As India celebrates 150 years of its national song, ‘Vande Mataram’, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan on Friday accused the Congress party and former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru of deliberately tampering with the song to suit a “communal agenda.”
Writing ahead of the nationwide commemoration on his social media, Kesavan said the full, original version of ‘Vande Mataram’ has undergone unfair alteration with references to Goddess Durga removed.
“’Vande Mataram’ was never meant to belong to a single religion or language. It is a hymn of love for the motherland, unity, and sacrifice. Yet, Congress under Nehru’s leadership in 1937 deliberately truncated it, removing verses praising Goddess Durga, citing religious concerns,” Kesavan said.
He added that this move, he believes, betrayed the spirit of the song, which had been a rallying cry against British colonial rule.
It is imperative for our younger generation to know how the Congress party brazenly pandering to its communal agenda under the Presidentship of Nehru, adopted only a truncated Vande Mataram as the party’s national song in its 1937 Faizpur Session , while PM @narendramodi ji today… pic.x.com/13NBta11OV
— C.R.Kesavan (@crkesavan) November 7, 2025
The national song, originally penned by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in 1875, inspired generations of Indians during the freedom struggle. Under British rule, even chanting it was sometimes a punishable act because of its patriotic power. Over time, it became a symbol of India’s unity and a celebration of national pride.
Also Read: Vande Mataram turns 150: History, symbolism, and Bankim Chandra Chatterjee’s inspiration behind it
Kesavan drew parallels between past and present highlighting what he sees as similar attitudes in contemporary politics. He criticised Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks in March 2024, interpreting them as a continuation of a “Hindu-opposing mentality”, and cited Gandhi’s comment about the word ‘Shakti’ in Hindu Dharma as an example. Kesavan also mentioned Rahul Gandhi’s remarks about Chhath Puja, calling it a “drama,” which he said hurt the sentiments of millions of devotees.
“The Hindu Virodhi mentality of Nehru finds a pungent echo in Rahul Gandhi,” he wrote.
According to Kesavan’s tweet, historical records show that Nehru, in letters exchanged with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in 1937, expressed concerns that certain verses of ‘Vande Mataram’ might upset the Muslim community. He argued that the song’s references to the Goddess were unsuitable for adoption as a national song. Netaji Bose in contrast strongly advocated for singing the song in its original form maintaining that it inspired all Indians regardless of religion.
Kesavan argued that this historic alteration by Congress not only diluted the song’s cultural richness but also set a precedent for politicising national symbols.