Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday revisited the longstanding debate surrounding the national song “Vande Mataram”, arguing that the decision to omit several of its original stanzas in 1937 was not merely a literary or political choice but a moment that shaped India’s history in profound and damaging ways. According to the prime minister, the “division” of the song—composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and central to the freedom struggle—allowed the seeds of partition to take root. His remarks came during the inauguration of a year-long commemoration marking 150 years since the creation of the song, a programme that will extend until November 7, 2026.

Modi described “Vande Mataram” as a foundational text of India’s nationalist consciousness, embodied with philosophical, cultural, and emotional depth. He said that from the late nineteenth century to the final decades of the freedom struggle, its call to “Mother India” was not merely poetic, but a forceful articulation of unity and resistance. However, he added that in 1937, when the Congress decided that only two of the original six stanzas would be sung publicly or considered for official use, it stripped the song of key verses that carried spiritual symbolism, especially references to Goddess Durga. According to him, this was not an isolated act but a political concession with long-term consequences.

Addressing the gathering at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi, where the celebration was launched with cultural performances, mass singing of the complete song, and the release of commemorative materials, Modi said the “severing” of the stanzas reflected a divisive mindset. He argued that this mindset later contributed to the ideological climate that made partition possible. Commenting on the relevance for the present, he said such thinking continues to pose a challenge to India’s unity and must be confronted with clarity.

The prime minister’s remarks came just hours after senior BJP leaders alleged that former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru had “deliberately” ensured that the stanzas praising Durga were removed from public versions of the song. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan accused the Congress of committing a “historic sin”, asserting that the nationalist message of “Vande Mataram” was compromised due to an unnecessary conflation with religious sensitivities. Kesavan cited a 1937 letter reportedly written by Nehru, which he claimed reflects disdain toward interpreting the song’s words as invocations of divine power.

As Modi addressed the audience, he framed “Vande Mataram” as an embodiment of India’s concept of the nation as mother—a civilisational and cultural idea that goes beyond territorial boundaries. According to him, the text’s vision of India as a source of knowledge, virtue, prosperity, and power shaped the psychological foundations of the freedom struggle and continues to influence the nation. He described “Vande Mataram” as a word that carries the weight of a mantra, a dream, and a national resolve.

In the context of India’s security and contemporary challenges, Modi referred to Operation Sindoor and the government’s response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack earlier this year. He said that while India embodies compassion and service—likened to the qualities of “Kamala” and “Vimala”—it is equally capable of taking the form of Durga when confronted with violence or threats to national integrity. The prime minister portrayed this dual nature as integral to understanding the spirit behind “Vande Mataram” and as an attribute of India’s evolving identity in global affairs.

He further said that the 150th anniversary of the song should not be reduced to ritual observances but should inspire reflection and renewed commitment. According to him, the forward-looking goal is building a modern nation grounded in scientific temperament, technological capability, and cultural self-confidence. He said that India must draw strength from historical memories while aspiring to global leadership in innovation and development.

The political debate surrounding the song has resurfaced repeatedly over the years, but the latest exchange has taken a sharper tone. The BJP accused Congress of distorting the legacy of “Vande Mataram” for political reasons nearly nine decades ago, while Congress countered that the ruling party is “misusing” the song’s anniversary for political polarisation. The Maharashtra unit of Congress said that the BJP’s commentary amounts to “hypocritical nationalism” and argued that the 150-year milestone should have been an occasion for unifying celebrations rather than partisan attacks.

Historically, “Vande Mataram” was first published in November 1875 in the literary journal Bangadarshan and later included in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s novel “Anandamath” in 1882. It became one of the most powerful cultural rallying points of India’s independence movement and was popularly sung at meetings and protests across the subcontinent. In January 1950, the Constituent Assembly officially adopted it as India’s national song.

The controversy surrounding the 1937 truncation stems from the Indian National Congress’s decision to adopt only the first two stanzas due to objections raised by certain Muslim organisations at the time, who argued that the verses personifying the nation as a goddess conflicted with their religious doctrines. Congress leaders, in an attempt to maintain harmony, chose the shorter version for formal settings. This decision has remained contested in the historical and political discourse of independent India.

Modi’s remarks represent one of the strongest public statements by a sitting prime minister linking the 1937 decision directly to the broader environment that led to partition. His speech attempted to draw a line from cultural concessions made during the national movement to divisions that hardened by the mid-1940s. Political observers note that by placing the issue in this context, Modi’s comments may influence current debates on cultural nationalism, identity, and secularism, themes that continue to shape India’s political landscape.

The government’s year-long celebration of the song’s 150th anniversary aims to revive public engagement with its full text, history, and influence. Events are planned across educational institutions, cultural centres, and public venues. A digital portal, a commemorative stamp, and a coin have already been released as part of the initiative. The programme includes teaching modules, exhibitions, lectures, and community-level recitations aimed at encouraging appreciation of the complete song and its historical significance.

The renewed attention on “Vande Mataram” has placed the early twentieth-century debates under a contemporary spotlight and reinforced the ideological contestation between India’s ruling party and the principal opposition. Whether this moment yields a broader national reflection or intensifies political disagreement remains to be seen, but the prime minister’s remarks have ensured that the conversation will continue well into the commemorative year.