When the lower house reconvenes on Monday, the first order of business will be the 150th‑anniversary debate on Vande Mataram — the iconic patriotic hymn penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. Cited by observers as a moment of national introspection, the session is being launched by Narendra Modi himself. Parliament has allotted a full 10 hours for the discussion, signalling the importance the government attaches to the song’s legacy.

The occasion comes as part of a year‑long commemoration of the song’s 150‑year journey. Originally composed in 1875 and later incorporated into Chatterjee’s 1882 novel Anandamath, “Vande Mataram” evolved from poetic expression to a stirring anthem of freedom and identity. Over decades, it inspired freedom‑fighters, united citizens under the banner of nationalism, and became a symbol of resistance against colonial rule.

But the debate is expected to be far from a mere celebration — it will also probe the contested history of the song. The government plans to highlight alleged omissions from the original version, particularly the removal of key stanzas in 1937 by Indian National Congress (INC), a move that critics say erased critical layers of the song’s cultural and spiritual imagery. 

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Following the Prime Minister, Rajnath Singh, the Defence Minister, is slated as the second speaker. The debate will also see participation from opposition figures including Gaurav Gogoi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, setting the stage for a robust cross‑party discussion. The government says it hopes to surface “important and unknown facets” of the song for the nation’s reflection ahead of the anniversary.

In a parallel move, the upper house — the Rajya Sabha — will initiate its own discussion a day later, with Amit Shah and J. P. Nadda lined up to speak, underlining the significance accorded to the subject across both Houses. Whether this debate will simply re‑examine history or reshape contemporary political and cultural narratives remains to be seen — but Monday’s session promises to be historic.

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