On Monday, Parliament started a special two-day discussion to mark the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. Both Houses will look at the historical, cultural, and political importance of this national song. The Lok Sabha took up the debate today. The Rajya Sabha will hold its session on December 9.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the proceedings in the Lok Sabha at noon, marking the official start of the discussion. The government has set aside a total of ten hours for the debate across both Houses, with nearly three hours assigned to the ruling alliance. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to speak at the end of the Lok Sabha debate.
During the discussion, members will highlight several lesser-known historical facts about Vande Mataram. This song was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and was first published in 1875 in the literary journal Bangadarshan. It later appeared in Chatterjee’s 1882 novel Anandamath and became a key symbol of India's freedom struggle.
The Rajya Sabha will continue the debate on Tuesday. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will start the discussion, followed by Leader of the House and Health Minister J. P. Nadda.
The debate is also likely to revisit historical controversies, such as the 1937 Congress Working Committee’s decision to limit the performance of certain stanzas. This issue has resurfaced in current political discussions.
The Winter Session of Parliament began on December 1 and will run until December 19.
