Today is going to add another important chapter in the history of Parliament. A special discussion has been organized in the Lok Sabha on the completion of 150 years of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. But, the discussion which should have been merely historical and cultural, now has every chance of turning into a big political battle. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to reveal some unheard facts and new secrets related to ‘Vande Mataram’ in the Parliament, which will directly put the historic decisions of Congress in the dock.
Composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee (Chattopadhyay) in the 1870s and later becoming a part of his novel ‘Anandmath’, this song served as a lifesaver in the Indian freedom struggle. Now after 150 years, the Modi government at the Center is preparing to present it not just as a song, but as a big symbol of ‘cultural nationalism’.
10 hour marathon brainstorming in Parliament
- About 10 hours of time has been set for this discussion in the agenda of the Lok Sabha. Veteran leaders like Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh are expected to speak during the beginning and conclusion of the discussion. However, all eyes are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address.
- According to sources, in his speech, PM Modi will not only pay tribute to the legacy of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, but will also attack the historical mistake or conspiracy (as BJP believes) under which this song was ‘broken’ before independence.
The controversy of 1937, which PM Modi will revive
- The most explosive aspect of this discussion will be the mention of the events of 1937. PM Modi has already alleged from many forums that Congress did not do justice to ‘Vande Mataram’ due to appeasement politics.
- Actually, the original ‘Vande Mataram’ has a total of six stanzas. But in 1937, when Congress adopted it as the national anthem, only the first two verses were accepted. The logic behind this was that the first two verses describe the natural beauty of the motherland (Sujlaan, Suphalan…) and are completely secular. Whereas in the later verses the country is portrayed as ‘Maa Durga’ and a ‘goddess’, which could have conflicted with the monotheistic beliefs (Tawheed) of the Muslim community.
- BJP believes that in 1937 this song was divided into pieces and a part of it was broken. On Monday, PM Modi can present those hidden facts on the table of Parliament as to how and under what circumstances this decision was taken and how it affected the cultural unity of the country. It is expected that PM Modi can mention all the six verses in the House, due to which the opposition may be uncomfortable.
Congress’s counterattack: Tagore’s armor and demand for ‘apology’
On the other hand, Congress has also prepared its strategy to face this attack. The Congress argues that the decision to adopt only two verses of the song was taken not just by politicians but on the advice of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore.
Congress leaders have cited a letter written by Tagore to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, in which Tagore himself had suggested that only the first two verses should be adopted to maintain national unity. Congress says that PM Modi should apologize for distorting history. The party alleges that the government is fanning this emotional issue to divert attention from serious issues like electoral reforms and SIR.
Split in opposition: Mamata’s support, Congress’ opposition
This issue has also exposed cracks within the opposition alliance ‘INDIA’. While Congress is calling it a ‘distraction issue’, Trinamool Congress has supported this discussion. For West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, ‘Vande Mataram’ is a matter of Bengali identity and pride, because its creator Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was a native of Bengal. In such a situation, instead of standing with Congress on the pitch of ‘nationalism’ of BJP, TMC seems to be choosing its own path.
However, TMC has also raised questions on the intentions of the government. Mamata Banerjee had recently reacted sharply to the Parliament bulletin which said that slogans like “Jai Hind” and “Vande Mataram” should not be raised during the proceedings of the House. The opposition says that this is a double attitude of the government. On one hand they talk about banning slogans and on the other hand they are holding a 10-hour discussion on the same song.
Government’s ‘Yuva Connect’ plan
The Union Cabinet had decided to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this song with pomp across the country on 1 October itself. Prime Minister Modi had started the year-long celebrations on 7 November. The aim of the government is clear, it wants to deepen the feeling of patriotism among the youth of the country through ‘Vande Mataram’ and at the same time wants to project the opposition as a party ‘cut off from its cultural roots’.
When Parliament proceedings begin tomorrow, it will not just be a celebration of 150 years of a song, but it will be a fierce clash between two ideologies ‘cultural nationalism’ versus ‘secular Nehruvian thinking’. The eyes of the country will be on whether PM Modi really brings out some “new facts” which were till now buried in the history books.
