Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Parliament on Monday in the winter session of the Lok Sabha. He started the discussion on the special debate on the occasion of completion of 150 years of Vande Mataram today. In his address, PM Modi said, it is our good fortune to remember the virtue of Vande Mataram, the mantra, the slogan that had energized the country’s freedom movement, inspired it, shown the path of sacrifice and penance. It is a matter of pride that we are witnessing this historic occasion on completion of 150 years of Vande Mataram.
PM Modi further said that, such a period of time, which brings before us countless incidents of history. This discussion will not only reveal the commitment of the House, but can also become a cause of education for the coming generation. If we all use it together. Just now we proudly celebrated 75 years of the Constitution. PM Modi said that the country is also celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda and Sardar Patel. Also celebrated the 350th martyrdom day of Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. The journey of Vande Mataram of 150 years has passed through many stages.
PM Modi targeted the opposition
Taking aim at the opposition, PM Modi said, when Vande Mataram completed 50 years, the country was forced to live in slavery. When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, the country was in the chains of Emergency. Then the Constitution of India was strangled. When Vande Mataram turned 100, people who lived and died for patriotism were put behind bars. Then a dark period came to light.
PM Modi said that 150 years is an opportunity to re-establish that great chapter, that glory. This is Vande Mataram, which brought independence to the country in 1947. The emotional leadership of the freedom struggle was in the slogan of Vande Mataram. This is a sacred festival for all of us public representatives to accept the colors of Vande Mataram.
‘Vande Mataram had scared the British’- PM Modi
PM Modi said that the British had made a strategy to weaken India during the partition of Bengal, but Vande Mataram emerged as a bigger movement than this. He said that this song of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay became a challenge for the British and fearing its impact, the British government had to ban it. He reminded that at that time the youth were given jail, flogging and punishment for chanting Vande Mataram, but instead of getting scared, people kept singing it with more courage.
Women and children should also become voices – PM Modi
Citing the example of Sarojini Bose, Modi said that she had removed her gold bangles in protest against the ban on Vande Mataram, which was a big social message for women at that time. He said that small children went to jail chanting “Vande Mataram” and in villages like Haripur the British whipped them, but the voice did not stop.
Reference to Gandhi, Tagore and Savarkar
PM Modi told that Mahatma Gandhi had written an article in 1905 saying that Vande Mataram has become as popular as the national anthem and its purpose is to awaken patriotism among Indians. Referring to the words of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, he said that this song was going to bind millions of Indians together. The Prime Minister said that in Paris, Bhikaji Cama published a newspaper named Vande Mataram and under the leadership of Veer Savarkar, this song was repeatedly echoed in the India House in London.
Who did injustice to Vande Mataram?
PM Modi said that at one point in history, Vande Mataram was made controversial. He said that after the opposition of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1937, Jawaharlal Nehru revised Vande Mataram under the pressure of Muslim League. According to the Prime Minister, Congress compromised in the name of social harmony and Vande Mataram was divided into two parts. Modi said, “History is witness to the fact that the Congress bowed down to the Muslim League and chose the politics of appeasement. And this mentality ultimately led to the partition of India.”
Vande Mataram is still a source of national energy – PM Modi
At the end of his address, the Prime Minister said that even today the spirit of patriotism is alive with Vande Mataram on 15 August, 26 January and in the Tricolor campaign in every house. He said that this song is a symbol of national consciousness, sacrifice and inspiration and the coming generations should know its real history. The Prime Minister said, we should proudly say – Vande Mataram. This is not just a song, it is a mantra of patriotism.