Archive · 7 Nov 2025
Congress Clarifies Stance on 'Vande Mataram' Amidst BJP Accusations
Imagine India has a special song called 'Vande Mataram' that helped people during the fight for freedom.
A leader from one political group, the BJP, said that another group, the Congress, changed the song a long time ago in 1937 by taking out some parts.
He thinks this was a bad thing to do.
The Congress is saying that they didn't change it to be mean, but because some parts of the song were about Hindu gods.
They wanted everyone, including people of different religions, to feel included and sing the song happily.
So, they only kept the parts that most people could agree on.
They also said that the BJP group doesn't even sing 'Vande Mataram' or the national anthem very often.
It's like arguing about how to sing a song so everyone can join in without feeling left out.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress party of omitting 'important stanzas' from the national song 'Vande Mataram' in 1937.
The Congress stated that in 1937, they adopted only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' to avoid religious objections from some Muslim members due to references to Hindu goddesses.
Jawaharlal Nehru acknowledged concerns about the song's religious references potentially irritating Muslims in correspondence with Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge defended the party's actions as a move towards inclusivity and accused the BJP and RSS of historically avoiding singing 'Vande Mataram' or the national anthem.
'Vande Mataram', written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, became a significant rallying cry during India's freedom struggle and is the country's national song.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leaders including Mallikarjun Kharge and Jawaharlal Nehru, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan, Rabindranath Tagore, Subhas Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
- What
- A political controversy where PM Modi accused Congress of omitting 'important stanzas' from 'Vande Mataram' in 1937, sparking a debate about the song's history, religious connotations, and inclusivity. Congress defended its actions as a move to accommodate all faiths and accused BJP/RSS of historically avoiding the song.
- When
- Prime Minister Modi made accusations on Friday; Congress's controversial decision regarding stanzas was in October 1937; a Congress resolution was made in 1939.
- Where
- India, specifically referencing events and discussions related to the Indian National Congress and its historical decisions.
- Why
- The controversy stems from differing interpretations of historical events and national symbols. BJP accuses Congress of distorting 'Vande Mataram' for political reasons, potentially contributing to the partition. Congress asserts its actions were to foster national unity by making the song inclusive and criticizes the BJP/RSS for their historical stance on national songs.
Congress's Defense and Rationale
BJP's Accusation
Action Regarding 'Vande Mataram' Stanzas in 1937
Congress's Defense and Rationale
The Congress adopted only the first two stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' in 1937 because the remaining four contained references to Hindu deities (like Durga and Lakshmi), which some Muslim members found religiously objectionable, conflicting with the Islamic concept of tawhid. Jawaharlal Nehru acknowledged these concerns in letters to Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose, explaining the need for inclusivity. A 1939 Congress resolution, drafted by Mahatma Gandhi, formalized this decision to make the song more inclusive for all faiths, discontinuing its singing in certain public meetings.
BJP's Accusation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan claimed that the Congress omitted 'important stanzas' and 'the soul' of 'Vande Mataram' in 1937. Kesavan cited Nehru's letters suggesting the song was 'likely to irritate Muslims' and that considering its words as pertaining to a Goddess was 'absurd', implying a deliberate weakening of the song's national symbolism.
Role and Reverence of 'Vande Mataram'
Congress's Defense and Rationale
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge stated that the Congress has always proudly championed 'Vande Mataram' as a rallying cry for freedom and sings it with reverence at all party gatherings. He contrasted this with the RSS and BJP, alleging they have avoided singing 'Vande Mataram' or the national anthem in their activities, preferring to sing 'Namaste Sada Vatsale' instead, and that the RSS has not mentioned 'Vande Mataram' in its literature since its founding.
BJP's Accusation
Prime Minister Modi suggested that the 'division' and omission of stanzas from 'Vande Mataram' in 1937 sowed seeds of partition and that the present generation needs to know why this 'injustice' was done. BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan claimed Nehru made a 'historic blunder' by weakening the song's national symbolism.
- National Song
- 'Vande Mataram'
- National Anthem
- 'Jana Gana Mana'
- 'Vande Mataram' Composer
- Bankim Chandra Chatterjee
- 'Vande Mataram' Composition Year
- 1875
- 'Vande Mataram' First Publication
- 1882 novel 'Anandamath'
- 'Vande Mataram' Adoption by Congress
- October 1937 (with first two stanzas)
- Year of Prime Minister's Accusation
- 1937
- Accusation Focus
- Omission of stanzas from 'Vande Mataram' by Congress
Sources
Is 'Jana Gana Mana’ a British anthem? BJP leader sparks controversy, Congress says...
Priyank Kharge slams Kageri’s remark on ‘Jana Gana Mana’
'Brazenly Pandered To Communal Agenda': BJP Slams Nehru Over 'Vande Mataram'
'Vande Mataram boosts nation's self-confidence', PM Modi inaugurates year-long celebration of national song
Kharge: RSS and BJP Never Sing Vande Mataram or Jana Gana Mana, Only Glorify Their Own Song
Bankim Chandra Chatterjee: The Man Who Wrote Iconic 'Vande Mataram'
Vande Mataram, a ‘prayer to Maa Bharati’, says Modi – All about the song that became India’s eternal cry for freedom
150 Years of Vande Mataram: Key facts every Indian should know about the song
Inside 'Anandamath': The Celebrated Book That Gave India 'Vande Mataram'
Vande Mataram ignited India’s freedom spirit, continues to guide nation’s journey even today: CM Yogi
Important Stanzas of Vande Matram Dropped in 1937, Divisive Mindset Still Challenge for Country: PM
‘They have never sung…’: Kharge slams BJP, RSS as Vande Mataram completes 150 years
BJP accuses Congress of altering Vande Mataram in 1937, omitting stanzas praising Goddess Durga
‘Vande Mataram’ controversy: BJP’s CR Kesavan says ‘Hindu virodhi mentality of Nehru finds pungent echo in Rahul Gandhi’
BJP MP claims ‘Jana Gana Mana’ was written to welcome the British, sparks row
The 'Vande Mataram' Row: What Stanzas Did Congress Drop, And Why
‘Welcome song for British’: Karnataka BJP MP Vishweshwar Hegde Kageri’s remark on ‘Jana Gana Mana’ sparks row
Vande Mataram: PM’s address, snipe at Congress, Khadge comments
Removal Of "Significant Verses" From Vande Mataram Led To Partition: PM Modi
‘Sowed the seeds of partition’: PM Modi alleges Congress dropped important stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’
"Deliberate Insult": Trinamool Slams BJP Leader's Remark On National Anthem
