RS Chairman calls Vande Mataram ‘Pulse of the Nation’ ahead of parliamentary debate

Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan, on Tuesday, described Vande Mataram not merely as a national song but as “the very pulse of our nation,” highlighting its profound significance ahead of the scheduled debate in the Upper House initiated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Paying tribute to the song composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the Chairman said it served as a source of unwavering courage and inspiration for India’s freedom fighters. “More than a song, it is the very pulse of our nation—the unspoken prayer of countless mothers, the quiet hope breathed by the oppressed, and the unwavering courage of those who once dared to dream of freedom,” he stated. He added that the composition became the “collective heartbeat of millions yearning to breathe free.”

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Elaborating on its symbolic importance, Radhakrishnan said, “For countless freedom fighters, ‘Vande Mataram’ was not merely a song, it was the final chant from their hearts as they walked fearlessly towards the gallows, their souls illuminated with the dream of an independent Bharat.”

Quoting the revered poet Mahakavi Subramania Bharati, the Chairman highlighted the song’s far-reaching patriotic impact: “A lofty, towering mast, upon whose summit resounds Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram glowed with divine brilliance—their splendor sweeping across the world.”

Framing the ongoing 150th anniversary celebrations as a call for national rededication, Radhakrishnan described Vande Mataram as a solemn vow to India’s identity, unity, and shared destiny. “As we celebrate 150 years of this immortal hymn, I bow with profound humility and gratitude to all the sons and daughters of Mother Bharat who gave their lives for the freedom of Bharat,” he said, honoring their sacrifice as “our eternal guiding light.”

The Chairman further urged the nation to renew its commitment: “Let us pledge today: To serve with integrity, To stand together as one people, one nation And to proclaim with pride — Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram. Vande Mataram.”