divided Bengal in 1905, Vande Mataram stood firm and inspired unity.”
Modi further asserted that Vande Mataram was far more than a political slogan. “It was not limited to our independence; it went far beyond that,” he said.
Describing it as a “modern avatar of our great cultural legacy,” he invoked ancient Indian thought: “During the Vedic period, it was said, ‘This land is my mother, and I am the son of the soil.’ The same idea was expressed by Shri Ram when he renounced Lanka. Vande Mataram carries that same spirit.”
The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to restoring the glory of Vande Mataram for future generations, emphasising that its message of courage, sacrifice and devotion continues to resonate today.
