New Delhi, 8 December (H.S.): During the special discussion in the Lok Sabha on the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, Congress Deputy Leader in the House Gaurav Gogoi credited the Congress Party for granting the patriotic song its national status, while accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politicizing the issue.

Gogoi said that no amount of political rhetoric from the BJP or the Prime Minister could diminish the historical contributions of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the Congress Party to India’s freedom movement and cultural unification.

“The credit for giving Vande Mataram the status of the National Song belongs to the Congress,” he asserted, reminding that it was the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha which had originally opposed the song.He recalled that Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had clearly stated he had no objection to Vande Mataram.

In 1905, the Congress passed a resolution at its annual session mandating that the song be recited at all party events — a decision that played a decisive role in popularizing it across the country and paving the way for its formal national recognition.

Honoring the literary and cultural contributions of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and Sarala Devi Chaudhurani, Gogoi said that while Bankim Chandra composed the song in the cultural setting of Bengal, Sarala Devi’s revisions helped elevate it to national prominence.

“Vande Mataram became a source of courage and unity during the freedom struggle, inspiring revolutionaries and ordinary citizens alike to resist British rule,” he said.Gogoi added that during the 1905 partition of Bengal, the song united Indians and became an anthem for resistance. Freedom fighters including Rabindranath Tagore, Khudiram Bose, and many others drew strength from its message of devotion and sacrifice.“

Vande Mataram is not just a song,” Gogoi said. “It is a symbol of patriotism, unity, and the spirit of freedom. Every citizen must understand and uphold its essence. Remembering this song on its 150th anniversary is not only an act of respect but also a timeless source of inspiration for future generations.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar