In a first, the national song Vande Mataram will be sung from the ramparts of Red Fort during India’s 80th Independence Day on 15 August. Outlining the new ceremonial sequence, the Ministry of Defence in a statement said that the song will be sung following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival at the ramparts. The national anthem will follow post unfurling of the national flag.
The decision comes close on the heels of the passing of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, that gives the national song, Vande Mataram, the same legal and statutory protection as the national anthem.
Composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Vande Mataram is one of the few songs that have captured public imagination. However, the song that captivated every Indian during the freedom movement and eventually became the national song remains entangled in a debate even 150 years after its creation—to questions of religion, nationalism and the meaning of patriotism.
Though the song, first sung by Rabindra Nath Tagore at the 1896 session of the Indian National Congress, became associated with political resistance, it was shrouded with controversy following objections by Muslims due to its religious imagery comparing our motherland to Hindu Goddesses.
So, given its popularity, the first two stanzas that celebrated the motherland’s beauty, abundance and natural landscape without the religious imagery that appeared in later part of the poem, were adopted as a compromise model.
At the stroke of midnight, when India got its Independence, Sucheta Kripalini sung its first stanza in the Constituent Assembly. In 1950, the song was accorded national song status along with Jana Gana Mana, which was adopted as the national anthem.
So, one wonders, if Vande Mataram already enjoyed equal national honour with the national anthem, what gap is the new law filling? The government argues that if the national song is a national symbol, deliberately obstructing its rendition or disrupting an assembly singing should attract the same consequences as that involving the national anthem. The amendment seeks consistency in legal protection between the two national symbols.
But then, is criminal law the best way to arouse patriotism among the citizens? National symbols are a matter of pride and deserve respect and stature. But they should remind us of our values, not replace living by them.
Vande Mataram acquired its extraordinary power because ordinary Indians chose to embrace it. The song stirred patriotism among common people and became a powerful rallying cry against colonial rule.
The meaning of patriotism evolves with the times. While during the freedom struggle, it was rooted in sacrifice, conviction and a shared desire for independence, in today’s India, patriotism can mean contributing to the nation’s growth, paying taxes, creating jobs, protecting public resources, respecting the Constitution, safeguarding the environment or helping build a more equal society.
National symbols should inspire patriotism, not become its only measure. Standing for the national anthem is a gesture of respect. Singing Vande Mataram can be an expression of national pride. But a gesture performed because the law demands it is not necessarily evidence of a patriotic mind. A mature nation does not need to constantly prove its patriotism through compulsory displays. It should have confidence in its citizens to allow national symbols to inspire rather than intimidate.
There is another practical question that cannot be ignored. At a time when people’s attention spans are shrinking and information is consumed in snippets, reels and short videos, is it realistic to expect citizens to memorise the entire six stanzas of Vande Mataram? Knowing its history, understanding its meaning and recognising its contribution to our freedom struggle are far more valuable than rote learning.
Let’s not forget patriotism is strongest when it comes from conviction, not compulsion.
Patriotism cannot be created by forcing a song into memory. It grows when its meaning touches the heart. The writer is a journalist
