Vande Mataram: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will initiate a discussion on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. Yet, as celebrations unfold, a critical question has emerged: is “Vande Mataram” a genuine source of pride or a tool for nationalist overreach that risks deepening societal divisions?
At face vaue, “Vande Mataram” evokes a stirring sense of unity, brotherhood, and patriotism. Its lyrical homage to the motherland resonates will billions who see it as a true emblem of freedom. Originally penned as a poem by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in the late 19th century, the anthem has inspired countless revolutionaries and activists. However, beneath the surface lies a more contentious reality. The song’s rise to prominence has not been devoid of controversy, highlighting how cultural symbols of the country can be weaponized by some in opposition for exclusionary politics.
Why Vande Mataram is in News Again?
PM Narendra Modi will initiate a discussion on Monday in Lok Sabha on December 9, 2025. Home Minister Amit Shah will be the BJP’s main speaker.
It is important to remember here that Islamic monotheism (tawhid) prohibits equating the motherland with deities or goddesses that critics view as incompatible with worshiping only Allah. In the past, Islamic bodies like Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind and Darul Uloom Deoband have issues fatwas against reciting the full song. The controversy dates back to pre-independence era when Muhammad Ali Jinnah opposed it politically.
Modi has accused Congress of dropping the stanzas of the song in 1937 and said it sowed the seeds of partition among Hindus and Muslims of the country. Interestingly, India’s first PM Jawahar Lal Nehru found the song’s language difficult to understand.
Diverse Muslim Views
Vande Mataram is not rejected by the entire Muslim community. During the Khilafat Movement, Vande Mataram was embraced by everyone including Muslims of India.
