In 1937, Nehru Removed Maa Durga Stanzas from Vande Mataram: BJP Slams Congress Over ‘Historical Distortion’

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up to launch year-long celebrations commemorating 150 years of Vande Mataram, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday launched a sharp attack on the congress, claiming that India’s national song was “historically distorted” under former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s leadership.

Taking to X, BJP national spokesperson C.R. Kesavan asserted that under Nehru’s presidency, the Congress adopted a truncated version of Vande Mataram during its 1937 Faizpur session, deliberately omitting stanzas that praised Goddess Durga.

“The younger generation must understand how Congress adopted a shortened version of Vande Mataram during its Faizpur session, surrendering to sectarian pressure. The magnificent song symbolized India’s unity, honoring the motherland, and igniting patriotism. However, Congress, under Nehru, committed a historic blunder by linking it with Religion and deliberately removing verses that hailed Goddess Maa Durga,” Kesavan stated.

Nehru’s 1937 Letter to Netaji: “Vande Mataram Might Irritate Muslims”

Backing his claims, Kesavan cited a 1937 letter from Jawaharlal Nehru to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, in which Nehru allegedly expressed concern that the song’s background “was likely to irritate Muslims.”

According to Kesavan, Nehru’s statement was a “historic blunder” that diluted the song’s national essence. “In his letter dated September 1, 1937, Nehru dismissively wrote that it was absurd to think the lyrics of Vande Mataram were about a goddess and even mocked its suitability as a national anthem. Yet, Netaji Bose remained a steadfast supporter of the complete version of the song,” Kesavan added.

Kesavan further noted, “On October 20, 1937, Nehru again wrote to Bose, claiming that the background of Vande Mataram might irritate Muslims. This mindset weakened the song’s role as a unifying national symbol.”

BJP Links Nehru’s ‘Mindset’ to Rahul Gandhi’s Remarks

Drawing a parallel between the past and the present, Kesavan claimed that the “Hindu-virodhi mindset” of Nehru “echoes” in current Congress leadership, particularly in Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks.

“The same Hindu-virodhi mentality of Nehru finds a pungent echo in Rahul Gandhi, who recently ridiculed and demeaned the sacred Chhath Puja as a drama, hurting the sentiments of millions of devotees,” he said.

Vande Mataram 150-Year Celebration Launch

Kesavan’s remarks came just hours before Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to inaugurate the Vande Mataram 150-year celebrations at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The event marks the beginning of a year-long nationwide celebration that will run until November 2026.

The celebrations will include the release of a commemorative coin and postal stamp in honor of Vande Mataram, followed by a national performance of the song featuring artists from across India.

As the nation gears up to celebrate the anthem that once fueled India’s freedom struggle, the political battle over its interpretation has reignited. The BJP has positioned this debate as a reminder of what it calls the “true nationalist spirit” behind Vande Mataram, while accusing Congress of compromising it for political appeasement.

With the Vande Mataram anniversary drawing national attention, this controversy underscores how deeply the song continues to influence India’s political and cultural discourse even after nearly 150 years.