A special discussion is going to begin in Parliament today on the occasion of completion of 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally launch this debate in the Lok Sabha today during the winter session. Time of 10 hours has been fixed for this debate. This topic will also be discussed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, which will be initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
The song Vande Mataram was composed by the great litterateur Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay on 7 November 1875 and was first published in his novel ‘Anandamath’ (1882). It became the battle cry of Swaraj in the anti-secession movement of 1905. The British government even banned this song. Rabindranath Tagore first sang it publicly at the Congress session held in Calcutta in 1896.
PM Modi will initiate the debate on ‘Vande Mataram’ in the Lok Sabha today, in which he will present his views on the song’s historical importance, contribution to the freedom struggle and cultural relevance. In this special discussion to be held in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Modi will highlight the cultural impact of ‘Vande Mataram’, its role in the freedom movement and its contribution to the spirit of nationalism. Many leaders of opposition parties will also participate in this debate. Before the conclusion of the debate, the Defense Minister will also present his views.
BJP leaders and MPs are excited about the discussion on Vande Mataram. Speaking to ANI, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that if Vande Mataram will not be discussed in the temple of India’s largest democracy, then where will it happen? Taking aim at Congress, he said that some people do not believe in Vande Mataram but they believe in Babri Masjid. He said that Vande Mataram is completing 150 years, it is India’s heritage and it should be discussed.
At the same time, Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that the Vande Mataram song formed a major component of India’s freedom struggle. Vande Mataram played a huge role in the freedom struggle taking place in different ways at different places in such a vast country. Later Vande Mataram emerged as the greeting to the last words of the freedom fighters of the country. He said that later Vande Mataram also became a victim of politics. There is going to be a debate on this in the Lok Sabha today and today will be an unforgettable day in the democratic history of India.
Regarding this debate, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said that if what you forget in the morning returns home in the evening, then it is not called forgetting. He said that Vande Mataram had a very important contribution in the freedom struggle fought under the leadership of the Indian National Congress. It is a different matter that when the freedom struggle was going on under the leadership of the Congress Party, the mother organization of BJP and its affiliated organizations were flattering the British. He said that now they should get rid of that guilt and if today in that discussion they accept that Vande Mataram was the inspiration and basic mantra of the freedom struggle, then perhaps some of the sins of that time will be washed away. He said that the program of Congress Seva Dal itself starts with Vande Mataram, the session of Indian National Congress also starts with Vande Mataram.
Talking to ANI, RJD leader Manoj Jha said that regarding the debate on Vande Mataram, when we have such a discussion, the present should also be evaluated. Is the nationalism quoted in Vande Mataram today an exclusionary nationalism or an inclusive nationalism? How successful we have been in addressing the challenges facing us. He said that reflection is a very important aspect of celebration and we often miss it. We have to evaluate where we were and where we have reached. The RJD leader said that we have to think whether this is a moment of pride or a moment of course correction.
