Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a veiled attack on the Congress, saying important verses of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ were removed in 1937 which sowed the seeds of partition and such “divisive mentality” is still a challenge for the country.
Prime Minister Modi made these comments while inaugurating the year-long commemoration of 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. Modi also released a commemorative postage stamp and coin at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium here on the occasion.
Modi said, “Vande Mataram became the voice of India’s freedom struggle.” It expressed the sentiments of every Indian. Unfortunately in 1937 the important verses of Vande Mataram…his soul was taken out. The division of Vande Mataram also sowed the seeds of division. Today’s generation needs to know why this injustice happened to this great mantra of nation building… This divisive mentality is still a challenge for the country.
Describing ‘Vande Mataram’ as relevant in every era, the Prime Minister said in a clear reference to Operation Sindoor, “When the enemy had the audacity to attack our security and honor using terrorism, the world saw that India knew how to take the form of Durga.” He said that today when the country is completing 150 years of ‘Vande Mataram’, it “gives us new inspiration and fills the countrymen with new energy”.
He said, “Vande Mataram is a word, a mantra, an energy, a dream, a resolution. This is dedication to Mother India, worship of Mother India. It connects us to our history and gives new courage to our future. There is no resolution that cannot be fulfilled, there is no goal that we Indians cannot achieve. We have to build a nation which is at the top on the basis of knowledge, science and technology.
The event marks the formal beginning of a year-long nationwide commemoration to be observed from November 7, 2025, to November 7, 2026. The commemoration will celebrate 150 years of the classic work that inspired India’s independence movement and played a vital role in maintaining national pride and unity.
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee composed the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ on 7 November 1875 on the occasion of Akshaya Navami. ‘Vande Mataram’ was first published in the literary magazine ‘Bangadarshan’ as a part of Chatterjee’s novel ‘Anandamath’.
