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New Delhi: The Lok Sabha is all set to hold a special discussion on the 150 years of India’s national song ‘Vande Mataram’ on Monday. Various lesser-known facts are likely to be revealed during the debate in the Lower House of Parliament. PM Narendra Modi will initiate the debate.
The song was composed in Sanskrit by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875. It was first published in the journal Bangadarshan, before being included in his 1882 novel Anandamath. The song went on to become an anthem of courage and unity across the country, inspiring freedom fighters during the struggle for the country’s independence.
Earlier, on October 1, the Centre had decided to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the song across the country, which fell on December 7. To mark the occasion, the BJP-led government initiated the discussion for Monday. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister are expected to be in the Parliament during the debate.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also expected to address the House during the discussion. He had earlier accused the Congress a few stanzas of the song before the independence. “In 1937, crucial verses of ‘Vande Mataram’, a part of its soul, were severed. ‘Vande Mataram’ was broken, torn into pieces," the PM had said without naming anyone, while reciting all six stanzas of the song.
It may be noted here that while the original Vande Mataram song has six stanzas, only the first two paragraphs of the song were adopted as the national song since they were purely devotional. Earlier on November 7, the PM launched a year-long Vande Mataram celebration to mark the milestone.
A discussion on the song is likely to set the political narrative during the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament. Importantly, the opposition remains divided over the issue. While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has supported the discussion, the Congress questioned the timing of the debate. It called the timing of the discussion a ploy of the Centre to shift the discussion from SIR and other issues it wants to be debated in the Parliament.
