Vande Mataram is a Mantra of National Consciousness and Courage,’ Says CM Yogi

December 22, 2025

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday held a special discussion to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song Vande Mataram. Participating in the debate, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that Vande Mataram is not merely a song, but a mantra that embodies the spirit of India’s freedom struggle, the courage of its revolutionaries, and the nation’s self-respect.

Assembly Debate Reaffirms National Duties

The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh is perhaps the first legislative Assembly to hold such a detailed discussion on Vande Mataram. He added that the debate went beyond the song itself and served as an opportunity to reaffirm the collective duties of citizens towards Mother India.

“Respect for Vande Mataram is not just symbolic. It reflects our constitutional values and national responsibilities. It represents the soul, struggle, and resolve of the nation,” Yogi said, adding that the song was not just poetry but a form of worship of the motherland and an expression of cultural awakening and nationalism.

Role of Vande Mataram in Freedom Struggle

Recalling history, CM Yogi noted that when Vande Mataram marked its silver jubilee, the country was under British rule following the First War of Independence in 1857. Despite draconian laws, repression, and torture, the song kept the nation’s dormant consciousness alive, he said.

He pointed out that even during the silver and golden jubilees of the song, British rule continued, and Congress sessions played a role in nurturing the spirit of freedom. At the 1896 Congress session, Rabindranath Tagore first gave voice to Vande Mataram, transforming it into a mantra for the entire nation.

From Colonial Resistance to Developed India

The Chief Minister remarked that when the song reached its centenary, the Congress, which had once elevated it, was in power but imposed the Emergency, curbing constitutional freedoms. “This chapter of history cannot be forgotten,” he said.

As India marks the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Yogi said the country, under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, is confidently moving towards becoming a developed nation and realising the vision of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the immortal composer of the national song.

He further highlighted that after the setback of the 1857 uprising, Vande Mataram rekindled hope and courage across the country, uniting people under leaders such as Mangal Pandey, Dhan Singh Kotwal, Rani Lakshmibai, and others. He added that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay articulated the emotions of the masses, making the song a powerful symbol of resistance and national awakening.