అద‌న‌పు, సంయుక్త కార్య‌ద‌ర్శుల‌తో ప్ర‌ధాన‌మంత్రి మూడో అన్యోన్య‌ స‌మావేశం

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the special discussion on 150 years of the National Song, Vande Mataram in Lok Sabha today. The Prime Minister expressed heartfelt gratitude to all the esteemed Members of the House for choosing the path of collective discussion on this significant occasion. He remarked that Vande Mataram, the mantra and the clarion call which energized and inspired the freedom movement of the nation, showing the path of sacrifice and penance, is being remembered and it is a great privilege for all in the House. Shri Modi highlighted that it is a matter of pride that the nation is witnessing the historic occasion of 150 years of Vande Mataram. He stated that this period brings before us countless events of history. The Prime Minister emphasized that this discussion will not only reflect the commitment of the House but can also serve as a source of education for future generations, if all collectively make good use of it.

Shri Modi remarked that this is a period when many inspiring chapters of history are once again being revealed before us. He highlighted that the nation has recently celebrated 75 years of the Constitution with pride. He noted that the country is also commemorating the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Bhagwan Birsa Munda, He added that recently the nation observed the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji.

The Prime Minister stated that today, on the occasion of 150 years of Vande Mataram, the House is making an effort to experience its collective energy. He emphasized that the 150-year journey of Vande Mataram has passed through many milestones. Recalling that when Vande Mataram completed 50 years, the nation was compelled to live under colonial rule, Shri Modi said that when it reached 100 years, the country was shackled by the chains of Emergency. He pointed out that at the time of the centenary celebrations of Vande Mataram, the Constitution of India was throttled. He further remarked that when Vande Mataram marked 100 years, those who lived and died for patriotism were imprisoned behind bars. The Prime Minister underscored that the song which had given energy to the nation’s freedom, when it completed 100 years, unfortunately coincided with a dark chapter in our history, when democracy itself was under severe strain.

“The 150 years of Vande Mataram present an opportunity to re-establish that great chapter and glory, and neither the House nor the nation should let this occasion pass”, stressed Shri Modi. He highlighted that it was Vande Mataram which led the country to independence in 1947, and the emotional leadership of the freedom struggle was embodied in its clarion call.

Prime Minister stated that as he stood to initiate the discussion on Vande Mataram at 150 years, there was no division of ruling or opposition, as for all present it was truly an occasion to acknowledge the debt owed to Vande Mataram, which inspired goal-oriented leaders to carry forward the freedom movement, resulting in the independence that allows all to sit in the House today. He emphasized that for all Members of Parliament and representatives, this is a sacred occasion to accept that debt. Shri Modi underscored that from this inspiration, the spirit of Vande Mataram which fought the battle for freedom, uniting the entire nation—North, South, East, and West—in one voice, must once again guide us. He called upon all to move forward together, to fulfill the dreams envisioned by the freedom fighters, making Vande Mataram at 150 the source of inspiration and energy for all. He stressed that this is an opportunity to reaffirm the resolve of building a self-reliant nation and achieving the vision of a developed India by 2047.

Shri Modi stated that the journey of Vande Mataram began with Bankim Chandra Ji in 1875. He highlighted that the song was composed at a time when, after the 1857 freedom struggle, the British Empire was unsettled and imposed various pressures and injustices upon India, forcing its people into submission. The Prime Minister remarked that during that period, the national anthem of the British, ‘God Save The Queen’, was being conspired to spread into every household in India. He emphasized that it was then that Bankim Da issued a challenge, responding with greater force, and from that defiance Vande Mataram was born. He noted that a few years later, in 1882, when Bankim Chandra wrote ‘Anand Math’, the song was incorporated into the work.

Emphasising that Vande Mataram revived the thought that had been deeply ingrained in the veins of India for thousands of years, the PM highlighted that the same sentiment, the same values, the same culture, and the same tradition were gifted to the nation in the finest words and noble spirit through Vande Mataram. He emphasized that Vande Mataram was not merely a mantra for political freedom or simply about driving away the British and charting our own path; it went far beyond that. The Prime Minister stated that the freedom struggle was also a sacred battle to liberate the motherland, to free Mother India from shackles. He noted that when we look at the background of Vande Mataram and its stream of values, we see a recurring truth from the Vedic era. He underscored that when we say Vande Mataram, it reminds us of the Vedic declaration meaning that this land is my mother and I am her son.

The Prime Minister remarked that this very thought was echoed by Lord Shri Ram when he renounced the grandeur of Lanka, declaring “Janani Janmabhoomishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi”. He highlighted that Vande Mataram is the modern embodiment of this great cultural tradition.

Prime Minister stated that when Bankim Da composed Vande Mataram, it naturally became the voice of the freedom movement. He emphasized that from East to West, North to South, Vande Mataram became the resolve of every Indian.

