BJP Accuses Congress of Neglecting Vande Mataram's Cultural Significance

Photo by Matt Boitor

During a Rajya Sabha debate commemorating the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, BJP President J.P. Nadda accused the Congress party of failing to give the National Song the respect it deserved.

Nadda claimed Jawaharlal Nehru was dismissive of the song's cultural significance and called for constitutional recognition of Vande Mataram equal to the National Anthem and Flag. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh countered that the National Song and Anthem have always enjoyed equal status, citing India's first President, Rajendra Prasad.

Key Facts

J.P. Nadda accused Congress governments of failing to accord due respect to Vande Mataram.

Nadda claimed Jawaharlal Nehru was dismissive of Vande Mataram's cultural significance.

Jairam Ramesh stated that the National Song and Anthem have always enjoyed equal status.

Rajendra Prasad affirmed equal status of National Song and Anthem on January 24, 1950.

UPSC Exam Angles

Constitutional status of National Song and National Anthem

Historical debates surrounding Vande Mataram

Political discourse on national symbols

Visual Insights

Vande Mataram: A Timeline of Significance

This timeline highlights key events in the history of Vande Mataram, from its composition to recent debates about its status.

Vande Mataram played a crucial role in the Indian independence movement, inspiring countless freedom fighters. Its adoption as the National Song reflects its enduring significance in Indian history and culture.

1882Vande Mataram is composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and featured in his novel 'Anandamath'.
1896Vande Mataram is publicly sung for the first time at the Indian National Congress session.
1937Congress Working Committee decides to adopt only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram as the National Song.
1950Vande Mataram is officially adopted as the National Song of India on January 24.
2003Allahabad High Court dismisses a petition seeking to make the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in schools.
2023Several controversies arise regarding the singing of Vande Mataram at public events.
2024BJP accuses Congress of neglecting Vande Mataram's cultural significance during a Rajya Sabha debate.

More Information

Background

Historical significance of Vande Mataram, its adoption as National Song, debates surrounding its equal status with the National Anthem.

Latest Developments

BJP's accusation against Congress regarding neglect of Vande Mataram's cultural significance during Rajya Sabha debate.

Practice Questions (MCQs)

1. Consider the following statements regarding the historical context of 'Vande Mataram': 1. It was written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and featured in his novel 'Anandamath'. 2. It was adopted as the National Song of India in 1950 by a resolution of the Constituent Assembly. 3. Rabindranath Tagore composed the tune for the song. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A.1 and 2 only
B.1 and 3 only
C.2 and 3 only
D.1, 2 and 3

Show Answer

Answer: A

Statement 1 is correct as Vande Mataram was indeed written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee and featured in Anandamath. Statement 2 is correct as it was adopted as the National Song in 1950. Statement 3 is incorrect as the tune was not composed by Rabindranath Tagore.

2. In the context of the recent debate regarding the status of 'Vande Mataram', which of the following statements accurately reflects the constitutional position of the National Song and National Anthem?

A.The Constitution explicitly grants equal status to both the National Song and the National Anthem.
B.The National Anthem is constitutionally protected, while the National Song's status is derived from executive resolutions.
C.There is no explicit constitutional provision defining the status of either the National Song or the National Anthem; their status is based on conventions and government orders.
D.The Supreme Court has mandated equal constitutional protection for both the National Song and the National Anthem.

Show Answer

Answer: C

There is no explicit constitutional provision defining the status of either the National Song or the National Anthem; their status is based on conventions and government orders. While both are respected national symbols, their legal status is not explicitly defined in the Constitution.

3. Assertion (A): BJP President J.P. Nadda accused the Congress party of neglecting the cultural significance of 'Vande Mataram'. Reason (R): Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, is alleged to have been dismissive of the song's importance. In the context of the above statements, which of the following is correct?

A.Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
B.Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
C.A is true, but R is false.
D.A is false, but R is true.

Show Answer

Answer: B

A is true based on the news article. R is also true as there have been historical claims about Nehru's views on the song, although the extent of his alleged dismissiveness is debated. However, R is not the direct cause of Nadda's accusation, as the accusation is based on the current political context.

4. Which of the following statements is NOT correct regarding the adoption of 'Vande Mataram' as the National Song of India?

A.It was a prominent song during the Indian independence movement.
B.Its initial verses were officially adopted as the National Song.
C.The complete song is sung at all official government functions.
D.Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, made a statement regarding its equal status with the National Anthem.

Show Answer

Answer: C

The complete song is not sung at all official government functions. Only the initial verses are typically used. The other statements are correct.