Important stanzas of 'Vande Mataram' dropped in 1937:PM Modi

In an apparent attack at the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said important stanzas of the national song "Vande Mataram" were dropped in 1937 which sowed the seeds of partition and asserted that such a "divisive mindset" is still a challenge for the country. Modi made the comments while inaugurating the year-long commemoration of "Vande Mataram" to mark 150 years of the national song in New Delhi. "Today's generation needs to know that why was this injustice done with this 'maha mantra' of nation building..this divisive mindset is still a challenge for the country," he said. Noting that "Vande Mataram" is relevant in every era, the prime minister, in an apparent reference to Operation Sindoor, said, "When the enemy dared to attack our security and honour using terrorism, world saw that India knows how to take the form of Durga".

आज की पीढ़ी के लिए यह जानना भी जरूरी है कि राष्ट्र निर्माण के महामंत्र वन्देमातरम् के महत्वपूर्ण पदों को क्यों हटाया गया, जो एक बड़ा अन्याय था। pic.twitter.com/tWuzf7VqHd

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2025

Prime Minister Modi said Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore once said that Bankim Chandra’s ‘Anandmath’ is not just a novel. It is a dream of an independent India. Every word written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay had a deep meaning. The Prime Minister asserted that the Vande Mataram song is relevant in every era. PM Modi also released a commemorative stamp and coin on the occasion and launched the portal – “vandemataram150.in”, where citizens can upload their videos of singing the national song and earn a certificate.

वन्देमातरम् के 150 वर्षों की स्मृति में विशेष डाक टिकट और स्मारक सिक्का जारी कर गौरवान्वित हूं। pic.twitter.com/nYBRGcFS1W

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 7, 2025

Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that Vande Mataram has captured the spirit of rebellion in the hearts of the freedom fighters who chanted the song till their last breath. The Minister noted that it has since then instilled and encouraged patriotism amongst Indians long after independence.

वन्दे मातरम् ने स्वतंत्रता संग्राम के दौरान देशभर के आंदोलनों को एकता के सूत्र में पिरोने का कार्य किया।

उसी तरह आज भी यह गीत उतना ही प्रासंगिक है, यह विकसित भारत के जनअंदोलन का मंत्र बन सकता है, जो भारत को एक सूत्र में बाँधते हुए 140 करोड़ देशवासियों की शक्ति को संचित कर सकता… pic.twitter.com/Z5bIj6eoTn

— Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (@gssjodhpur) November 7, 2025

The programme marks the formal launch of the year-long nationwide commemoration -- from November 7, 2025 to November 7, 2026 -- celebrating 150 years of the timeless composition that inspired India's freedom movement and continues to evoke national pride and unity. The song was written by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyayon the occasion of Akshaya Navami, which fell on November 7 in 1875. The song first appeared in the literary journal, "Bangadarshan", as part of Chatterji's novel, "Anandamath".