Recalling that a few days earlier, at the commencement of Vande Mataram at 150, Shri Modi had stated that Vande Mataram embodied thousands of years of cultural energy, carried the spirit of freedom, and also held the vision of an independent India. He remarked that during the British era, a fashion had emerged to portray India as weak, incompetent, lazy, and idle, and even those educated under colonial influence echoed the same language. The Prime Minister highlighted that Bankim Da shook off this inferiority complex and revealed India’s powerful form through Vande Mataram. He underscored that Bankim Da composed lines which emphasised that Mother India is both the goddess of knowledge and prosperity, and also the fierce Chandika who wields weapons against enemies.

Underscoring that these words, sentiments, and inspirations gave courage to Indians in the despair of slavery, Shri Modi highlighted that these lines made millions of countrymen realize that the struggle was not for a piece of land, nor merely to capture the throne of power, but to break the chains of colonialism and to revive the great traditions, the glorious culture, and the proud history of thousands of years.

Prime Minister stated that the deep connect of Vande Mataram with the masses expressed itself as a long saga of our freedom struggle. He further remarked that whenever a river is mentioned—be it Sindhu, Saraswati, Kaveri, Godavari, Ganga, or Yamuna—it carries with it a stream of culture, a flow of development, and the impact of human life. He emphasized that similarly, every stage of the freedom struggle flowed with the spirit of Vande Mataram, and its shores nurtured that sentiment. The Prime Minister underscored that such poetic expression, where the entire journey of independence was intertwined with the emotions of Vande Mataram, may perhaps never be found anywhere else in the world.

Shri Modi remarked that the British had realized after 1857 that it would be difficult for them to remain in India for long, and with the dreams they had brought, they felt that unless India was divided, unless its people were made to fight among themselves, ruling here would be impossible. He highlighted that the British chose the path of divide and rule and made Bengal its laboratory, as they knew that Bengal’s intellectual strength at that time gave direction, power, and inspiration to the nation, becoming a focal point of India’s collective strength. The Prime Minister stated that this was why the British first worked towards breaking Bengal, believing that once Bengal was divided, the country too would collapse, and they could continue their rule. He recalled that in 1905, when the British committed the sin of partitioning Bengal, Vande Mataram stood firm like a rock. He emphasized that for the unity of Bengal, Vande Mataram became the resonant call in every street, inspiring the people. The Prime Minister underscored that with the partition of Bengal, the British sought to sow deeper seeds of weakening India, but Vande Mataram, as a single voice and unifying thread, became a challenge for the British and a rock of strength for the nation.

The Prime Minister remarked that although the partition of Bengal took place, it gave rise to a massive Swadeshi movement, and at that time Vande Mataram resonated everywhere. He highlighted that the British realized the power of the sentiment created by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, whose song shook their foundations so much that they were compelled to impose legal bans on it. The Prime Minister stated that singing it was punished, printing it was punished, and even uttering the words Vande Mataram invited punishment under harsh laws. He emphasized that hundreds of women led and contributed to the freedom struggle, citing the example of Barisal, where the greatest atrocities were committed for singing Vande Mataram. He recalled that mothers, sisters, and children came forward in Barisal to defend the dignity of Vande Mataram. Shri Modi mentioned the courageous Sarojini Ghosh, who declared that until the ban on Vande Mataram was lifted, she would remove her bangles and not wear them again, a vow of immense significance in those times. He noted that children too were not left behind, as they were flogged, imprisoned at tender ages, yet continued to march in morning processions chanting Vande Mataram, defying the British. He highlighted that in Bengal’s streets, a Bengali song echoed meaning that, "Dear Mother, serving you and chanting Vande Mataram, even if life is lost, that life is blessed,” which became the voice of children and gave courage to the nation.

Shri Modi further recalled that in 1905, in Haritpur village, very young children chanting Vande Mataram were brutally flogged, forced into a struggle between life and death. Similarly, in 1906, children of Neel City High School in Nagpur faced atrocities for the same “crime” of chanting Vande Mataram in unison, proving the power of the mantra through their strength. The Prime Minister underscored that brave sons of India climbed the gallows without fear, with their last breath chanting Vande Mataram—Khudiram Bose, Madanlal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, Roshan Singh, Rajendranath Lahiri, Ramkrishna Biswas, and countless others who embraced the noose with Vande Mataram on their lips. He emphasized that though these sacrifices took place in different prisons, different regions, with different faces and languages, the mantra was one—Vande Mataram, symbolizing one India, a great India. The Prime Minister recalled the Chittagong uprising, where young revolutionaries challenged the British, with names like Hargopal Bal, Pulin Bikash Ghosh, and Tripur Sen shining in history. He noted that when Master Surya Sen was hanged in 1934, he wrote a letter to his comrades, and in it echoed only one word—Vande Mataram.

