New Delhi, Jan 9 (UNI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday said in the union Territory’s Assembly that Vande Mataram is not just a song, but a true expression of India’s soul.
Speaking on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of India’s National Song, she said it continues to unite the nation with the values of duty, unity and respect even after 150 years.
Addressing the House, the Chief Minister said Vande Mataram has been a powerful voice of India’s freedom movement and reflects love for the motherland. She said the song praises India’s land, nature, culture and civilisation, and reminds citizens that India’s soil gives not only food, but also values and traditions.
Calling the discussion in the Assembly historic, Gupta said it was important that the House was remembering the National Song on its 150th anniversary. She noted that during the 100th anniversary of Vande Mataram, the country was passing through the Emergency period, due to which the song did not receive the respect it deserved. She described that phase as an unfortunate chapter in India’s democratic history.
The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country is moving forward with the vision of “development along with heritage”.
India is achieving new heights of progress while also protecting its cultural and historical legacy. She added that the nation is gradually coming out of a colonial mindset and moving towards becoming a self-reliant and prosperous country, with the goal of a “Viksit Bharat” clearly in sight.
Gupta said Vande Mataram was written in 1875 by renowned writer and nationalist thinker Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay and was included in his novel Anand Math in 1882. She clarified that the song does not belong to any religion, community, class or political ideology, but symbolises the deep bond between the motherland and her children.
She further said Vande Mataram stands above politics and represents national values. Some people try to see it through a political lens, she said, but every word of the song only praises Mother India. The song speaks of India’s rivers, mountains, fields and prosperity, and binds the country together, she added.
The Chief Minister also said the country is currently facing ideological challenges, which cannot be fought with weapons but only through a strong national consciousness.
Vande Mataram, she said, is a powerful voice of that consciousness. Expressing confidence in the youth, she said young Indians will play a leading role in nation-building and guide the country towards a developed future.
Gupta concluded by saying that the nation is above power, and national consciousness is what truly strengthens a country. She said the spirit of Vande Mataram will continue to inspire India towards unity, self-reliance and global leadership.
