Vande Mataram should unite, not divide, our nation 

December 10, 2025

Abhishek Vij

Just as Jana Gana Mana, written by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, is our country’s national anthem, similarly, Vande Mataram, written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the novel Anand Math, is our country’s national song. Historically, Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore himself urged Mahatma Gandhi to make Vande Mataram the national song. However, as history alleges, fearing the displeasure of Muslims, Nehru accepted its incomplete version as the national song in 1937. There were two reasons: one, the song’s setting was the Anand Math ashram, and the other was that Muslims do not include the veneration of the mother goddess as part of their prayers. It was Guru Rabindranath Tagore who suggested that ceremonies begin with the national anthem Jana Gana Mana and end with Vande Mataram.
Although the spirit of nationalism is being rekindled in the country by reviving the national flag, national song, and national anthem, as nothing in our country can escape political controversy, the resumption of the chanting of Vande Mataram and the year-round celebration of it has also become controversial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is striving to awaken the spirit of nationalism in India and keep it alive and everlasting. He announced that since it is the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, the entire country should sing Vande Mataram as the national song throughout the year. It should be noted that this controversy is not being raised by the Muslim community; a senior Imam from West Bengal even stated that he has no difficulty adopting the full form of Vande Mataram.

Still, the controversy remains: by adopting an incomplete version of Vande Mataram in 1937, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru undermined the inspiration for the national song. This issue was debated in the country’s Parliament on Monday. The Prime Minister initiated it first. He said that this slogan energised and inspired the country’s freedom movement. Remembering Vande Mataram is the nation’s greatest blessing. However, he accused the Congress party of tearing Vande Mataram into pieces.

He accused the country’s first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, of bowing to Jinnah. Union Minister Anurag Thakur said that Jinnah’s followers are allergic to Vande Mataram. On behalf of the opposition, Deputy Leader Gaurav Gogoi said that instead of discussing the country’s problems, the debate is on Vande Mataram. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said that this song has been a part of the nation’s soul for 150 years, so why is Vande Mataram being debated today? She said that the government is making Vande Mataram a topic of debate to gain electoral advantage in West Bengal. Akhilesh Yadav said that Vande Mataram is not meant to be sung, but to be upheld.

We believe that today, when there is talk of dividing India, and fanaticism and communalism have decided to fragment the unity of the country, the need of the hour is to unite by chanting Vande Mataram together. Rather than debating its meaning, let us join as one and recite Vande Mataram throughout this year, aiming to inspire unity and nationalism among all Indians. We encourage everyone to participate and make this a movement for national solidarity.