Bankim Chandra Chatterjee's Legacy: The Ongoing Debate Over 'Vande Mataram' and Political Recognition

Chattopadhyay expressed that his family has several requests regarding his great-grandfather's legacy.

New Delhi:

According to Sajal Chattopadhyay, the great-grandson of Bankim Chandra Chatterjee who composed 'Vande Mataram', the Bengal government continues to neglect the literary icon while the Central government shows proper respect. He shared these thoughts with NDTV on Monday as Prime Minister Narendra Modi initiated parliamentary discussions about the 150-year-old national song.

"Bankim Chatterjee represents an iconic figure in our history. He challenged British control effectively. Unfortunately, previous Indian administrations have neglected his contributions and legacy for many years. This neglect continues today. His name is often used for political purposes. While the central government honors Bankim Chatterjee appropriately, the Bengal government fails to do so," Chattopadhyay stated.

He mentioned that central government officials have reached out to his family for input and suggestions.

"In 2018, Amit Shah arranged a meeting with our family in Kolkata. This wasn't during election season. I struggle to comprehend the state government's perspective on this matter," he added.

Chattopadhyay outlined several requests from his family.

"We're advocating for the construction of Bankim Bhavan and the establishment of a university in our country to preserve his legacy. In Parliament, while 'Jana Gana Mana' is performed vocally at the beginning, Vande Mataram is only played instrumentally at the conclusion. We believe it should also be performed vocally," he explained.

A political controversy emerged last month when Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Congress of eliminating important verses from 'Vande Mataram' during the party's 1937 Faizabad session. He claimed the party's actions "planted the seeds of Partition" and "fragmented the national song."

Congress countered that their decision followed Rabindranath Tagore's recommendation and was intended to accommodate the sentiments of members from diverse communities and faiths. The party demanded an apology from the BJP, accusing the ruling party of "disrespecting" both the Congress Working Committee of 1937 and Rabindranath Tagore himself.

Previously, political tensions had escalated just before the Winter Session when the Rajya Sabha Secretariat reaffirmed that parliamentarians should avoid expressions like 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jai Hind' within Parliament to maintain proper decorum. Opposition parties accused the BJP-led NDA of discomfort with symbols representing India's independence and unity.