The Winter Session of Parliament witnesses a historic and culturally significant debate as the Lok Sabha dedicates Monday to a special discussion commemorating the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the proceedings at noon, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh scheduled to deliver the concluding remarks for the segment in the lower house.
A Parliamentary Tribute to National Heritage
The discussion forms a central part of the year-long celebrations launched by PM Modi on November 7. The BJP-led NDA has been allotted three hours to speak in the Lok Sabha, while the overall debate spanning both Houses of Parliament is scheduled for ten hours. The Rajya Sabha will take up the topic on Tuesday, December 9, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah initiating the proceedings there.
Vande Mataram was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and first published in 1875. It later gained immense popularity after being included in his novel Anandamath and was musically rendered by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. The Prime Minister has previously described the song as a powerful symbol of devotion, inspiration, and national resolve.
Cross-Party Participation and Political Undertones
The debate will see participation from across the political spectrum. From the Congress, eight leaders including deputy leader in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra are slated to speak. Other Congress MPs lined up for the discussion are Deepender Hooda, Bimol Akoijam, Praniti Shinde, Prashant Padole, Kiran Chamala Reddy, and Jyotsana Mahant.
However, the discussion is not without its political contours. Ahead of the debate, BJP MP Sambit Patra thanked the government for "highlighting lost heroes marginalised by Nehru-Gandhi politics," directly linking the event to a broader narrative of historical correction. He also referenced former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's purported views on the song, anticipating that "the legacy of Nehru will again be a subject of debate."
BJP MP Sudhanshu Trivedi expressed optimism, stating the country was eager to hear PM Modi and hoping all parties would rise above partisanship to strengthen national unity during the anniversary celebration.
Session Agenda and Other Business
The Winter Session, which began on December 1, is the 6th Session of the 18th Lok Sabha and the 269th Session of the Rajya Sabha. It is scheduled to continue until December 19. While Monday is dominated by the Vande Mataram discussion, other matters were also brought to the fore.
Congress MP Saptagiri Ulaka issued a notice seeking the suspension of scheduled business to discuss an alleged case of sexual harassment and intimidation of a Scheduled Caste student at the National Sanskrit University in Tirupati, a central university under the Ministry of Education.
Looking ahead, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to speak on the topic of electoral reforms during Tuesday's session. The party has finalised a list of speakers for both Houses on the various debates scheduled from Monday through Thursday.
This extended parliamentary focus on Vande Mataram underscores its enduring place in India's cultural and political consciousness, framing it not just as a historical artifact but as a continuing source of inspiration for the nation's future.
