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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his October 2025 Mann Ki Baat address, called upon citizens to mark the 150th anniversary of VandeMataram.

Historical Origins and Evolution

• VandeMataram—meaning “I bow to thee, Mother”—was composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in the 1870s in Sanskritised Bengali.
• It was later published in his novel Anandamath (1882), where the motherland was depicted symbolically as a divine, nurturing force.
• The song gained prominence during the freedom struggle. Its first public rendition was by Rabindranath Tagore at the 1896 Indian National Congress session, marking its transition from literary creation to a nationalistic anthem.
• Despite British censorship, it echoed across protest marches, swadeshi gatherings, and revolutionary movements, becoming an enduring symbol of defiance.

Role in National Movement and Political Debates

• During the early 20th century, the song became deeply embedded in anti-colonial resistance, especially during the Swadeshi Movement (1905) and later the Quit India Movement (1942). However, its later stanzas, portraying the motherland as a Hindu goddess, drew objections from the All-India Muslim League and some Muslim leaders.
• To maintain inclusivity, the Indian National Congress in 1937 officially adopted only the first two stanzas, which do not include religious imagery. This selective adoption reflected efforts to preserve unity in a diverse society.
• On 24 January 1950, the Constituent Assembly accorded equal honour to VandeMataram and Jana Gana Mana, defining the former as the national song and the latter as the national anthem.

Cultural, Symbolic and Constitutional Status

Today, VandeMataram holds a unique constitutional and cultural position:

• National Song Status: It enjoys the same respect as the national anthem as per Constituent Assembly resolutions.
• Parliamentary Tradition: An instrumental version is played at the end of every Parliament session.
• Cultural Identity: It continues to symbolise unity, patriotism, and emotional attachment to the motherland.
• Secular Projection: Emphasis remains on the first two stanzas to ensure inclusivity across religious communities.
• Judicial Affirmation: In 2022, the Delhi High Court reaffirmed that citizens should show equal respect to both the national anthem and national song.