PM Modi accuses Congress of distorting Vande Mataram by removing key stanzas in 1937, alleging the move sowed early seeds of Partition. Heated Lok Sabha debate reignites historical controversy over the national song’s legacy and political interpretations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a strong political attack on the Congress Party during a special Lok Sabha discussion commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram. The Prime Minister accused the Congress of diluting the national song in 1937 and aligning with objections raised by Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League, a decision he said “sowed the seeds of Partition”.
The controversy resurfaced after PM Modi referred to a truncated version of Vande Mataram during the November 7 inauguration of the nationwide sesquicentennial celebrations. His remarks triggered immediate political reactions as the Congress defended the historical circumstances behind the decision made nearly nine decades ago.
According to historical accounts, the Faizabad session of the Congress in 1937 adopted a shortened version of the song after concerns were raised by the Muslim League, which argued that certain stanzas contained religious imagery that could alienate Muslim citizens. PM Modi, however, alleged that the Congress leadership at the time succumbed to communal pressure, compromising the cultural and patriotic essence of the song.
During the debate in the Lok Sabha, PM Modi accused Jawaharlal Nehru of following Jinnah’s stance by supporting the removal of stanzas considered “controversial”. Modi claimed Nehru believed the hymn might “irritate Muslims”, a position the Prime Minister described as an early example of Congress’ “appeasement politics”.
The Congress, however, countered by highlighting that the decision was taken by the Congress Working Committee after a detailed deliberation. The panel then included prominent freedom movement leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Rajendra Prasad, Abul Kalam Azad and Sarojini Naidu. The party argued that the move followed the advice of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, who had earlier expressed concerns regarding the suitability of the full song for national use.
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking during the debate, emphasized that the original verse composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in 1875 remains unchanged as part of the official National Song. She explained that when Chattopadhyay later included the hymn in his 1882 novel Anandamath, he expanded it with additional stanzas reflecting the fictional narrative and the emotional journey of the characters.
The novel Anandamath centers around a group of Sanyasis—ascetic warriors—who consider themselves “Santan”, or children of their Motherland. The Sanyasis worshipped the motherland as a divine entity, personifying her in three forms: the Mother who was glorious, the Mother in distress, and the Mother who would eventually be restored to her former glory.
In the novel, the character Bhabananda chants the celebrated opening stanza: “Vande Mataram; Sujalaṃ suphalaṃ; Malayajasitalam; Sasyasyamalam; Mataram.” This verse praises the motherland’s natural beauty, fertility and abundance. As Bhabananda sings further verses describing the Mother’s radiant splendour and divine attributes, he is interrupted by the protagonist, Mahendra, who initially misunderstands the intent of the hymn. Bhabananda explains the motto “Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi”, underscoring that devotion to the motherland surpasses all personal ties.
Sections referencing the Motherland in divine form were later objected to by Jinnah and the Muslim League, who argued that these stanzas reflected Hindu goddess imagery. The dispute contributed to the Congress decision to adopt only the first two stanzas as the national song—a decision that remains a matter of historical debate even eight decades after Independence.
PM Modi, linking past political decisions with later events, said the Congress’ approach to Vande Mataram mirrored its “continued compromises”, citing the 1975 Emergency as an example. He asserted that just as the democratic rights of citizens were suppressed then, the cultural heritage represented by Vande Mataram had been suppressed earlier.
Calling the hymn a “mantra of sacrifice, unity and resilience”, PM Modi urged Parliament to preserve its legacy for future generations. He emphasized that the sesquicentennial celebration provides an opportunity to revive the patriotic spirit that inspired India’s struggle for freedom.
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As the political battle intensifies, Vande Mataram—a song that once united India’s freedom fighters—has once again emerged as a defining flashpoint in the nation’s political landscape.
