PM Modi reads 'missing stanzas' from Vande Mataram in Parliament: 'Song was response to Long Live The Queen'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the discussion in the Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay challenged Britishers.

“Vande Mataram was a war cry against the British. The song was response to ‘Long Live The Queen," said PM Modi while opening the  10-hour discussion on the 150th anniversary of India's national song.

PM Modi said when Vande Mataram completed 50 years, India was under British rule. "When Vande Mataram completed 100 years, India was in the clutches of Emergency... At that time, the patriots were imprisoned. When the song that inspired our freedom movement, unfortunately, India was witnessing a black period.... 150 years of Vande Mataram is an opportunity to reinstate that pride and that great part of our past... This song inspired us to attain freedom in 1947..." he said.

According to PM Modi, Vande Matram was not just a matra for India's  freedom. "When we say Vande Matram it reminds us of our Ved Kaal. It says this land is my mother and I am a son of this land. Vande Mataram is a song for motherland," he said.

The PM said Vande Mataram gave energy, inspiration, and showed the path for sacrifice and penance to the freedom movement. "Vande Mataram made us realise that this fight is not for some land alone," he said.

The PM also said there is no leadership and opposition to discuss Vande Mataram. "We are here to appreciate and accept the debt of Vande Mataram collectively. It is because of this song that we are all here together. It is a sacred occasion for all of us to acknowledge the debt of Vande Mataram... It united the nation from North to South and from East to West. The time has come to unite again and move together with everyone. This song should inspire and energise us to fulfil the dreams of our freedom fighters. We need to reiterate the resolve to make our nation self-reliant and developed by 2047," he said.