Underlining that the people of India should feel proud, as nowhere else in world history can there be found a poem or a song that for centuries inspired millions towards a single goal, urging them to dedicate their lives, as Vande Mataram did, Shri Modi emphasized that the world must know that even during the period of colonialism, India produced individuals capable of creating such a profound song of sentiment, which is a wonder for humanity. The Prime Minister stated that we must proclaim this with pride, and then the world too will begin to celebrate it. He underscored that Vande Mataram was the mantra of freedom, the mantra of sacrifice, the mantra of energy, the mantra of purity, the mantra of dedication, the mantra of renunciation and penance, and the mantra that gave strength to endure hardships. He highlighted that this mantra was Vande Mataram. The Prime Minister recalled that Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore had written, “Bound in one thread are thousands of minds, dedicated to one work are thousands of lives—Vande Mataram.”

Noting that during that period, recordings of Vande Mataram reached different parts of the world, and London, which had become a kind of pilgrimage site for revolutionaries, the PM said that people saw Veer Savarkar singing Vande Mataram at India House, where the song echoed repeatedly, serving as a great source of inspiration for those ready to live and die for the nation. He highlighted that at the same time, Bipin Chandra Pal and Maharshi Aurobindo Ghosh launched a newspaper and named it ‘Vande Mataram’, as the song alone was enough to disturb the sleep of the British at every step. The Prime Minister noted that when the British imposed restrictions on newspapers, Madam Bhikaji Cama published a paper in Paris and named it ‘Vande Mataram’.

“Vande Mataram also showed India the path of self-reliance”, exclaimed Shri Modi, highlighting that during that time, from matchboxes to large ships, the tradition of inscribing Vande Mataram became a medium to challenge foreign companies and turned into a mantra of Swadeshi. He emphasized that the mantra of freedom expanded as the mantra of Swadeshi.

Prime Minister recalled another incident from 1907, when V.O. Chidambaram Pillai built a ship for the Swadeshi company and inscribed Vande Mataram on it. He noted that national poet Subramania Bharati translated Vande Mataram into Tamil and composed hymns, with devotion to Vande Mataram clearly visible in many of his patriotic songs. The Prime Minister underscored that Bharati also wrote India’s flag song, which described a flag inscribed with Vande Mataram. He quoted the Tamil verse translated as: “O patriots, behold and respectfully salute, bow to the divine flag of my Mother.”

The Prime Minister remarked that he wished to place before the House the sentiments of Mahatma Gandhi on Vande Mataram. He recalled that in the weekly journal, ‘Indian Opinion’ published from South Africa, Mahatma Gandhi had written on 2 December 1905. Gandhi Ji noted that Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra, had become immensely popular across Bengal, and during the Swadeshi movement, massive gatherings were held where lakhs of people sang Bankim’s song. The Prime Minister highlighted Gandhi Ji’s words stating the song had become so popular that it was almost like the national anthem. Gandhi Ji wrote that its emotions were noble, sweeter than the songs of other nations, and that its sole purpose was to awaken patriotism within us. He emphasized that Gandhi Ji described the song as seeing India as the Mother and venerating her.

The Prime Minister remarked that the Vande Mataram which Mahatma Gandhi had seen as the national anthem in 1905, and which was a source of immense strength for every Indian, both within the country and abroad, later suffered grave injustice in the last century. He questioned why such betrayal occurred with Vande Mataram, why such injustice was done, and which forces were so powerful that they overshadowed even the sentiments of revered Bapu, dragging this sacred inspiration into controversy. Shri Modi emphasized that as we celebrate 150 years of Vande Mataram, it is our duty to inform the new generations about the circumstances that led to this betrayal. He highlighted that the Muslim League’s politics of opposition to Vande Mataram was intensifying, and Mohammed Ali Jinnah raised a slogan against Vande Mataram from Lucknow on 15 October 1937. The Prime Minister stated that instead of firmly countering the baseless statements of the Muslim League and condemning them, Jawaharlal Nehru, then Congress President did not reaffirm his and the Indian National Congress (INC) Party’s commitment to Vande Mataram and began questioning Vande Mataram itself. He recalled that just five days after Jinnah’s opposition, on 20 October 1937, Nehru wrote a letter to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, agreeing with Jinnah’s sentiment and stating that the ‘Anand Math’ background of Vande Mataram could irritate Muslims. The Prime Minister quoted Nehru’s words: “I have read the background of the Vande Mataram song. I feel that this background may provoke Muslims.”

