Debate over the performance of the national song Vande Mataram has reignited in India as some religious leaders and politicians have openly said they will not participate in its performance, citing that it allegedly offends their religious sentiments.
In today’s edition of DNA, Rahul Sinha, editor-in-chief of Zee News, provided a detailed analysis of the controversy, highlighting the ideological divide between extremists who oppose the song and patriotic voices, including many Muslims, who support its performance.
Watch here:
Add Zee News as your preferred source
#DNKZRahulamSinha | राष्ट्रगीत पर द्वर्ष्टिक मुश्लाई मुश्च्चार मुश्च्य मुश्लिया वान्दे मातरम गाने से क्या धर्म फ्राष्ट हो जाइलाग? #DNA #VandeMataram @RahulSinhaTV pic.twitter.com/lPiLVxjoPY
— Zee News (@ZeeNews) November 7, 2025
The 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram was celebrated across the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the commemorative year and releasing a commemorative postage stamp and coin. National song programs were organized across the country, celebrating India’s cultural and patriotic heritage. Mahatma Gandhi once remarked that this song evoked a passionate response in the blood and inspired both non-violence and self-sacrifice.
The program emphasized that the opposition to Vande Mataram is not new. During the freedom struggle, leaders like Maulana Hasrat Mohani, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Rafi Ahmad Kidwai sang the song despite criticism from some quarters. Historical records also show that even Muslim leaders, including Rahmatullah, the then president of the Indian National Congress in 1896, indulged in public spending without objection.
Experts on the show argued that the current resistance echoed the stance taken by Jinnah and the Muslim League in 1937, which opposed the song, claiming it offended Muslim sentiments. Analysts have noted that such opposition today reflects an outdated ideological mindset rather than genuine religious concern. Patriotic groups counter critics by publicly performing Vande Matar outside the homes of prominent dissidents.
DNA emphasized that the song has a long history of inspiring self-sacrifice and national pride. Written by Bankim Chandra Chattapadhyay in 1875 and repeatedly banned by the British, Vande Mataram was performed by freedom fighters from various religious backgrounds, including Ashfaqullah Khan, Maulana Mohammad Ali and Subhas Chandra Bose’s Indian National Army.
The episode ended with a call for extremists to recognize the song’s historical significance and the support it enjoys among patriotic citizens in various communities. The program stressed that Vande Mataram is a unifying symbol of India’s heritage and opposition to it is rooted in ideology, not religion.
