Vande Mataram is not just a movement for the freedom struggle, but also a vision for independent India: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the song 'Vande Mataram', which became the mantra of freedom fighters during the freedom movement, not only disturbed the sleep of the British but also created an atmosphere of enthusiasm and excitement throughout India, which became not only a mantra of freedom but also a vision for independent India.

On Monday, while initiating a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of the song 'Vande Mataram', Mr. Modi said that this song became a call for freedom and every citizen was fighting against the British, influenced by this song. The new atmosphere created in the country by this song made the British nervous, so they banned the song and started persecuting people for singing it, considering it a crime.

He said that 'Vande Mataram' was a period when many impressive examples of history were present before the country. When 'Vande Mataram' completed 100 years, its centenary ceremony should have been celebrated with great fanfare, but at that time, the country was pushed into an emergency and the citizens of the country were being strangled. The country was pushed into the dark era of emergency when 'Vande Mataram', which strengthened the freedom movement of the country, completed 100 years.

The Prime Minister said, "There is no ruling party or opposition in the discussion on 'Vande Mataram' because we are all sitting here due to the movement inspired by this song, and it is a sacred festival for all of us. The freedom struggle was fought with the spirit of 'Vande Mataram', and with the spirit of this song, the freedom lovers of the country were sacrificing their lives for the country."

He said that 'Vande Mataram' was written at a time when the British Empire was shaken by the revolution of 1857, and the great personalities of the country were being forced. When the voice of 'Vande Mataram' was echoing everywhere and a big conspiracy was going on to keep the country enslaved, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was challenging this situation. When he wrote the novel 'Anand Math' in 1882, he included the song 'Vande Mataram', which awakened the feeling of freedom in the country. The country's people had a spirit, a culture that was given a great gift to the country through the song 'Vande Mataram'. 'Vande Mataram' was not just a mantra of freedom struggle, not just a mantra to drive out the British, but it was also a sacred war to free this land from chains.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of betraying 'Vande Mataram', saying that the Congress bowed down to the Muslim League under the pressure of appeasement politics. Mr. Modi said, while initiating a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the completion of 150 years of the national song 'Vande Mataram' on Monday, that the politics of opposition to 'Vande Mataram' by the Muslim League was intensifying. When Muhammad Ali Jinnah raised a slogan against 'Vande Mataram' in Lucknow on October 15, 1937, then Congress President Jawaharlal Nehru saw his throne of government shaking. Instead of responding to the Muslim League and showing Congress's loyalty to 'Vande Mataram', Jawaharlal Nehru started examining 'Vande Mataram' itself.

He said that five days after the opposition, on October 20, Jawaharlal Nehru wrote a letter to Subhas Chandra Bose, in which he expressed his agreement with Jinnah's sentiments, saying that the song could hurt the sentiments of Muslims. He said that in the letter written to Subhas Chandra Bose, Jawaharlal Nehru said that he had read the background of 'Vande Mataram' and felt that it would provoke Muslims. After this, a statement came from the Congress that the Working Committee meeting of the Congress would review 'Vande Mataram' from October 26. The whole country was surprised by this. Processions were taken out in protest across the country. Unfortunately, the Congress compromised on 'Vande Mataram'. 'Vande Mataram' was divided into pieces. The Congress bowed down to the Muslim League.

The Prime Minister said that due to the pressure of appeasement politics, the Congress compromised on 'Vande Mataram', which is why the Congress had to bow down to the division of India one day. The Prime Minister said that unfortunately, the policies of the Congress are still the same today. Even today, the Congress and its allies try to create controversy over 'Vande Mataram'.

Mr. Modi said, "I want to present before the House the feelings of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, on 'Vande Mataram'. At that time, an Indian Opinion magazine was published from South Africa, in which Mahatma Gandhi wrote on December 2, 1905, that the song 'Vande Mataram' written by Bankim Chandra has become extremely popular in the whole of Bengal. Big meetings were held in support of the Swadeshi movement, where lakhs of people sang this song. He wrote that this song has become so popular that it has become like our national anthem. It is sweeter than the songs of other nations. It looks at India as a mother and praises her."

He said that the 'Vande Mataram' which Mahatma Gandhi considered as a national anthem, was such a great song, so why was it treated with such great injustice in the last century? Why was there betrayal with it? What force was it that weighed heavily on the revered Father and dragged 'Vande Mataram' into controversies? We must tell the new generation about these circumstances, why 'Vande Mataram' was betrayed.

He said that 'Vande Mataram' gave courage to the country. The voice that emerged from the streets of Bengal became the voice of the country. He said that our brave freedom fighters used to climb the gallows without any fear and would raise the slogan of 'Vande Mataram' at the last moment. He said that countless brave sons endured atrocities but had only one slogan - 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat'. He said that when Master Surya Sen was hanged, he wrote a letter to his companions, in which there was only one echo - 'Vande Mataram'.

The Prime Minister said that there cannot be a song in the world that affects for centuries, but 'Vande Mataram' is still affecting us today. It had a mantra of our freedom, sacrifice, energy, passion, and dedication. The popularity of 'Vande Mataram' reached the world at that time, and Veer Savarkar sang this song at India House in London. At the same time, Bipin Chandra Pal published a newspaper named 'Vande Mataram'. 'Vande Mataram' was enough to disturb the sleep of the British at every step. Madam Bhikaji Cama also published the 'Vande Mataram' newspaper. 'Vande Mataram' showed India the path to self-reliance. At that time, 'Vande Mataram' was written from matchboxes to ships. It became the mantra of Swadeshi.

He said that national poet Subramania Bharati wrote 'Vande Mataram' in Tamil. His many songs reflect devotion to 'Vande Mataram'. Mr. Bharati also wrote the song 'Jhanda Ooncha Rahe Hamara'. He said that when there is a time of crisis, it is known how powerful we are. After 1947, the challenges of the country changed, but the country's enthusiasm remained the same. Whenever a crisis came, India moved forward with 'Vande Mataram'. There was a time when a food crisis came in the country, then the farmers filled the country with grain. Even in the Corona crisis, the country stood up and moved forward with the same spirit. 'Vande Mataram' should not be just a reminder for us, but a resolve. We owe a debt to the people for 'Vande Mataram'. India has the power to overcome every challenge. This is a movement for us. We are moving forward with the dream of 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat'.