New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday led a special discussion in the Lok Sabha marking 150 years of Vande Mataram, using the occasion to reflect on the national song’s legacy and the political climate during key milestones in its history.

Modi said it was a “matter of pride” for Parliament to commemorate the poem that served as a rallying cry during India’s freedom struggle, while also emphasising how its centenary had coincided with a period of democratic suppression.

“When Vande Mataram completed 50 years, the country was under colonial rule. When it completed 100 years, the nation was chained by the Emergency,” he said, adding that at the time “the Constitution was throttled and those who lived and died for patriotism were pushed behind prison bars.”

He described the Emergency as “a dark chapter in our history” and said the present generation now had “the opportunity to restore the greatness of Vande Mataram.”

Initiating the debate, Modi said the “mantra” of Vande Mataram energised and inspired millions during the independence movement, instilling “courage, strength and resolve” against British rule.

He noted that despite colonial attempts to curb the poem’s rise, including restrictions on its printing and propagation, the song became a unifying force across regions and communities.

“British divided Bengal in 1905, but Vande Mataram stood like a rock and inspired unity,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the “intellectual strength of Bengal” had deeply influenced the national movement.

He remarked that British authorities were “forced to ban Vande Mataram” as they feared its power to mobilise people.

Modi also highlighted the poem’s origin in Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s work and recalled its long-standing emotional resonance. “Remembering that sacred Vande Mataram today is a great privilege for all of us in this House,” he said.

Calling the 150-year commemoration a historic moment, Modi urged lawmakers to reflect on the values symbolised by the national song — unity, sacrifice, and devotion to the motherland.

“It is a matter of pride for us that we are witnessing this historic occasion,” he said, asserting that the ideals embedded in Vande Mataram remained essential to India’s democratic spirit.

Several MPs participated in the debate, lauding the national song’s contribution to shaping India’s collective consciousness. The discussion forms part of the ongoing Winter Session’s special agenda to mark key cultural and constitutional anniversaries.