Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram, highlighting its role in India’s freedom movement and its enduring cultural significance. Modi expressed gratitude to the House for collectively commemorating the occasion and emphasized that Vande Mataram inspired generations to sacrifice for the nation.

The Prime Minister traced the song’s origins to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, noting it emerged after the 1857 revolt as a response to British oppression. He highlighted how the song, incorporated into the novel Anandamath in 1882, revived India’s cultural and spiritual ethos, portraying Mother India as both nurturing and fierce.
Modi recounted the pivotal role of Vande Mataram during colonial resistance, particularly during the 1905 Bengal Partition and the Swadeshi movement, when the song became a unifying call against British divide-and-rule policies. He praised the courage of countless revolutionaries, women, and children who faced imprisonment, flogging, and death while chanting the song, including figures like Khudiram Bose, Madanlal Dhingra, Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqulla Khan, and Master Surya Sen.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the global reach of Vande Mataram, mentioning its adoption by revolutionaries abroad, including Veer Savarkar at India House in London, and its role in Swadeshi initiatives like V.O. Chidambaram Pillai’s shipbuilding efforts. He recalled that luminaries such as Rabindranath Tagore, Subramania Bharati, and Mahatma Gandhi recognized the song’s inspirational power.
Modi criticized historical opposition to Vande Mataram, particularly by the Muslim League and the Congress’s appeasement policies in 1937, which he said compromised the song’s unifying spirit. He emphasized that despite such challenges, Vande Mataram continued to inspire national resilience, from independence struggles to modern-day challenges like wars, the Emergency, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Prime Minister concluded that Vande Mataram is more than a song—it is a source of inspiration, unity, and national energy, guiding India towards self-reliance and prosperity. He urged all members to honor the song’s legacy and ensure its spirit motivates future generations as India approaches 2047, the centenary of its independence