During his address in Lok Sabha on the occasion of 150 years of Vande Mataram, PM Modi highlighted that when the song marked its 50th anniversary, India was still under colonial governance, and upon its 100th year, the nation was facing an emergency.
“When Vande Mataram reached its 50-year milestone, the country was under colonial rule, and at its centenary, India was under Emergency,” stated PM Modi.
“We find ourselves here because countless individuals chanted Vande Mataram and fought for our Independence. Commemorating the revered Vande Mataram today is a significant honor for all of us in this House,” he added.
The Prime Minister further observed that Vande Mataram was composed at a time when the British authorities were attempting to introduce their anthem ‘God Save the Queen’ into every home.
PM Modi indicated that the song served to unite all citizens and emphasized the need to come together once more to achieve the vision of ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.
“There is no distinction between leadership and opposition here. We are all gathered to collectively appreciate and recognize our indebtedness to Vande Mataram. It is thanks to this song that we are united today. This is a sacred moment for us to honor the legacy of Vande Mataram,” he said.
“It unified the nation from North to South and East to West. The moment has arrived to unite again and progress together. This song should inspire and invigorate us to realize the aspirations of our freedom fighters. We need to reaffirm our commitment to making our nation self-sufficient and advanced by 2047,” PM added.
“Vande Mataram was not merely a call for political freedom. It transcended our independence; it represented a broader struggle. The freedom movement was a battle to liberate our motherland from the grips of oppression,” he concluded.
