The Congress party is sharply criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks concerning the omission of certain stanzas from the national song "Vande Mataram" in 1937, asserting that the decision was made with the advice of Rabindranath Tagore. The party is demanding an apology from the Prime Minister, accusing him of distorting history and disrespecting India's founding figures, including Tagore.
The controversy arose after Modi inaugurated a year-long commemoration of "Vande Mataram". During the event, Modi claimed that the dropping of stanzas in 1937 "sowed the seeds of partition," and that a "divisive mindset" continues to challenge the country.
In response, the Congress is arguing that the decision to adopt only the first two stanzas of the song was rooted in sensitivity and inclusion, not division. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh has shared historical documents, including excerpts from Sabyasachi Bhattacharya's biography of "Vande Mataram" and pages from Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyay's biography of Tagore, to support the party's position.
Ramesh stated that the Congress Working Committee (CWC) had resolved to use only the first two stanzas at national gatherings to preserve national unity and inclusivity. He added that the decision was influenced by Tagore, who felt that the initial stanzas, celebrating the beauty and abundance of the motherland, were free of sectarian or theological imagery and unlikely to offend any community. Tagore's advice, according to Ramesh, was both poetic and principled. In a letter to Jawaharlal Nehru, Tagore reportedly expressed that the "spirit of tenderness and devotion" in the initial stanzas held special appeal and could be dissociated from the rest of the poem.
The CWC, which included prominent leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose, also appointed a sub-committee to curate other patriotic songs in simple Hindustani, seeking Tagore's advice in the process.
The Congress insists that Modi's remarks are historically inaccurate and disrespectful to Tagore, accusing the Prime Minister of "demeaning the Gurudev" and "insulting our founding fathers". They highlight that "Vande Mataram" was formally adopted as India's national song by the Constituent Assembly in 1950, enshrining the version that Tagore had supported.
Ramesh further criticized Modi for deflecting from current national issues such as unemployment, inequality, and foreign policy challenges. He argued that Modi should focus on these pressing concerns instead of "abusing Nehru and rewriting history". The Congress maintains that the 1937 decision was an act of cultural sensitivity and national unity, not a precursor to partition.
The controversy underscores differing interpretations of historical events and their impact on national identity. As political tensions rise, the Congress is urging Modi to apologize for his remarks and to engage in discussions about contemporary issues that affect the lives of ordinary Indians.
