Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the 150th anniversary of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’ in the winter session of Parliament in New Delhi on December 8, 2025. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi lamented on Monday (Dec 08, 2025) that the Constitution had been “strangled” and the nation shackled by a state of crisis as the national song Vande Mataram turned 100 years old.
Inaugurating the day-long debate on 150 years of Vande Mataram in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Modi noted that Vande Mataram stood like a rock and inspired unity despite British oppression.
8 December 2025 Winter Parliament Update
“When Vande Mataram turned 100, the nation was shackled by Emergency. That’s when the constitution was strangled and those who lived and died for patriotism were put behind bars,” he said.
“Emergency was a dark chapter in our history. Now we have an opportunity to restore the greatness of Vande Mataram. And I believe this opportunity should not be missed,” Mr Modi said.
The Prime Minister remarked that the Vande Mataram mantra gave strength and inspiration to the entire country during the freedom struggle.
“The mantra energized and inspired India’s freedom movement and showed the path of courage and determination. It is a great privilege for all of us in this House to be reminded that Vande Mataram is hallowed today.”
“It is a matter of pride for us to witness the historic occasion of Vande Mataram completing 150 years,” he said.
The Prime Minister recalled that the British were forced to ban Vande Mataram even as they introduced laws to prevent the poem from being printed and promoted.
“Vande Mataram was written at a time when, after the rebellion of 1857, the British government was alarmed and unleashed various forms of oppression. There was a campaign to force the British national anthem ‘God Save the Queen’ into every household.
“Through Vande Mataram, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay responded to this challenge with great strength and determination. The British partitioned Bengal in 1905, but Vande Mataram stood like a rock and inspired unity,” he said.
Published – 8 Dec 2025 13:28 IST
