On Monday, December 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated a discussion in the Lok Sabha regarding India’s national song Vande Mataram, marking its 150th anniversary.
He highlighted the significance of Vande Mataram in India’s struggle for freedom and remarked that the Congress had ‘to bow’ for the Partition. He also noted that India was under Emergency when the song celebrated its centenary.
Here are the key quotes from PM Modi’s address on the Vande Mataram discussion:
1. “It is a great honor for all of us to honor Vande Mataram, the chant that invigorated the nation’s freedom movement and illuminated the path of sacrifice and resolve.”
2. “Vande Mataram was penned by Bankim Babu during a time when British rulers were imposing their anthem, God Save the Queen, on every household.”
3. “Vande Mataram revived a sentiment that had been deeply ingrained in Bharatvarsha for millennia. It embodies the cultural essence of our history, infused with the zeal for freedom and a vision for an Independent India.”
4. “In 1905, when the British committed the grave error of partitioning Bengal, Vande Mataram stood resilient during those tumultuous times.”
5. “Many brave sons of Bharat Mata faced the gallows with Vande Mataram on their lips. Even at their final moments, Vande Mataram was their rallying cry.”
Read more: PM Modi claims Vande Mataram was a battle cry against British oppression, empowering India’s freedom struggle
6. “Vande Mataram provided strength and guidance to our fight for freedom. Its profound connection with the populace epitomizes the journey of our independence movement.”
7. “Vande Mataram also illuminated the path to self-reliance. It emerged as a mantra to counter foreign corporations, expanding the notion of Independence into the ethos of Swadeshi.”
8. “Due to appeasement politics, the Congress capitulated to the division of Vande Mataram, ultimately leading to their acceptance of the Partition of India.”
9. “When Vande Mataram reached its 50th year, the country was still under colonial rule, and at its 100th anniversary, the nation faced Emergency.”
10. “Vande Mataram represented more than a mere political independence mantra. It transcended our independence; it was a fight to liberate our homeland from the grip of servitude.”
Read more: ‘What is the need for this debate today’? Priyanka Gandhi on ‘Vande Mataram’ discussions in LS
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: Dec 8, 2025 7:06 PM IST