The Prime Minister remarked that following this, a statement came from the Indian National Congress that from 26 October 1937, the Congress Working Committee would meet in Kolkata to review the use of Vande Mataram. He highlighted that it was Bankim Babu’s Bengal, Bankim Babu’s Kolkata, that was chosen for this review. The Prime Minister stated that the entire nation was stunned and shocked, and patriots across the country opposed the proposal by organizing morning processions and singing Vande Mataram. He emphasized that unfortunately, on 26 October 1937, Congress compromised on Vande Mataram, fragmenting it in their decision. He noted that this decision was cloaked under the guise of social harmony, but history bears witness that INC bowed before the Muslim League and acted under its pressure, adopting a politics of appeasement.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister remarked that under the pressure of appeasement politics, Congress bent for the division of Vande Mataram, and therefore one day had to bend for the partition of India. He asserted that INC had outsourced its decisions, and regrettably, its policies remain unchanged. The Prime Minister criticized the opposition & its allies for resorting to appeasement politics and continued attempts to create controversies around Vande Mataram.

The Prime Minister remarked that the true character of any nation is revealed not in its good times but during periods of challenge and crisis, when it is tested and proven on the touchstone of resilience, strength, and capability. He highlighted that after independence in 1947, while the country’s challenges and priorities changed, the spirit and life force of the nation remained the same, continuing to inspire. The Prime Minister emphasized that whenever India faced crises, the nation advanced with the spirit of Vande Mataram. He noted that even today, on occasions like 15 August and 26 January, the sentiment is visible everywhere as the tricolour flies proudly in every home. He recalled that during the food crisis, it was the spirit of Vande Mataram that inspired farmers to fill the nation’s granaries. He stated that when attempts were made to crush India’s freedom, when the Constitution was stabbed and Emergency imposed, it was the strength of Vande Mataram that enabled the nation to rise and overcome. The Prime Minister underscored that whenever wars were thrust upon the country, whenever struggles arose, it was the spirit of Vande Mataram that made soldiers stand firm at the borders, ensuring the flag of Mother India continued to wave in victory. He further remarked that even during the global crisis of COVID-19, the nation stood with the same spirit, defeated the challenge, and moved forward.

The Prime Minister remarked that this is the strength of the nation, a powerful flow of energy that connects the country with emotions, a stream of consciousness, and a reflection of the unbroken cultural current that propels progress. “Vande Mataram is not merely a period of remembrance but a time to draw new energy and inspiration, and to dedicate ourselves to it”, emphasised Shri Modi, reiterating that the nation owes a debt to Vande Mataram, which created the path that brought us here, and therefore it is our duty to honor it. The Prime Minister highlighted that India has the capability to overcome every challenge, and the spirit of Vande Mataram embodies that strength. He stated that Vande Mataram is not just a song or a hymn, but a source of inspiration that awakens us to our duties towards the nation, and must be continuously upheld. He underscored that as we pursue the dream of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Vande Mataram remains our inspiration. He noted that while times and forms may change, the sentiment expressed by Mahatma Gandhi continues to hold strength even today, and Vande Mataram unites us. The Prime Minister remarked that the dream of the great leaders was of an independent India, while the dream of today’s generation is of a prosperous India. He emphasized that just as the spirit of Vande Mataram nurtured the dream of freedom, it will also nurture the dream of prosperity. He called upon all to move forward with this sentiment, to build a self-reliant India, and to achieve the vision of a developed India by 2047. He stated that if 50 years before independence someone could dream of a free India, then 25 years before 2047 we too can dream of a prosperous and developed India, and dedicate ourselves to realizing it. The Prime Minister concluded that with this mantra and resolve, Vande Mataram will continue to inspire, reminding us of our debt, guiding us with its spirit, and uniting the nation to fulfill this dream. He expressed confidence that this discussion will become a reason to fill the nation with sentiment, inspire the country, and energize the new generation, and he conveyed his deep gratitude for the opportunity.

Vande Mataram energised our freedom movement. pic.twitter.com/mVIsgP9ReC

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

It is a matter of pride for all of us that we are witnessing 150 years of Vande Mataram. pic.twitter.com/flDfMayNkQ

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

Vande Mataram is the force that drives us to achieve the dreams our freedom fighters envisioned. pic.twitter.com/E8Wz4JOk5C

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

Vande Mataram rekindled an idea deeply rooted in India for thousands of years. pic.twitter.com/jTOLlgoeyO

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

वंदेमातरम् में हजारों वर्ष की सांस्कृतिक ऊर्जा भी थी, इसमें आजादी का जज्बा भी था और आजाद भारत का विजन भी था। pic.twitter.com/Iccb21NsP4

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

The deep connection of Vande Mataram with the people reflects the journey of our freedom movement. pic.twitter.com/dMp9jbZMsJ

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

Vande Mataram gave strength and direction to our freedom movement. pic.twitter.com/2gLniGt4Sa

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025

Vande Mataram! pic.twitter.com/QRAYjrjPp8

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 8, 2025