Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hailed Vande Mataram as a “powerful mantra” that energised and inspired India’s freedom struggle, calling its 150th anniversary a historic milestone for the nation. Addressing a special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the sixth day of the Parliament Winter Session, PM Modi said that the government aims to “restore the glory of Vande Mataram for future generations.”
As the Prime Minister entered the House, members of the ruling party greeted him with chants of “Vande Mataram,” setting a patriotic tone for the proceedings.
PM Modi described Vande Mataram as a guiding force during the independence movement, embodying courage, sacrifice, determination, and devotion. “It is a matter of pride that we are witnessing 150 years of Vande Mataram. Remembering this sacred mantra today is a great privilege for all of us,” he said.
The Prime Minister linked the occasion to several historic milestones being celebrated this year, including 75 years of the Constitution, the 150th birth anniversaries of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Birsa Munda, and the 350th martyrdom year of Guru Teg Bahadur. Together, he said, these reflect India’s long-standing traditions of unity, sacrifice, and nation-building.
PM Modi also invoked the 1975 Emergency, recalling that the 100th anniversary of Vande Mataram had coincided with what he described as “a dark calamity” in India’s democratic history. He said the Constitution was “throttled,” patriots were imprisoned, and the spirit of democracy was suppressed. Treasury benches responded with chants of “shame.”
“When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, India was in the clutches of the Emergency. At that time, the patriots were jailed, and the country witnessed a black period,” he said, adding that the 150th anniversary marks an opportunity to reclaim pride in this iconic symbol of resistance and unity.
Slamming the opposition for remaining absent during the discussion, PM Modi said the moment demanded collective participation. “We are here to acknowledge the debt of Vande Mataram collectively. This song united the nation from North to South and East to West. The time has come to unite again.”
He urged lawmakers to draw inspiration from the mantra to fulfil the dreams of freedom fighters and reaffirm India’s resolve to become a self-reliant and developed nation by 2047.
PM Modi said that commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram is not merely a tribute to history but a reaffirmation of India’s democratic spirit, ensuring that the lessons of the past continue to guide the nation’s future.
The BJP-led NDA has been allotted three hours for its participation in the debate, while a total of ten hours has been reserved for discussions across both Houses. The 6th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha began on December 1 and will conclude on December 19.
(With agency inputs)
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