Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated in the Lok Sabha that significant parts of Vande Mataram were removed, calling it 'division of the song,' laying the groundwork for the partition of India. He claimed six lines written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee were excluded by Congress leaders owing to mentions of Hindu deities. Here's how historians view this debate.
10-Hour Debate in Lok Sabha, PM Modi’s Allegation
On the 150th anniversary of India’s national song Vande Mataram, a 10-hour debate unfolded in the Lok Sabha on Monday, initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following this, Home Minister Amit Shah will lead a special session in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
PM Modi asserted that several parts of Vande Mataram were removed in 1937. He described it as the 'division of the song,' stating that Vande Mataram was fragmented before the country was, accusing the Congress and Jawaharlal Nehru of dividing the national song under pressure from the Muslim League. This raises the question: Was Vande Mataram indeed shortened to appease Muslims?
The Origin of Vande Mataram and Escalating Controversy
In 1875, Bankim Chandra Chatterjee penned the first two verses of the song. It was later expanded with six additional stanzas in his novel Anandamath (1882), which narrates the clash between Hindu monks and Bengal’s Muslim rulers. Therefore, a large section of the Muslim community perceived it as an affront to their religious sentiments.
During that period, Hindu revolutionaries turned Vande Mataram into a rallying cry for freedom, with many freedom fighters shouting it while facing execution. However, in some regions, it was also used to incite Muslims during riots. Historians note that in the early 1900s, the song was first linked to Hindu-Muslim tensions.
Why Did Congress Adopt Only Two Stanzas?
Leaders such as Gandhi, Nehru, and Rajendra Prasad recognized the strength and importance of Vande Mataram in the freedom struggle, prompting Congress to adopt it as their song.
Owing to communal tensions, only the first two stanzas were embraced, focusing solely on patriotism and nature’s beauty, omitting deities. The remaining six stanzas included references to goddesses like Durga and depicted battles between Hindu monks and Muslim rulers, deemed objectionable by the Muslim community. Hence, in 1951, when India’s national song was finalized, only these two stanzas were chosen.
The Song that United and Divided: Historians
Historian Sabyasachi Bhattacharya argues that Vande Mataram both united and divided people. He emphasizes that even before Congress’s adoption in 1937, there were riots where both 'Vande Mataram' and 'Allahu Akbar' were employed as provocative slogans. Gandhi also noted that both communities used these slogans to stir emotions.
What Advice Did Tagore Give Nehru?
In 1937, Subhas Chandra Bose wanted to adopt the entire song, but Nehru feared it would upset the Muslim community. Nehru wrote to Rabindranath Tagore about this issue. Tagore clearly advised that only the first two stanzas were appropriate for national use since they didn’t offend any religion and suggested the remaining stanzas remain in literature, where they belonged.
Influenced by Tagore’s advice, in 1937, the Congress Working Committee, including Gandhi, Nehru, Patel, Bose, Azad, and Prasad, decided that wherever Vande Mataram is sung, only the first two stanzas should be performed.
What Happened Post-Independence?
In 1950, the Constituent Assembly officially granted Vande Mataram, comprising two stanzas, the status of the national song. This version still echoes through schools, events, and stadiums. The complete song survives in books and cultural forums in its original form. So, was Vande Mataram shortened to 'please Muslims'? Historians maintain it was shortened to foster national unity, not to appease any community.
The sections removed could have escalated communal tensions, so only those stanzas that united everyone were chosen. Debates continue today, yet Vande Mataram remains an emblem of the freedom struggle, courage, and India's diversity.
