Unveiling Ignorance: Mamata Chastises BJP Leaders Over Bengal Icons During Passionate Parliament Debate on Vande Mataram
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sparked a significant discussion in the Lok Sabha on December 8, 2025, marking 150 years of the iconic anthem “Vande Mataram.” However, she expressed concern that leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) remain largely unaware of Bengal’s pivotal role in India’s freedom struggle. “Let him (PM Modi) do whatever he wants. We have no problem… Earlier, the Rajya Sabha issued a notification stating that Jai Hind and Vande Mataram would not be allowed,” she remarked to journalists en route to North Bengal.
Banerjee highlighted the ignorance within the BJP regarding Bengal’s historical figures, asserting, “I heard yesterday that some individuals in the BJP do not like Netaji [Subhas Chandra Bose]. They show disdain for Netaji, Gandhiji, and Raja Ram Mohan Roy-who exactly do they admire? How can they be in leadership positions without understanding India’s history? Are they aware of Bengal’s contribution?”
Reflecting on “Vande Mataram,” she emphasized its roots in Bengal, paralleling its significance with that of the national anthem. She noted that only selected lines of the anthem were adopted, indicating a deeper cultural connection. The comments follow a statement from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who claimed that crucial verses of “Vande Mataram” were removed in 1937, which he argued contributed to national division during the country’s partition.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) also criticized Modi’s casual reference to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the author of “Vande Mataram,” as “Bankim da.” The party’s official social media channels condemned this approach, stating, “In Bengal, our literary, cultural, and spiritual icons are sacred pillars of our civilizational consciousness… BJP understands none of this.” After some intervention from TMC MP Sougata Roy, Modi referred to Chattopadhyay as “Bankim Babu,” yet the TMC maintained a stern stance against the Prime Minister.
The TMC has long labeled the BJP a party of “outsiders,” particularly in the context of upcoming assembly elections. Their statement called out the BJP for lacking an authentic connection to Bengal’s intellectual heritage, asserting, “This is what happens when outsiders attempt to mimic reverence they have never learned to practice.” They criticized the BJP for treating historical giants with disregard, reducing their legacies to mere political props.
In recent weeks, tensions have escalated as both the TMC and BJP have aimed to align themselves with Bengal’s cultural icons, such as Rabindranath Tagore and Chattopadhyay. The TMC government recently mandated that Tagore’s song, “Banglar Maati Banglar Jal,” be played during morning assemblies in state-run schools. The BJP responded by questioning the timing of this decision, claiming that the TMC was not giving “Vande Mataram” the respect it deserves as a symbol of national unity and a clarion call during the freedom struggle.
As political posturing intensifies, the narrative surrounding Bengal’s cultural heritage continues to shape the discourse ahead of critical elections, further igniting exchanges between rival parties.
Published – December 09, 2025 02:40 am IST
Original Source: https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/mamata-says-bjp-leaders-not-aware-of-bengal-icons-as-parliament-discusses-vande-mataram/article70373128.ece
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Publish Date: 2025-12-09 02:40:00
